Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) - Wyoming Department of Family Services

About PREA

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was enacted in 2003 to target prison rape and to protect inmates from victimization. Under PREA, “rape” includes a broad range of sexual misconduct, including sexual abuse, rape, and sexual harassment. The standards for states to follow were signed into rule in 2012.

There are 9 Purposes established under the Act

Establish a zero tolerance standard for the incidence of prison rape in prisons in the US
Make the prevention of prison rape a top priority in each prison system
Develop and implement national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction and punishment of prison rape
Increase the available data and information on the incidence of prison rape, consequently improving the management and administration of correctional facilities
Standardize the definitions used for collecting data on the incidence of prison rape
Increase the accountability of prison officials who fail to detect, prevent, reduce and punish prison rape
Protect the Eighth Amendment rights of Federal, State and local prisoners
Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal expenditures through grant programs
Reduce the costs that prison rape imposes on interstate commerce

The Wyoming Department of Family Services follows PREA standards for reporting incidents of sexual misconduct in the agency’s two facilities, the Wyoming Boys’ and Wyoming Girls’ Schools and investigates all reports of sexual misconduct in these facilities.

PREA Reporting at Wyoming Girls’ School and Wyoming Boys’ School

Residents who are victims of, or witnesses to, sexual misconduct may report the misconduct in a variety of ways:
Persons outside WGS or WBS may file a report by calling the state DFS office PREA Coordinator directly at 307-777-6299.

Options for Third Party Reporting:
For incidents concerning WGS:
Advocacy and Resource Center
136 Coffeen Ave,Sheridan, WY 82801:
General phone number: 307-672-7471
24 hour crisis line 307-672-3222

For incidents concerning WBS:
Cloud Peak Counseling
Director Mark Russler
401 S 23rd Street
Worland, WY 82401
Main phone number: 307-347-6165

Contact information:
Please refer PREA related questions to:
Brandon Schimelpfenig
Wyoming Department of Family Services
Phone: 307-777-6299
Email: brandon.schimelpfenig1@wyo.gov