• Selected
• Entire List

Abstract:
This article analyzes legislation and policies that limit prisoners' sexual expression and autonomy. The article juxtaposes prisoners interest in sexual expression against the interests of the state in regulating sex by and between prisoners. The article concludes that the state has an interest in regulating sex between inmates and staff and in regulating coerced or forced sex between inmates. In other instances prisons could accommodate prisoners' interest in sexual expression and achieve important goals such as better decisionmaking; improved relations with family and partners to aid community reentry; reduction of prison rape; and as inmate management.

prisons, sexual expression, rape, violence, gender

Abstract:
This paper addresses the sexual abuse of women in custody as a more contemporary manifestation of slavery and discusses the congruencies and the differences that exist between the sexual abuse of women in custody and slavery. The paper charts the history of the parallel abolition and prison reform movements and examines their divergent paths arguing that the women's movement abandonment of prison advocacy has harmed the women in prison movement. The article concludes that the embrace of human rights norms has assisted in providing new avenues for redressing the sexual abuse of women in custody.

Abstract:
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) is the first piece of federal legislation, which expressly and exclusively addresses sexual abuse of persons in custody. Notwithstanding passage of the Act, there is clear belief, echoed by correctional leaders, that prosecutors are reluctant at best, and unwilling at worst, to prosecute cases of sexual violence in correctional settings. In order to gather information on prosecutor interest in and capacity to prosecute these cases, the National Institute of Corrections Project on Addressing Prison Rape at the Washington College of Law the (the NIC/WCL Project) collected data from state and federal prosecutors.

This article draws on that research and data to examine the perception that prosecutors are unwilling to prosecute cases of sexual violence in custody, discusses barriers to prosecution identified by prosecutors regarding investigating and prosecuting allegations of sexual abuse of persons under correctional supervision, and recommends tools to overcome those barriers.

Abstract:
In September 2003, the United States Congress unanimously passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The Act was the culmination of a collaborative effort between human rights, faith-based, and prison rape advocacy. The aim of the Act is to create zero tolerance for prison rape by using a variety of tools or mechanisms including data collection; grants to the states; technical assistance to the states to improve their practices; research; the development of national standards; and the diminution of federal criminal justice assistance to states who fail to comply with the standards. This article aims to provide a brief background of the Act and the important political forces that shaped its passing, the current status on implementation of the Act, including progress made with each of the tools, and a prediction about issues that will arise in the enactment and implementation of the standards required by PREA.

Abstract:
This article examines one of the most often called for remedies for sexual abuse of female inmates - ending cross-gender supervision of female inmates by male correctional staff. Part I of the article describes the context of sexual misconduct against prisoners in the United States, highlighting important cases and discourse. Part II examines important differences in the legal decisions that address claims challenging cross-gender supervision raised by or concerning male and female inmates. Part III addresses the disconnect between the jurisprudence involving cross-gender supervision of men and women positing a "dignity and shame" approach by the court, and examines the explicit and implicit assumptions about race and gender that account for the difference in treatment of male and female prisoners. Part IV concludes with a recommendation that the U.S. establish a zone of privacy for both male and female inmates that exists regardless of the inmate's gender. It further concludes that while same-sex supervision of male and female inmates is an imperfect solution, it remains the best response presently available. The article also provides recommendations for implementing same-sex supervision consistent with Title VII, thereby recognizing both the importance of equal employment opportunities and the right to privacy and basic human dignity of both male and female inmates.

prisons, rape, violence gender, Title VII, international law

Abstract:
This Article focuses on a topic that, though frequently discussed, has been dismissed in the domestic violence discourse - forgiveness. The author draws upon personal narrative to frame the challenge of forgiveness. The article explores forgiveness - for domestic violence survivors, for batterers, and for communities - through a personal lens and drawing upon mediation, restorative justice and indigenous peace and reconciliation models. The article concludes that exploration and embrace of models that address forgiveness and reconciliation are overdue and would contribute greatly to practice and discourse on domestic violence.