On January 11 theRichmond Times Dispatch published an article by Lovisa Stannow and Melissa Cortez Goemann about a disturbing report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics that revealed the extent of sexual abuse of youth confined in juvenile detention facilities. The report states that 12.1% of children confined in US facilities reported sexual abuse within the last year. Three of the facilities operated by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice reported rates over 20%. At the Culpeper Juvenile Correctional Center, 30% of the children reported abuse by other inmates or staff within the past year. These are shocking statistics and demand immediate attention by advocates and legislators in Virginia.
The circumstances described in this article are serious but preventable. Separating vulnerable juvenile offenders from potential predators in correctional facilities requires a renewed commitment to staff training and mandatory procedures to make the safety of juvenile inmates a priority. The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 requires standards for policies and practices to prevent sexual abuse and correctional facilities. Last June, a federal commission mandated by this Act recommended standards for juvenile detention facilities. The report by this expert panel addresses staff training, education for inmates, housing investigations, and medical and mental health care for the victims of sexual assault. These standards should be adopted as soon as possible. Virginia legislators should continue their effort to push for finalization of the federal regulations while doubling efforts to make sure that Virginia's juvenile correction facilities are safe for the children we send there for rehabilitation.
