By Robert Stallworth
InPublicSafety.com
Recently, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released new instruments, unlike a flute or saxophone, to play in the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) band. Although it doesn’t play actual music, the new tools could be music to some people’s ears as their department strives for compliance.
These PREA standards are “designed to enhance safety within facilities where people are detained for any amount of time, even if an agency only has one cell.” Personally, I’m not familiar with agencies or departments that only have one cell, but I’m sure such agencies exist. I guess that would be like an agency not hearing about or knowing it had to comply with PREA.
What are the New PREA-Compliance Tools?
The new DOJ tools are designed to help agencies meet the PREA standards through an audit. Yes, the dreaded “A” word. However, what’s different about this type of audit is that the federal government is not coming to breathe down your neck. Instead, agencies can hire independent auditors who are highly trained and qualified to come to the facility to assist with compliance. The DOJ reports that they have nearly 300 individuals trained and certified to conduct such facility audits.
Full story: Did you Know that PREA Compliance Now Comes with an Easy Button?
