Assessing Specific Risk Factors for Sexual Perpetration and Victimization in a Prison for Females

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

The passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) highlighted the importance of preventing and responding to sexual victimization in prisons. Many states have developed assessment instruments to identify those inmates at risk for sexual perpetration and victimization. However, these tools were primarily developed from limited research. Female sexual aggressors and victims may exhibit unique risk factors, which are not accurately assessed by the use of current risk assessment tools. Based on data collected from women incarcerated in a Midwestern state, we assess whether there are further risk factors for sexual victimization and perpetration, beyond those currently being assessed.

Authors

• Sara Noel Toto, University of Nebraska at Omaha

• Benjamin Steiner, University of Nebraska at Omaha

• Emily Wright, University of Nebraska, Omaha