Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
Zero Tolerance Policy
The Berks County Jail System (BCJS) maintains a zero tolerance policy for substantiated acts or threats of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, or retaliation for the reporting of sexual abuse or harassment. While incarcerated at BCJS, inmates have the right to be free from sexual abuse, or any related threats, harassments, intimidations, or retaliations.
Law Enforcement Referral
Sexual abuse or harassment of inmates by other inmates or by jail staff, contracted staff, volunteers, professional visitors, or interns is strictly prohibited. All alleged violations will be thoroughly investigated, may be subject to administrative sanctions, and will be referred to law enforcement for criminal prosecution unless the allegation does not involve potentially criminal behavior.
3rd Party Reporting
Friends, family, and professional visitors may report suspected incidents of sexual abuse or sexual harassment by:
- Phone: 610.208.4800 ext. 4026 (Mon-Fri, 8am - 4pm, Closed Holidays)
- Hotline: 1-844-429-5412 (24 hours per day/7 days per week)
Statistics
| Label | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Retaliation Allegations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ongoing Investigation at the Year End | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Substantiated Allegations | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Unfounded Allegations | 2 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 34 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Harassment Allegations | 3 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Sexual Abuse Allegations | 5 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Unsubstantiated Allegations | 5 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Investigations Completed | 8 | 26 | 18 | 22 | 27 | 44 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
Statistics represents the total number of staff-on-inmate plus inmate-on-inmate investigations.
Audit
*CONFIDENTIALITY – All correspondence and information provided during interviews with the designated auditor or auditor’s staff are confidential and will not be disclosed unless required by law. There are exceptions when confidentiality must be legally broken. Exceptions include, but are not limited to the following:
- if the person is an immediate danger to her/himself or others (e.g. suicide or homicide);
- allegations of suspected child abuse, neglect or maltreatment;
- in legal proceedings where information has been subpoenaed by a court of appropriate jurisdiction.