Update on the Prison Rape Elimination Act

National standards released in June 2009 by the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC), pursuant to the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), apply to police departments operating temporary lockup, holding facilities for adult arrestees, jails, and juvenile lockups, in addition to departments contracting with outside agencies to hold arrestees. Officers must be aware of the impact the standards will have on their agencies, as no police chief wants to lead an organization that allows sexual abuse of arrestees or staff sexual misconduct. That said, PREA may fundamentally alter individual agencies’ operations.