The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is championing new state legislation to protect people held in Colorado’s county and municipal jails from sexual abuse and harassment.
HB26-1123, Prevent Sexual Abuse in Jails, was introduced on Wednesday, February 4, by Colorado State Representatives Katie Stewart and Javier Mabrey and Senators Judy Amabile and Mike Weissman. The legislation would bridge gaps in jail safety policies that have allowed sexual violence to run rampant in jail environments. The bill was introduced in response to a number of cases of sexual abuse in local jails in Colorado, including that of a former La Plata County Jail commander who has been accused of viewing recordings of more than 100 women’s strip searches for sexual gratification.
“Sexual violence and violations of bodily autonomy pose an urgent threat to the rights, dignity, and safety of people held in our state’s jails,” said Elizabeth Newman, Director of Public Policy at CCASA. “Colorado has a responsibility to do more to prevent this.”
“What the former jail commander is accused of doing in my district is a serious abuse of power and should have never happened,” said Representative Katie Stewart. “Whether you’re serving a sentence or being held pre-trial, no one deserves to be a victim of sexual violence while in jail. That’s why I am introducing this bill to enact stronger policies to prevent it from happening in my district or anywhere else in Colorado again.”
HB26-1123 would prevent opportunities for staff to abuse people held in jail by adding new limitations for strip searches, prohibiting the use of body-worn cameras during strip searches, and restricting access to video footage depicting inmates and detainees when they are undressed. The bill would also extend reporting requirements and whistleblower protections for jail staff and ensure that people held in Colorado’s jails are informed about their rights to be protected from sexual violence and their ability to access sexual assault advocacy services if needed.
“It is essential that we make it easier for jail staff to speak up about sexual abuse and demand more accountability from these systems,” said Representative Mabrey, the bill’s co-sponsor. “I am proud to stand with survivors and advocates to make our jails safer for everyone.”
Sexual violence in jails is all too common. Research shows that within six-month periods of incarceration, one in 10 men and one in four women will experience sexual victimization. (1) Additionally, 86 percent of women in jails have previously experienced some form of sexual violence, a proven risk factor for further victimization and trauma in a carceral setting. (2)
The U.S. Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003 to reduce sexual violence and improve protections for incarcerated people. While PREA established important safeguards and processes, inconsistent implementation and enforcement of these standards have left significant gaps. At least 87,000 Coloradans are booked in county jails every year, yet two thirds of Colorado counties that operate jails do not provide any public information about their PREA Coordinator or reporting processes.
HB26-1123 has a broad coalition of support and was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. Survivors who wish to testify are encouraged to reach out to CCASA at info@ccasa.org for emotional and logistical support.
The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is the leading voice for Colorado’s anti-sexual violence movement alongside its more than 100 members. Now in its 42nd year, CCASA provides leadership, advocacy, and support to address and prevent sexual violence.
(1) Wolff, N., PhD., Shi, J., M.S., & Siegel, J. A., PhD. (2009). Patterns of victimization among male and female inmates: Evidence of an enduring legacy. Violence and Victims, 24(4), 469-84.
(2) Beck, Allen J., and United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2013). Sexual victimization in prisons and jails reported by inmates, 2011-12: National Inmate Survey, 2011-12. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics.