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This has taken too long to address, finally something is being done, this should be applauded.
"Individuals who are incarcerated have basic human rights," said U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, chairman of the commission. "Just because they've committed a crime and they're incarcerated does not mean that their human dignity can be abused."
At the commission's news conference Tuesday, Hope Hernandez told a crowded room of her ordeal in a Washington D.C. jail in the late 90s when the then-23-year old was awaiting trial on drug charges.
After begging for a shower for two weeks, Hernandez said a corrections officer showed up one night with a towel and shampoo to take her for a shower. She said he led her to the shower, where he raped her.
"Rape must never be part of the penalty, " said Hernandez, a mother of two who later earned a master's degree in social work.
His punishment, she said, was a seven-day suspension with pay before being returned to duty.
Imagine the uproar if this was done to any other rapist-a week off work with pay, but since she was in prison it's acceptable-right?
That's the attitude of too many people, and it's sickening. I've seen quite a few comments to the effect of "hope he likes his new cellmate bubba" etc. And then people wonder why the thread on sexual assault myths exists. .....but that's different....no it's not, you're still saying the victim deserved it because they committed a crime, it's exatly the same as saying they deserved it for they way they dressed/acted/amount of drugs they took etc.
Most victims of prison rape are non-violent drug offenders-yup selling weed can get you put in prison in most states, or juvenile offenders tried as adults-let's just give imprisoned pedophiles captive victims.*
from Stop prison rape inc.
According to the best available research, 20 percent of inmates in men’s prisons are sexually abused at some point during their incarceration. The rate for women’s facilities varies dramatically from one prison to another, with one in four inmates being victimized at the worst institutions.
Survivors of sexual abuse behind bars experience the same emotional pain as other rape victims
Whether committed by staff or by fellow inmates, sexual assault behind bars is a form of torture that violates international human rights law, the U.S. Constitution, and state criminal law. the U.S. government has also recognized that prisoner rape can amount to cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
When the government takes away someone’s freedom, it has a responsibility to protect that person’s safety. All inmates have the right be treated with dignity**, and no matter what crime someone has committed, sexual violence must never be part of the penalty.
*In particular, inmates who are gay, transgender, young, mentally ill, or incarcerated for the first time and for non-violent offenses are at highest risk
**remember the outrage at how detainees were treated at GITMO? Some prisoners go through that or worse daily
This has taken too long to address, finally something is being done, this should be applauded.
"Individuals who are incarcerated have basic human rights," said U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, chairman of the commission. "Just because they've committed a crime and they're incarcerated does not mean that their human dignity can be abused."
At the commission's news conference Tuesday, Hope Hernandez told a crowded room of her ordeal in a Washington D.C. jail in the late 90s when the then-23-year old was awaiting trial on drug charges.
After begging for a shower for two weeks, Hernandez said a corrections officer showed up one night with a towel and shampoo to take her for a shower. She said he led her to the shower, where he raped her.
"Rape must never be part of the penalty, " said Hernandez, a mother of two who later earned a master's degree in social work.
His punishment, she said, was a seven-day suspension with pay before being returned to duty.
Imagine the uproar if this was done to any other rapist-a week off work with pay, but since she was in prison it's acceptable-right?
That's the attitude of too many people, and it's sickening. I've seen quite a few comments to the effect of "hope he likes his new cellmate bubba" etc. And then people wonder why the thread on sexual assault myths exists. .....but that's different....no it's not, you're still saying the victim deserved it because they committed a crime, it's exatly the same as saying they deserved it for they way they dressed/acted/amount of drugs they took etc.
Most victims of prison rape are non-violent drug offenders-yup selling weed can get you put in prison in most states, or juvenile offenders tried as adults-let's just give imprisoned pedophiles captive victims.*
from Stop prison rape inc.
According to the best available research, 20 percent of inmates in men’s prisons are sexually abused at some point during their incarceration. The rate for women’s facilities varies dramatically from one prison to another, with one in four inmates being victimized at the worst institutions.
Survivors of sexual abuse behind bars experience the same emotional pain as other rape victims
Whether committed by staff or by fellow inmates, sexual assault behind bars is a form of torture that violates international human rights law, the U.S. Constitution, and state criminal law. the U.S. government has also recognized that prisoner rape can amount to cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
When the government takes away someone’s freedom, it has a responsibility to protect that person’s safety. All inmates have the right be treated with dignity**, and no matter what crime someone has committed, sexual violence must never be part of the penalty.
*In particular, inmates who are gay, transgender, young, mentally ill, or incarcerated for the first time and for non-violent offenses are at highest risk
**remember the outrage at how detainees were treated at GITMO? Some prisoners go through that or worse daily
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