Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
Publication Title
Corrections
Keywords
PREA, institutional betrayal, symbolic compliance, readability, correctional policy, incarcerated persons
Abstract
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was enacted in 2003 to prevent sexual abuse in correctional settings through a zero-tolerance framework. While all states formally acknowledge PREA, the accessibility, clarity, and completeness of the information provided to incarcerated individuals remain uncertain. This mixed-methods study evaluates PREA-related content in 62 state correctional handbooks from 49 states, assessing three core dimensions: readability, findability, and substantive content. Grounded in compliance theory and institutional betrayal, the analysis focuses on how correctional institutions communicate PREA protections, prevention strategies, and reporting procedures. Results reveal that most PREA content exceeds the literacy levels of the intended audience, is inconsistently organized, and frequently omits critical guidance. Reporting mechanisms often prioritize staff-based disclosure, lack procedural transparency, and emphasize the danger of false reporting over survivor support. The findings suggest a pattern of symbolic compliance, where handbooks reflect the appearance of adherence without providing meaningful access to protections. Recommendations are offered for creating more accessible, consistent, and legally meaningful PREA messaging that better aligns with the needs and literacy levels of incarcerated populations.
Funding Source
This article was published Open Access thanks to a transformative agreement between Milner Library and Taylor & Francis.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
DOI
10.1080/23774657.2025.2542954
Recommended Citation
Krienert, J. L., Walsh, J. A., & Donnelly, C. (2025). Unreadable, Unfindable, and Incomplete: Evaluating PREA Information in State Correctional Handbooks. Corrections, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/23774657.2025.2542954
Comments
First published in Corrections (2025): https://doi.org/10.1080/23774657.2025.2542954