Annual PREA Report for Corrective Action
January 1 2024 to December 31, 2024
Pursuant to National PREA Standard 115.88, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is providing to the public a copy its annual review of PREA investigations, operational challenges relative to PREA and corrective actions taken to prevent, detect and respond to inmate sexual abuse and sexual harassment within its correctional facilities.
Within the past 12 months, the following has occurred:
The average number of inmates within the Bristol County correctional facilities is 687 which is an increase from January 2020 to December 2020, when the average number of inmates was 685. All inmates receive information regarding PREA during orientation and throughout their incarceration.
The number of total PREA related incidents reported within the Bristol County correctional facilities is 29. Which is a decrease from January 2020 to December 2020, where 38 total PREA related incidents were reported.
From January 2021 to December 2020, there were 15 unsubstantiated PREA reports, 0 substantiated reports and 14 reports proved to be unfounded. 27 involved male victims and 2 involved female victims.
There were 9 staff-on-inmate allegations investigated and 0 were substantiated, 4 unsubstantiated and 5 unfounded.
Within the past 12 months, 0 allegations were proved to be substantiated cases of sexual abuse and 0 were proved to be substantiated cases of sexual harassment. As a result of these investigations, all inmate predators found guilty of sexual abuse and/or harassment were appropriately disciplined.
All reported incidents of inmate sexual abuse or sexual harassment occurred on the grounds of either the Dartmouth Correctional Complex or the Ash Street Jail. In each case, staff responded to each allegation promptly notifying appropriate security managers. PREA investigators, the PREA Coordinator and health care practitioners were also notified of these incidents, once reported. Sheriff’s Office employees, contractors and volunteers are trained in the Sheriff’s Office “zero tolerance” standard relative to inmate sexual abuse and harassment, as well as reporting protocols.
All allegations of inmate sexual abuse or sexual harassment, including third-party and anonymous reports, are investigated by Sheriff’s Office investigators who have received specialized training to invest PREA allegations.
To prevent possible retaliation, PREA investigators monitor alleged victims of sexual abuse for a period of 90 days. There were no cases of retaliation identified within the past 12 months.
A PREA Review Committee, which meets monthly, examines each completed PREA investigation to determine whether or not changes to existing policy, practice and staffing levels are necessary, as well as improvements to monitoring technology.
The Dartmouth Correctional Complex underwent a PREA Audit in November of 2024 and was found to be compliant for all Federal PREA Standards.
End of Report
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