Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

About the Prison Rape Elimination Act

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was enacted by Congress in 2003 to address the prevention, detection, and response to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in jails and prisons. The standards were given to the Department of Justice for review and were finalized on August 20, 2012.

In 2008, the Scott County Jail began training all staff members in PREA standards, and has made it a mandatory training component for all newly hired staff. In addition to staff training, all volunteers and professional visitors are provided training on how to detect and report incidents of sexual abuse.

The Scott County Jail had its first PREA audit conducted in February, 2016. The jail is continuing to work on full compliance of all PREA standards, including a new jail management system that incorporates the requirements of PREA. For 2017, the jail will continue to maintain full compliance with PREA standards through collaboration with advocacy groups and monitoring Department of Justice information concerning PREA.

The Scott County Jail has a zero tolerance policy with regard to sexual abuse and sexual harassment, and will take appropriate affirmative measures to protect all inmates from sexual abuse and harassment and to promptly and thoroughly investigate all allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office will investigate any criminal complaint.

Making a Report

All reports are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated. False reports will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

A person who becomes aware of, suspects, or otherwise has knowledge of any sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual harassment or retaliation at the Scott County Jail must immediately report the information in any of the following ways.

  • Tell any Scott County Jail staff member, program volunteer, or facilitator
  • Call PREA Hotline at 952-496-8314
  • Email the PREA Hotline at SheriffJailPREA@co.scott.mn.us
  • Call the Sexual Violence Center at 612-871-5111

Scott County investigates all reports of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. Where necessary, reports are referred to the Scott County Sheriff's Office for criminal investigation.