Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) information

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has established a zero-tolerance policy for the incidence of any type of sexual misconduct involving inmates or staff in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The SCSO policy and Sauk County Jail rules prohibit sexual intercourse, contact, or conduct between inmates. Violations will result in disciplinary sanctions. Inmate on Inmate sexual assaults will also be prosecuted according to Wisconsin State Statutes.

In addition, any sexual acts between staff and inmates are ALWAYS prohibited and are a violation of SCSO policy and Jail rules, as well as against the law. Violators are subject to departmental discipline as well as prosecution punishable by prison sentence and fines. It is also inappropriate and against rules for an inmate to approach a staff member for the purpose of sexual activity.

Sexual assault is a serious crime. The SCSO will thoroughly investigate all reported incidents of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, to determine the merits and validity of the allegations under scrutiny. Any false reports or allegations of staff or inmate sexual misconduct that are determined to be deliberately malicious may result in discipline and potential prosecution.

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of a sexual assault that occurred while housed in the Sauk County Jail, REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. Reports can be made verbally or in writing. You remain anonymous, however, the more detailed information you provide, including your names, the name of others involved and the specific locations of the incident, the better we can investigate the actions. A PREA Hotline phone number has been established for you to directly report such incidents of sexual misconduct.

To make a report of sexual misconduct utilizing the PREA hotline number:

From outside the facility dial: 608-355-3474

From inside the facility: Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, then * 9

To make a report to an outside source of sexual misconduct utilizing the DHS PREA hotline number:

From outside the facility dial: 608-355-4203

From inside the facility: Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, then *8

If you think your safety, or the victim’s safety, is in jeopardy, we encourage you to report this immediately to a staff member.

Jail: 608-355-3492

Huber: 608-355-3264

Prison Rape Elimination Act

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was passed in 2003 with unanimous support from both parties in Congress. The purpose of the act was to “provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations and funding to protect individuals from prison rape.” (Prison Rape Elimination Act, 2003). In addition to creating a mandate for significant research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and through the National Institute of Justice, funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Institute of Corrections supported major efforts in many state correctional, juvenile detention, community corrections, and jail systems.

The act also created the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission and charged it with developing draft standards for the elimination of prison rape. Those standards were published in June 2009, and were turned over to the Department of Justice for review and passage as a final rule. That final rule became effective August 20, 2012.