Prison rape

Specialties Correctional

Published

I have read that in the US, the rate of male-on-male rape in prison (ie, not the number of instances, but the rate of occurence) is high enough to rival the rate that occurs in "normal" life outside of prison.

Just wondering if there are any RNs out there who work in prisons, and/or are S.A.N.E. certified, and/or have had experience encountering prison rape victims (either suspected or confirmed). More specifically I'm curious about how effective the system is (ie, in your experience) in detaining and putting a proper stop to instances of inmate rape.

Of course I realize that as an RN, we may only see primarily the nursing-specific aspects of such situations. But in school they're always emphasizing the need for multi-disciplinary involvement (ie, getting the social worker, legal authorities, ect. involved); whereas I would imagine that in a prison environment this problem might be a very different game altogether.

Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance - Jedi

PS: I imagine this might be a very loaded question that regulars here may get tired of discussing - or maybe not; I'm not sure. Anyway if so...my apologies in advance...

Actually good question:

I don't know how its handled from state to state..

Sexual activity between inmates, inmates with staff and or the term / action of rape are handled with kid gloves and SOP's spell out how much discussion / actions staff can have with the patient.

Here in Georgia the rape patients (true, suspected, otherwise):

Bumped up immediately to the MD...

Sent out to the ER immediately (With rape kit)....

Minimal questioning allowed...

Investigators are called in....

Sex in prison is against the law rape or otherwise.

Multiple variables in prison:

- Rape

- Sex for protection (Rape !?!)

- Consensual sex and caught called out rape

- Staff / inmate (Rape!?!)

- ETC

- ETC

Thanks, JDCitizen.

Btw, what do you mean by "SOP"?

SOP = standard operational procedure (ie the big rules)

LOP = local operational procedure (usually in addition to SOP and usually can't replace or override without documented permission)..

To this day we have security putting alot of pressure onto the nurses thus interferring with the nursing process. I have found that the afternoons and midnight shifts of security are main the problem. Bottom line if an inmate come forward with the claims of being raped they need to be sent immediately to the ER. Upon return a body check can be done but not prior to the ER visit. This is where security insists pixs need to be done and evidence collected before hand. They are wrong...the ER will collect this evidence. We are finding younger and younger inmates into the system which is troublesome enough but thus we need to protect them as much as possible. Bottom line know your Policy and Procedures and follow to a T.

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