Criminal Perspective

The days in prison are long and stressful.   Inside the prison walls a separate subculture and language exist.   Each prison contains it own hierarchy of power and order.   One of an inmates’ worst fear is getting raped or sexually assaulted by another inmate.   Being forced to become another inmate’s bitch or punk was not the sentenced punishment or the desired way an inmate wants to do their time.   The challenge I bring to this advocacy program is prison rape.
Prison rape is a growing concern that has finally gotten some deserved attention.   For many years it was seen as an element of the environment verses a violation of personal rights.   In 2003 the U.S government passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) which assists in the protection of rape and assaults within prisons.    
In four Midwest states, the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault reports that 1 out of 5 men reported that while incarcerated they experienced a pressured or forced sex incident (Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assaults, n.d.).   Some inmates felt forced into the sex incidents due to having no way out or die, some experienced gang rape, and others were victims of vicious assaults.   Most prison rape cases are not about the sex, it is all about the power and control (Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assaults, n.d.).
Rookies new to the prison world soon discover the importance of watching out and protecting for oneself.   The majority of prison rape victims are young, easily intimidated prison rookies who have non-violent charges and are physically weak or are of small built.   Common victims are the mentally ill, developmentally slow, non gang members, previously sexually assaulted candidates, an individual who are disliked, and snitches (Colorado Department of Public Safety, n.d.).
Rape victims sometimes feel vulnerability, are powerless, have self-doubt, confusion, rage, anger, humiliation, fear, blame and loss of masculinity. Victims often experience nightmares, insomnia, anxiety,... [continues]

Read full essay