Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 is a federal law established to support the elimination and prevention of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in correctional systems. PREA addresses both inmate-to-inmate sexual assault and staff-to-inmate sexual assault. The Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility (SCADF) fully supports the guidelines set forth in this law and has ZERO-TOLERANCE for any and all incidents of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003.
The SCADF implements its “Zero-Tolerance” policies through a facility-wide systematic process that begins when inmates are initially admitted into the facility. When inmates enter our intake area they are met with a comprehensive educational process where their rights to be free from sexual abuse and harassment is explained in detail to them. From there an assessment is conducted on every inmate to determine their individual risk of victimization or predation using an objective measurement tool based on specific risk factors. This tool is utilized to make an individualized determination of housing and program assignments for each inmate.
Throughout the facility, inmates are exposed to education concerning reporting options through the use of the inmate handbook on kiosks in every inmate living area. In addition to this, there are posters and a video played twice a day with information in regards to sexual abuse prevention and information concerning victim advocacy.
Inmates at the facility are housed in living units called housing pods. Each housing pod is designed to create direct observation of all inmate corridors so as to minimize blind-spots. Video monitoring is utilized throughout the jail facility to enhance security and surveillance.
When it comes to sexual activity within the jail facility, SCADF policies and procedures are clear; ALL SEXUAL ACTIVITY IS PROHIBITED. Beyond those rules, forced or coerced sexual behavior is a criminal act that merits criminal prosecution.
All substantiated incidents are reported to the investigation section and an investigation is conducted to ensure the perpetrator faces the full consequences of the law. The SCADF ensure that all incidents of sexual assault are thoroughly investigated and referred for prosecution to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.
In accordance with PREA, all investigations are assigned one of three possible determinations:
Substantiated - an allegation which was investigated and determined to have occurred;
Unfounded - an allegation which was investigated and determined not to have occurred;
Unsubstantiated - an allegation which produced insufficient evidence to make a final determination of a substantiated or unfounded claim.
In the year beginning January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014, there were 4 substantiated allegations, 7 unsubstantiated allegations, 26 unfounded cases of sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. The chart below provides a comparison between fiscal year 2013 and fiscal year 2014
Of the four substantiated cases,two were classified as Offender on Offender Non-Consensual Sexual Assault which resulted in the two separate suspects being referred for prosecution. The other two cases were classified as Offender on Offender Abusive Sexual Assault/Harassment.
All 11 incidents were investigated promptly, thoroughly and objectively yet, did not produce evidence sufficient to make any type of definitive judgment.
In 2015, beginning on January 1, 2015 and ending on December 31, 2015, there were 7 substantiated allegations by inmates, 16 unsubstantiated allegations by inmates, and 17 unfounded allegations by inmates of sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. The chart below provides a comparison between fiscal year 2014 and fiscal year 2015.
Of the seven substantiated cases, one was classified as Offender on Offender Non-Consensual Sexual Assault; two cases were classified as Offender on Offender Abusive Sexual Act. There were four classified as Offender on Offender Sexual Harassment, in 2015 this was an added to the classification table. 
In 2016, beginning on January 1, 2016 and ending on December 31, 2016 there were 8 substantiated allegations by inmates, 19 unsubstantiated allegations by inmates, and 1 unfounded allegations by inmates of sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. The chart below provides a comparison between the fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016.
Of the eight substantiated cases, four was classified as Offender on Offender Non-Consensual Sexual Assault and four were classified as Offender on offender Abusive Sexual Act. 
In 2017, beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2017 there was 1 substantiated staff allegation by inmates, 12 substantiated allegations by inmates, 26 unsubstantiated allegations by inmates, and 4 unfounded allegations by inmates of sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. The chart below provides a comparison between the fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017.
The one substantiated case was classified as Staff Sexual Misconduct by a contracted employee. Of the twelve substantiated cases, four were classified as Offender on Offender Sexual Assault and eight were classified as Offender on Offender Sexual Harassment.
In 2018, beginning January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2018 there were 0 substantiated staff allegations, 6 substantiated allegations, 3 unsubstantiated staff allegations, 28 unsubstantiated allegations, 17 unfounded staff allegations and 6 unfounded allegations. The chart above provides a comparison between the fiscal year 2017 and 2018. Of the six substantiated cases by offenders, two were classified as offender on offender abusive sexual contact and four were classified as offenders on offenders sexual harassment.
In 2019, beginning January 1, 2019 and ending on December 31, 2019 there were 5 substantiated allegations, 10 unsubstantiated staff allegations, 30 unsubstantiated allegations, 11 unfounded staff allegations and 12 unfound allegations. The chart above provides a comparison between the fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019. Of the five substantiated cases by offender, two were classified as offender on offender nonconsensual sexual act and three were classified as offender on offender sexual harassment.
In 2020, beginning January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020 there was 1 substantiated staff allegation, 6 substantiated allegations, 4 unsubstantiated staff allegations, 42 unsubstantiated allegations, 8 unfounded staff allegations and 11 unfounded allegations. The chart below provides a comparison between the fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2020. The one substantiated staff case was classified as staff sexual misconduct. Of the six substantiated offender cases, four were classified as offender on offender abusive sexual contact and two were classified as offender on offender sexual harassment.
In 2021, beginning on January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2021 there were 3 substantiated allegations, 5 unsubstantiated staff allegations, 45 unsubstantiated allegations, 15 unfounded staff allegations and 6 unfounded allegations. The chart above provides a comparison between the fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021. Of the three substantiated offender cases, one was classified as offender on offender nonconsensual sexual act, one was classified as offender on offender abusive sexual contact and one was classified as offender on offender sexual harassment.
If you feel that your family member or friend has been the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of another inmate or if you have information concerning suspected incidents of employee sexual misconduct involving Sedgwick County Adult Detention personnel, please submit a report form to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.
Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility PREA Definitions
§115.6 Definitions related to Sexual Abuse
Substantiated - An allegation that was investigated and determined to have occurred.
Unfounded - An allegation that was investigated and determined not to have occurred
Unsubstantiated - An allegation that was investigated and the investigation produced insufficient evidence to make a final determination as to whether or not the event occurred.
Gender categories
Transgender: A person whose gender identity (i.e., internal sense of feeling male or female) is different from the person’s assigned sex at birth.
Intersex: A person whose sexual or reproductive anatomy or chromosomal pattern does not seem to fit typical definitions of male or female. Intersex medical conditions are sometimes referred to as disorders of sex development.
Sexual victimization
NONCONSENSUAL SEXUAL ACTS:
- Contact of any person without his or her consent, or of a person who is unable to consent or refuse;
AND
- Contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus including penetration, however slight;
OR
- Contact between the mouth and the penis, vulva, or anus;
OR
- Penetration of the anal or genital opening of another person, however slight, by a hand, finger, object or other instrument.
ABUSIVE SEXUAL CONTACTS: (less severe)
- Contact of any person without his or her consent, or of a person who is unable to consent or refuse;
AND
- Intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person;
EXCLUDE
- incidents in which the contact was incidental to a physical altercation
SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY ANOTHER INMATE:
- Repeated and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal comments, gestures, or actions of a derogatory or offensive sexual nature by one inmate directed toward another.
- Any behavior or act of a sexual nature directed toward an inmate by an employee, volunteer, contractor, official visitor, or other agency representative (exclude family, friends, or other visitors).
- Sexual relationships of a romantic nature between staff and inmates are included in this definition.
- Consensual or nonconsensual sexual acts include: Intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks that is unrelated to official duties or with the intent to abuse, arouse, or gratify sexual desire;
OR
- Completed, attempted, threatened, or requested sexual acts;
OR
- Occurrences of indecent exposure, invasion of privacy, or staff voyeurism for reasons unrelated to official duties or for sexual gratification.
- Repeated verbal comments or gestures of a sexual nature to an offender to an inmate by an employee, volunteer, contractor, official visitor, or other agency representative (exclude inmate family, friends, or other visitors). Include demeaning references to gender; or sexually suggestive or derogatory comments about body or clothing;
OR
- Repeated profane or obscene language or gestures.
Online PREA Training for Volunteers and Contractors
To watch the PREA Training Video, please click here
Persons interested in volunteering at the Sedgwick County Detention Facility and/or contractors working within the secure area of the facility, are required to watch these videos. After viewing the videos you will be required to contact the inmate coordinators office, make arrangements to complete an examination and the information acknowledgment form. Not all persons completing this training will be granted access to the facility, you will have to be pre-approved by staff and pass a background check.
Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility - PREA Data
Survey of Sexual Violence (January 2012 – December 31, 2012)
Survey of Sexual Violence (January 2013 – December 31, 2013)
Survey of Sexual Assault (January 2014 - December 2014)
Memorandum of Understanding - Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center (victim advocate)