Summary
The U.S. Department of Justice released a report showing high rates of sexual abuse in certain prisons. Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York has the highest rate, followed by Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois and Albion Correctional Facility in New York. The findings are based on a survey conducted across various state and federal prisons.
Key Facts
- The Department of Justice conducted a survey in 177 federal prisons from March 2023 to March 2024.
- The survey found that 4.1% of prison inmates reported sexual victimization in the past year.
- Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York had the highest reported rate of sexual victimization at 18.6%.
- Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois reported a 15.9% rate, and Albion Correctional Facility in New York reported 15.6%.
- A total of 27,541 inmates participated in the survey.
- The survey is part of efforts under the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act to reduce sexual violence in prisons.
- Nine of the 17 prisons with the highest rates were male institutions, while eight were female.
- The report comes as the U.S. plans to close a prison in Dublin, California, due to previous abuse issues.
