Contact the PREA Coordinator at (757) 385-1220.
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (Public Law No.108-79) was signed into law in 2003 to "provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resource recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape."
The purpose of this policy is to ensure residents are protected from sexual assault and sexual harassment and to outline the agency's approach to preventing, detecting, and responding to such conduct.
Meeting the objectives of PREA is a priority of the VBJDC. The VBJDC has a zero tolerance toward any incident involving the sexual misconduct of a resident.
Each resident receives PREA education during the admission process, in-depth education within 7 days of admission, and ongoing refresher education throughout the residents' incarceration.
Reporting sexual assault or sexual harassment can be done in several ways by the resident, a family member, a staff member, or by a third party.
REPORT IT:
- ...to a staff member
- ....to the PREA Coordinator
- ...complete a grievance
- ...write a letter of complaint
- ...call:
- YWCA 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: (757) 226-9922, or
- Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: (800) 552-7096, or
- Local Social Services Division: (757) 385-3400, or
- Virginia Beach Police Department (non-emergency): (757) 385-5000, or
- VBJDC Administration Offices/PREA Coordinator: (757) 385-1220
The VBJDC will ensure that all allegations of sexual abuse are referred for investigation to the Virginia Beach Police Department/Special Victims Unit (VBPD/SVU) which has the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations. Sexual abuse allegations will also be referred to the Child Protective Services (CPS) Unit of the Virginia Beach Human Services Department.
Reports of sexual harassment will be investigated by the VBJDC PREA Coordinator and the Mental Health Clinician Supervisor. Both individuals are full-time employees on staff with the VBJDC and have had the PREA: Investigating Sexual Abuse in a Confinement Setting training from the National Institute of Corrections, which qualifies them to investigate reports of sexual harassment.
The VBJDC has a verbal understanding with the VBPD to perform the investigations and a written memorandum of understanding with the YWCA, that will offer support services as requested or as necessary. The VBPD solicits the services of the Chesapeake Forensic Specialists, who are the sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE). SANEs will conduct the initial examinations for the VBPD.
The VBJDC PREA Coordinator is a member of the Hampton Roads Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that meets quarterly.
The VBJDC has taken extraordinary measures to build an excellent working relationship with the VBPD, YWCA, CPS, and with the SANEs (forensic nurses) for the purpose of creating a safe, humane, and secure environment for all residents that is free of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.