ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an argument for gender-specific components of sexual abuse and discusses the definition of sexual abuse, statistics, and prevalence of the sexual abuse of women, as well as the consequences of sexual abuse. Rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse are issues that are pervasive in both male and female correctional facilities. The chapter provides an argument for why this form of abuse constitutes a human rights violation. The Pocahontas State Correctional Center in Pocahontas, Virginia, is a facility that has recently been at the center of multiple investigations into sexual misconduct by correctional staff. Colorado has experienced multiple incidents of inmates being sexually abused even after million-dollar lawsuits, new guidelines, and new rules were imposed to protect the safety and security of inmates.
