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According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Justice, rape in Juvenile Detention Centers is reaching epidemic proportions. Although I was quite happy to see this issue being exposed and getting covered on major networks like CNN (as shown in the clip), I would definitely like to see more action around this issue. Young people placed in detention centers are there because they need some extra structure, care and support before they can be re-integrated into society. I do not think however that this means they should be open season for sexual violence. The worst part about this statistic is how prevalent this type of violence is in U.S. juvenile detention centers: around 30% of all youth inmates face this type of abuse. The statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice paint a very bleak picture:
Rates of reported sexual victimization varied among youth:I think it is important to point out that both males and females are victims of this violence. I can't imagine how difficult of an emotional burden this must be for some of these young men in a U.S. gender structure where there is almost no room for the recognition of male sexual violence victims.
- 10.8% of males and 4.7% of females reported sexual activity with facility staff.
- 9.1% of females and 2.0% of males reported unwanted sexual activity with other youth.
- Youth with a sexual orientation other than heterosexual reported significantly higher rates of sexual victimization by another youth (12.5%) compared to heterosexual youth (1.3%).
- Youth who had experienced any prior sexual assault were more than twice as likely to report sexual victimization in the current facility (24.1%), compared to those with no sexual assault history (10.1%).
It is also so heartbreaking to note that those youth that are most vulnerable such as LGBTQ youth or survivors of sexual violence were most likely to suffer from repeated acts during their time in detention. This is especially horrible considering the double burden that these violence survivors must face.
One of my favorite radio programs, Tell Me More from NPR, did a piece on this involving a advocate as well as a former youth inmate. I am pasting an excerpt that this youth inmate shared about his experience in Juvenile Detention but you can hear the whole peice here;
That kind of testimony is utterly heartbreaking. I wish the best to Troy and really am inspired by his courage in speaking up on national radio to tell his story and speak out against sexual violence in juvenile detention centers.NEARY: Troy Erik Isaac, I'd like to bring you into the discussion. As we mentioned earlier, you are a survivor of abuse during the time that you spent in juvenile facilities. Tell me a bit about what happened to you.
Mr. ISAAC: Sure. When I was around 12 years old, it was my first time going into a juvenile facility. At the time, I really didnt know what my sexual orientation was, but I knew that I was different. And when I went in, I met several other boys around my age. One, in particular, was from a very known gang. And about two or three days later, he forced me to oral copulate him in the shower area. I didnt know who to go to. No one - never informed me that this is how the juvenile facility runs. There was no preventative measures.
NEARY: Did you try to go to anyone? Did you try to report it, or did you just feel totally powerless in that situation?
Mr. ISAAC: There was a lot of fear. I felt fear in reporting anything because I didnt know if I was going to get killed or beat up. And I didnt know, at the time, that staff members were actually going to take me serious.
NEARY: So then, did this persist throughout the whole time that you were there? Is this just a situation that you never reported and therefore, had to just put up with the whole time you were in the detention facilities?
Mr. ISAAC: Well, in juvenile halls, I suffered rape about three times, and then I had to basically figure out what I was going to do to protect myself and to keep myself safe. So then that's when I started telling staff members that I was suicidal, cutting on my wrist with razors - or anything that I could find to draw some type of blood - to get out of that situation, and to go into isolation.
NEARY: Troy, let me ask, were you surprised by anything that you saw in this report? When you read this report, did it surprise you at all?
Mr. ISAAC: No it did not surprise me, because this stuff happened when I was 12 and it's still happening now, and the juvenile justice system - these juvenile facilities - they dont believe in trying to prevent something before it happens. Then when it happens, they dont really like dealing with it when it does.
NEARY: Troy, does there need to be some kind of violence or coercion in order for it to be considered sexual abuse or sexual victimization?
Mr. ISAAC: No.
NEARY: How so?
Mr. ISAAC: I know personally, in my personal life, there have been people who have offered me things, such as candy; offered me something to eat. And when you take that, you basically owe someone something for it.
TAKE ACTION:
Please support Just Dentention International, which is a group that is working towards ending sexual violence in juvenile detention centers. They were the ones involved with these powerful advocacy ads:
Or how about ... if you knew this young person was being raped would you help them? ... How about now?
