Prevalence of consensual sex and rape in female only juvenile correctional facilities: four case studies

• In Event: Abuse of Incarcerated People

Abstract

Findings from a recent BJS survey: “Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities Reported by Youth”; estimate that the prevalence of both consensual sex and rape in female only juvenile correctional institutions ranged between 4% and 19% in 2012. The report indicated that the majority of sexual contact in female only institutions is consensual and between inmates, however, limited frequencies of female institutions reporting discourage statistical generalization. In this paper, we conduct case studies of four female only institutions where juveniles reported sexual contact. Early findings indicate that, unlike their male counterparts, institutionalized female juveniles are more likely to experience sexual contact in smaller capacity facilities.

Authors

• Susan V. Koski, Central Connecticut State University

• S. E. Costanza, University of South Alabama

• David A. Bowers, University of South Alabama