The UC Berkeley Criminal Law & Justice Center’s Prison Rape Elimination Project applies the Center’s data-driven research and advocacy approach to address sexual violence in male prisons, focusing on strategies that prioritize the safety and dignity of incarcerated individuals. The project encompasses comprehensive analysis of California’s PREA reporting systems and culture, examining data that shows increased reporting since 2021 but reveals significant investigation backlogs and underreporting issues. This systemic analysis extends to evaluating a range of legislative and policy solutions including AB 1140 for single cell housing, alternative sanctions to reduce carceral populations, enhanced staff training programs, implementation of technological monitoring equipment, structural facility modifications, and developing external oversight mechanisms with subpoena power and unannounced access capabilities.
The project takes a holistic approach to analyzing the entire system—from initial reporting and underreporting patterns through investigation processes to available remedies—with a focus on identifying actionable solutions. Research activities include reviewing global best practices in prison sexual assault reporting and conducting stakeholder interviews with correctional officials and community experts. The project will advance through continued research and working groups focused on legislative advocacy and external reporting mechanisms aimed at producing systemic reforms that can meaningfully address sexual violence in California’s correctional system.