The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) addresses the detection and prevention of sexual abuse in all incarceration facilities throughout the United States. 

PREA directs the collection and dissemination of information on the incidence of juvenile on juvenile sexual violence as well as staff sexual misconduct with juveniles in custody.

The Jefferson County Youth Detention has a ZERO-TOLERANCE policy of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. 

We are committed to ensuring a safe, humane and secure environment, free from the threat of sexual abuse and sexual harassment of all detainees and staff/volunteers/contracted personnel/interns.

Investigative Procedure PREA Standard 115.322

The Jefferson County Youth Detention shall ensure that an administrative or criminal investigation is completed for all allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. It is the policy of this facility that all allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment are referred to an agency with the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations, unless the allegations do not involve potentially criminal behavior. All referrals shall be documented.

This policy shall be published on the Jefferson County Youth Detention website. If a separate entity is responsible for conducting criminal investigations, the publication shall describe the responsibilities of both the facility and the investigating entity.

Any county entity responsible for conducting administrative or criminal investigations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment in juvenile facilities shall have in place a policy governing the conduct of such investigations.

Any Department of Justice component responsible for conducting administrative or criminal investigations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment in juvenile facilities shall have in place a policy governing the conduct of such investigations.

Procedure

Any person having knowledge, suspicion, or information regarding an incident of sexual assault/harassment shall report this information to the supervisor on duty. The supervisor shall immediately notify the Juvenile Detention Director and Deputy Director. All allegations for sexual abuse/assault/harassment shall be investigated by the Birmingham Police Department. Administrative and criminal investigations shall be conducted simultaneously with priority given to the criminal investigation. All referrals to outside agencies shall be documented.

Investigators

The Jefferson County Youth Detention requires the training of certain individuals as required in PREA Standard 115.334.

Those trained individuals shall conduct any administrative investigations of sexual abuse and harassment allegations, if the allegation does not involve potentially criminal behavior.

Investigations of Sexual Harassment Allegations

Allegations of sexual harassment shall be investigated administratively by Jefferson County Youth Detention Investigators.

If the investigation shows that a staff member is involved in the sexual harassment allegations and based on preponderance of the evidence it is believed that the staff member committed the harassment, the matter shall be turned over to the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Birmingham Police Department and/or district attorney's office.

Investigations of Sexual Abuse Allegations

Any allegation of sexual abuse that potentially involves criminal behavior shall be turned over to the Birmingham Police Department for investigation, especially in all cases that may have happened within a time frame that allows for collection of physical evidence or if the allegation involves another staff member.

Staff at the Jefferson County Youth Detention shall cooperate in every way with any investigation.

The Jefferson County Youth Detention shall endeavor to remain informed of the progress of the investigation.