February 5, 2008

Prison rape: Chat with experts this Thursday

Harvard University and the National Institute of Justice are cosponsoring a free "online chat" with experts this Thursday, Feb. 7, about sexual victimization patterns in U.S. prisons and efforts to prevent and eventually eliminate this widespread problem.

A Bureau of Justice Statistics report released two months ago estimated that 60,500 prisoners reported sexual victimization within the past year alone. The research is mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

The chat features a panel of experts including criminology professor Barbara Owen, law professor Brenda Smith, and Bureau of Justice statistician Allen Beck.

Although the 2:00-4:00 p.m. (EST) event is free, advance registration is required.

My Dec. 18 "news roundup" has links to the Bureau of Justice Statistics research. Additional resources are here.

Hat tip: CrimePsych blog