No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons
Encyclopedia
No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons is the title of an influential, book length, 2001 report by Human Rights Watch
on prison rape
in the United States. The report is credited with playing a major role in the 2003 passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
(HRW) had published several papers on the topic of prison rape in the years since its initial report on the topic in 1996. The 1996 paper "All too Familiar:
Sexual Abuse of Women in U.S. State Prisons" was released during a time when there was almost no Congressional support for legislation aimed at prison rape
. By 2001, no reliable national statistics existed on sexual violence in U.S. prisons. There were, however, a few studies of prison rape within individual states prior to the start of the "No Escape" study in 1996. A survey in Nebraska
that year indicated that 22 percent of inmates had been forced into sexual activity during their stint in the prison system
.
and Prison Life Magazine, both widely circulated within U.S. prisons. Soon after, the report's primary author, Mariner received thousands of letters from inmates, many detailing rapes. The book-length "No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons" was released on April 19, 2001. The report documented that prison rape was commonplace during a time when half of U.S. states compiled no statistics on the subject. Brent Staples
described the report, which was based partly on the testimony of over 200 inmate victims, as "grisly".
"No Escape" surveyed 34 states' prison systems. The report documented lurid accounts of prison rape, where inmates were being sold to other inmates as sex slaves, men, instead of being beaten into submission, coerced into sexual activity, sometimes while prison officials stood by. In the report a group of six Texas
inmates told HRW that sexual slavery "is commonplace in the system's most dangerous prison units." "No Escape" identified prisons run by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
as the worst for incidents of prison rape; this assertion was confirmed by later reports. The report also collated similar testimony from inmates in Arkansas
, Illinois
, Michigan
, and California
.
"No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons" blamed indifference and feigned ignorance by prison officials for the widespread existence of male inmate on inmate sexual violence in American prisons. When HRW queried Nebraska for information while compiling "No Escape" they were told that incidents were "minimal"; New Mexico
told HRW no reported incidents had occurred in the past few years. Numerous other states had similar responses that characterized such incidents as rare or not a problem; among those states the Department of Corrections
in Alaska
, Connecticut
and Kentucky
all noted they did not keep records of sexual violence reports.
and other publications followed suit with coverage of the issue. The media coverage introduced the reality of prison rape
to many citizens for the first time. Indeed, the text of PREA acknowledges the fact that it is dealing with a little known crime, both in the general public and amongst those in government.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
on 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...
in the United States. The report is credited with playing a major role in the 2003 passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
Background
Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
(HRW) had published several papers on the topic of prison rape in the years since its initial report on the topic in 1996. The 1996 paper "All too Familiar:
Sexual Abuse of Women in U.S. State Prisons" was released during a time when there was almost no Congressional support for legislation aimed at 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...
. By 2001, no reliable national statistics existed on sexual violence in U.S. prisons. There were, however, a few studies of prison rape within individual states prior to the start of the "No Escape" study in 1996. A survey in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
that year indicated that 22 percent of inmates had been forced into sexual activity during their stint in the prison system
Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is the state corrections agency for the State of Nebraska. NDCS currently has 11 institutions confining over 4,000 inmates. All male inmates coming into the system enter through the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center where they are evaluated and...
.
Authors
The report was authored by Joanne Mariner, at the time the deputy director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch. The research was a collaborative effort of HRW staff, interns and other individuals.Report
The study began in 1996 when announcements were published in Prison Legal NewsPrison Legal News
Prison Legal News is a black-and-white monthly American magazine and on-line periodical published since May 1990. It is a non-profit 501 non-profit organization and it reports on prison legal cases and prison conditions primarily in the United States...
and Prison Life Magazine, both widely circulated within U.S. prisons. Soon after, the report's primary author, Mariner received thousands of letters from inmates, many detailing rapes. The book-length "No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons" was released on April 19, 2001. The report documented that prison rape was commonplace during a time when half of U.S. states compiled no statistics on the subject. Brent Staples
Brent Staples
Brent Staples is an author and editorial writer for the New York Times. His books include An American Love Story and Parallel Time: Growing up In Black and White, which won the Anisfield Wolf Book Award...
described the report, which was based partly on the testimony of over 200 inmate victims, as "grisly".
"No Escape" surveyed 34 states' prison systems. The report documented lurid accounts of prison rape, where inmates were being sold to other inmates as sex slaves, men, instead of being beaten into submission, coerced into sexual activity, sometimes while prison officials stood by. In the report a group of six Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
inmates told HRW that sexual slavery "is commonplace in the system's most dangerous prison units." "No Escape" identified prisons run by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
as the worst for incidents of prison rape; this assertion was confirmed by later reports. The report also collated similar testimony from inmates in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
"No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons" blamed indifference and feigned ignorance by prison officials for the widespread existence of male inmate on inmate sexual violence in American prisons. When HRW queried Nebraska for information while compiling "No Escape" they were told that incidents were "minimal"; New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
told HRW no reported incidents had occurred in the past few years. Numerous other states had similar responses that characterized such incidents as rare or not a problem; among those states the Department of Corrections
Department of Corrections
A Department of Corrections is a governmental agency responsible for overseeing the incarceration of persons convicted of crimes within a particular jurisdiction. Entities serving that purpose include:* Department of Corrections...
in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
all noted they did not keep records of sexual violence reports.
Reaction
The release of "No Escape" has been called the single event that contributed most to the passage of Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) two years later. The report was cited in Congressional testimony surrounding the legislation which became law in September 2003. The report cast incidents of prison rape as widespread, a contention that was dismissed as "overblown" by many prison officials. Regardless, the study was featured on the front page of The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and other publications followed suit with coverage of the issue. The media coverage introduced the reality of 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...
to many citizens for the first time. Indeed, the text of PREA acknowledges the fact that it is dealing with a little known crime, both in the general public and amongst those in government.
Further reading
- Mariner, Joanne, et al. No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons", Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
. 2001. ISBN 1564322580. Retrieved June 5, 2008. - Thomas, Dorothy Q., et al. "All too Familiar: Sexual Abuse of Women in U.S. State Prisons", Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
. 1996. ISBN 1564321533. Retrieved June 5, 2008.