Rape prevention a tough issue for corrections officials

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) The state corrections department's Prison Rape Elimination Act program manager says handling sexual-assault complaints in correctional facilities is no easy task.

Ken Van Meveren says inmates often lie about being in danger because they simply want to be moved. In other cases, threats from inmates have prompted actual victims to lie about being assaulted.

Van Meveren is one of many in the industry who attended a South Dakota Corrections Association and Family Court Judges annual conference this past week.

President Bush in September 2003 signed the Prison Rape Elimination Act, setting a zero-tolerance standard for sexual assault in prisons and jails and making sexual assault prevention a priority.



(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-16-07 1100CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list