Rape by the System: The Existence and Effects of Sexual Abuse of Women in United States Prisons

Authors

Samiera Saliba

Abstract

For thousands of women incarcerated in U.S. prisons, punishment has come to include sexual abuse by male prison guards. Twenty-five percent of women inside prison report such abuse, and that number likely falls short of the true figure. Nonetheless, the majority of guards in women's prisons continue to be male.

This note first explores the reasons for the prevalence of sexual abuse in women's prisons. It moves on to the effect of this abuse on women inside and on their communities. The note also surveys the legal barriers that prevent abused women inside from seeking redress. Finally, the note proposes a new legal framework for protecting women from and remedying sexual abuse in prison.

Recommended Citation

Samiera Saliba, Rape by the System: The Existence and Effects of Sexual Abuse of Women in United States Prisons, 10 Hastings Race & Poverty L.J. 293 (2013).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_race_poverty_law_journal/vol10/iss2/5