Impact of Prison Rape on Public Health

Abstract

One of the most significant threats to the health of incarcerated persons is prison rape. Through such acts, communicable diseases are spread and physical and mental injuries are inflicted. This article evaluates the evidence regarding the extent to which prison rape occurs in both men and women’s correctional facilities in the United States. It also discusses how prison rape jeopardizes public health by exposing the community to disease, brutalized inmates who are likely to have become more violent as a result of their victimization, and the cancer of racism. Current efforts to deal with the prison rape problem, particularly the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 are explored. Policy recommendations, including the adoption of “no-drop” policies for prosecutors’ officers dealing with prison rape cases are proposed and discussed.