The National Institute of Corrections main website is undergoing upgrade maintenance. We'll be back up soon, but in the meantime, please browse this community forum site, or visit the NIC Learn Center to take online courses at any time.
The NIC Community is a place where all corrections professionals can interact and collaborate.
We are looking for information on how other agencies are addressing issues with male inmates exposing their genitals and/or masturbating in front of female correctional staff:
1) Is this an ongoing issue in your facility?
2) Are inmates only targeting correctional officers, or are they also exhibiting this behavior in front of attorneys, volunteers, etc.?
2) What has your department implemented in an effort to stop or minimize this behavior?
3) What has been effective? What has been ineffective?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Debbie Boecker, Director
Cook County Sheriff's Office
Chicago, Illinois
We have limited problems with this. If the inmate is a general population inmate, this behavior would be a serious rule violation and they would be moved to the SHU. In the mental health unit, we usually have males do the checks on the ones who do this.
Hi Debbie,
We have a few articles on this topic.
Management of Sexually Abusive Behavior from Inmates toward Staff
Model to Increase Understanding of Boundary Violations: Female Correctional Employees with Male Inmates -Part 1Part 2Part 3
BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS: POWER, CONNECTION AND RESPONSIBILITY
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello,
In various experiences, inmates within our system have targeted numerous different classifications such as custody, medical staff, and mental health staff with these types of behavior.
Below is a synopsis of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) policies on dealing with indecent exposure and sexual disorderly conduct:
Inmates who engage in acts of Indecent Exposure or Sexual Disorderly Conduct will be subject to Security Measures that are designed to decrease the opportunity for the inmate to repeat the behavior and/or minimize the impact that the behavior has on prison staff and others.
The inmate will be placed into Administrative Segregation and the offense will referred to the County District Attorney for criminal prosecution.
CDCR employs certain security measures for a determinate period to identify, prevent, reduce, and eliminate the behavior. CDCR uses the following Security Measures:
CDCR also utilizes Disciplinary Restrictions as a result of a disciplinary action where inmates are afforded due process. Inmates found guilty of committing an Indecent Exposure or Sexual Disorderly Conduct offense through the inmate disciplinary process may be subject to credit and privilege loss. CDCR utilizes graduated disciplinary sanctions to stop inmates from participating in these types of behaviors. CDCR also refers all inmates who exhibit these types of behaviors to mental health to determine if the behavior is the result of mental illness. Also if the inmate is already a participant in the mental health services delivery system the incident will be discussed with the inmate’s interdisciplinary treatment team.
Each CDCR institution also has an Indecent Exposure Review Committee (IERC)-The IERC monitors the implementation and effectiveness of the Departments policies as they relate to these types of offenses. The IERC meets at least quarterly and is comprised of custody, mental health and other program staff as deemed appropriate. The IERC forwards its monitoring information through the Hiring Authority to headquarters regularly for evaluation and monitoring.
Additionally, CDCR allows staff to make policy recommendations regarding Indecent Exposure or Sexual Disorderly Conduct incidents to their supervisor at any time. Written recommendations can be submitted to the employee’s supervisor via the CDCR Form 2152 who shall forward the recommendation to the IERC for consideration.