The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), a federal law enacted in 2003, was created to eliminate sexual abuse in confinement. In addition to providing federal funding for research, programs, training, and technical assistance to address the issue, the legislation mandated the development of national standards. The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission developed recommended national standards for reducing prison rape.
In order to promote a safe and humane setting for the confinement of pre-trial detainees as well as convicted offenders, the Hawkins County Detention Center maintains a “zero tolerance policy” regarding the sexual abuse of inmates, staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct, and inmate-on-inmate sexual misconduct. The HCSO maintains a program of prevention, detection, response, investigation and tracking. Sexual assault among inmates and staff sexual misconduct towards inmates is strictly prohibited and subject to administrative and criminal disciplinary sanctions. All allegations, regardless of source will be investigated. Staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct will be governed by TCA 39-16-408, which includes contract and volunteer personnel. The appropriate sections of the TCA code will govern inmate-on-inmate sexual abuse based upon the advice of the District Attorney’s Office and the investigating police authority.
Sexual misconduct is illegal and will not be tolerated in any manner at the Hawkins County Detention Center. Sexual misconduct includes: inmate-on-inmate sexual abuse, assault, or consensual sexual activity, and staff-on-inmate sexual abuse, assault, or consensual sexual activity. Sexual misconduct also includes any solicitation of sexual activity. All allegations are fully investigated and substantiated incidents are reported to the HCSO’s Criminal Investigations Division and referral for prosecution if warranted.
Sexual abuse can be reported to ANY staff member at any time, either verbally or in writing. The staff will take actions to protect inmates from the assailant and refer them to medical for further treatment and counseling.
The following resources are available for reporting and/or counseling for victims of sexual abuse:
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
(RAINN): 1-800-656-4673
– OR –
Frontier Health Safe House
PO Box 3426
Kingsport, TN 37664
Phone: 423-306-5169
If you wish to report information that an inmate at the Hawkins County Detention Center has been the victim of sexual abuse by another inmate, or have information about employee sexual misconduct with regard to an inmate, please contact one of the following, either in writing or by phone:
Email: [email protected]
PREA Coordinator Phone: (423)272-4848
Contact in Writing: PREA 117 Justice Center Drive Rogersville, TN 37857
Investigations are given one of three designations: