Prison Rape Elimination Act Analysis

In 2003 the United States Congress crafted a wide-ranging legislative response to prison rape. The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 also known as PREA was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Prison Rape Elimination Act established a "zero-tolerance standard" for prison rape and mandated that the U.S. Department of Justice "make the prevention of prison rape a top priority in each prison system.” One of the main goals of PREA is to increase the data and information on the incidence of prison rape to help improve management and administration in regard to sexual violence in correctional facilities. The law also created an independent National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, which was charged with studying