NCJ Number
205390
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 113-130
Date Published
May 2004
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined the prevalence and nature of sexual coercion within British prisons.
Abstract
Most previous research on sexual coercion in prisons has been conducted in the United States, although some studies have focused on Australia and the United Kingdom. The goal of the present study was to show that sexual coercion in British prisons is an under-reported phenomenon; that different types of sexual coercion exist; and that vulnerable prisoner groups are particularly susceptible to exploitation. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used; surveys were completed by 408 participants and one-on-one interviews were conducted with 106 participants. Participants were victims, perpetrators, non-victims, or non-perpetrators of sexual coercion. Sexual coercion was operationalized to include sexual exploitation, sexual victimization, sexual assault, rape, and non-consensual sexual activity including forced drug searches. Statistical and qualitative analyses indicated that approximately 1 percent of the sample had been sexually coerced involving sexual intimacy, while 4 percent had been subjected to forced drug searches. Most perpetrators were prisoners rather than staff members. Victims were repeatedly targeted after the initial incident and also reported higher instances of psychological problems following the initial incident compared with nonvictims. Perpetrators employed varied techniques to stop victims from reporting the abuse. The findings indicate that although there is a low reported rate of coercive sexual incidents in British prisons, such instances do occur and maybe underreported. As such, further study is warranted, particularly considering the psychological damage caused by sexually coercive abuse. Tables, figures, references