Cindy Struckman-Johnson
Encyclopedia
Cindy Struckman-Johnson is a professor of psychology at the University of South Dakota
in Vermillion, South Dakota
. She is also a commissioner on the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission.
in social psychology
from the University of Kentucky
.
, and prejudice
classes for nearly 25 years. Struckman-Johnson and her partner, David Struckman-Johnson, have researched sexual coercion
in prison
since 1994. She has received two national awards for work in this area. A 1996 study by Struckman-Johnson concluded that between 12 and 14 percent of the male inmate population are "forcibly penetrated". Her 1996 study also noted that around 22 percent of inmates had been coerced into sexual contact of some kind. Furthermore, her study noted that about 18 percent of attacks are perpetrated by prison guards. Another study, undertaken by Struckman-Johnson in 2000, pointed to prison rape rates of 20 and 21 percent in seven Midwestern prisons.
by former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle
(D-SD). Her primary role on the commission is as an expert in prison rape
research.
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
in Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to...
. She is also a commissioner on the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission.
Education
Struckman-Johnson received her doctorateDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
Career
Struckman-Johnson has taught social psychology, sex roles, sexualityHuman sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
, and prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
classes for nearly 25 years. Struckman-Johnson and her partner, David Struckman-Johnson, have researched sexual coercion
Coercion
Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. Such actions are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way...
in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
since 1994. She has received two national awards for work in this area. A 1996 study by Struckman-Johnson concluded that between 12 and 14 percent of the male inmate population are "forcibly penetrated". Her 1996 study also noted that around 22 percent of inmates had been coerced into sexual contact of some kind. Furthermore, her study noted that about 18 percent of attacks are perpetrated by prison guards. Another study, undertaken by Struckman-Johnson in 2000, pointed to prison rape rates of 20 and 21 percent in seven Midwestern prisons.
Prison rape commission
In 2003 she was appointed to the National Prison Rape Elimination CommissionNational Prison Rape Elimination Commission
The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission was a U.S. bipartisan panel established by the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act. The commission was charged with studying sexual assaults in U.S. jails and prisons and presenting a report based on its findings. The report was released in June 2009...
by former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-SD). Her primary role on the commission is as an expert in prison rape
Prison rape
Prison rape commonly refers to the rape of inmates in prison by other inmates or prison staff.In 2001, Human Rights Watch estimated that at least 140,000 inmates had been raped while incarcerated. and there is a significant variation in the rates of prison rape by race...
research.