What is PREA?

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 is a federal law established to detect, to prevent, and to eliminate sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and rape in correctional systems.  

PREA applies to all federal, state, and local prisons, jails, police lockups, private facilities, and community settings (i.e. residential facilities).  

PREA provides correctional facilities the framework and standards to detect, to monitor, to prevent, and ultimately to respond to reported acts of all forms of sexual abuse of detained and incarcerated persons.

How does a person report sexual abuse or sexual harassment?

All SMPD officers are trained to properly and to professionally investigate and report sexual abuse allegations and claims.  

An allegation or claim does not have to be initiated by the detained or incarcerated person.  Any person, including but not limited to, a family member, friend, third party, or anonymous person may make an allegation or claim.  

Allegations and claims of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment may be filed using the following methods:

• In person - Contact the Watch Commander at the Police Department
• By telephone - Call 650-522-7730
• By telephone – Call the PREA hotline
• By telephone - Rape Trauma Services (650) 692-7273
• By email – Attach complaint and address to police@cityofsanmateo.org
• By mail – Send complaint to:  Chief Ed Barberini, 200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403

References

View a copy of the Prison Rape Elimination Act