Citation

Noll T. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2008; 52(3): 251-252.

Affiliation

Zurich State Penitentiary Pöschwies, Zurich, Switzerland. thomas.noll@ji.zh.ch.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0306624X08316297

PMID

18460592

Abstract

Sexual coercion is a serious and devastating offence that can occur in correctional facilities. The most brutal forms of sexual assault--such as rape (sometimes happening to the same victim on a daily basis for years) and gang rape--can cause permanent physical, psychological, emotional, social, and sexual problems and even death of the victim; but once sexually assaulted, the victim is likely to be repeatedly targeted--owing to loss of social status, perceived weakness, and vulnerability. Sometimes the victim even reacts by becoming a sexual aggressor, thus continuing the vicious circle and possibly carrying it out of prison and into extramural society. Because of these extremely deleterious effects, the United States has ratified two international treaties that require it to protect prisoners from sexual violence: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Language: en