PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act)

The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 is a federal law that seeks to eliminate sexual assaults and sexual misconduct. This law applies to all federal and state prisons, jails, police lock-ups, private facilities, juvenile facilities, and community correctional settings. It established the requirement for Zero Tolerance for acts of Sexual Abuse or Harassment in all confinement facilities.

The law also required the creation of compliance standards with the goal of eliminating these acts. The WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDOCR) is in compliance with these standards and fully investigates each allegation of sexual abuse or harassment, regardless of source, and refers appropriate cases to the WV State Police for criminal investigation.

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

If you were the victim of sexual misconduct while in custody in West Virginia, or if you know of a person in custody in West Virginia who was a victim, you may report it to the WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation by using the following methods:

If you were, or are, in custody at a WV juvenile center or facility, please call 1-855-366-0015.
If you were, or are, in custody at a WV jail facility, you may call (304) 558-2036 and ask for the PREA Coordinator. You may also email dcrprea@wv.gov.
If you were, or are, in custody at a WV prison, you may call you may call (304) 558-2036 and ask for the PREA Coordinator. You may also email dcrprea@wv.gov.

In the case of email communications, please include the following: