NO ESCAPE: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons Human Rights Watch Report, April 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................4 PREFACE........................................................................................................................................5 The Scope of this Report .......................................................................................................5 Methodology.........................................................................................................................7 I. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................8 Recommendations................................................................................................................14 CASE HISTORIES OF S.M. AND C.R.........................................................................................19 II. BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................25 The Size and Growth of the U.S. Inmate Population..............................................................25 The Structure of Imprisonment .............................................................................................25 Characteristics of the U.S. Prisoner Population.....................................................................27 Conditions and Abuses ........................................................................................................27 Grievance Mechanisms ........................................................................................................32 Oversight of Treatment and Conditions.................................................................................32 CASE HISTORY OF R.G. .............................................................................................................34 III. LEGAL CONTEXT.................................................................................................................38 National Legal Protections ...................................................................................................38 International Legal Protections..............................................................................................44 CASE HISTORY OF RODNEY HULIN .......................................................................................50 IV. PREDATORS AND VICTIMS ...............................................................................................51 Age .....................................................................................................................................52 Size, Physical Strength, Attitude, and Propensity toward Violence.........................................53 Sexual Preference................................................................................................................55 Race and Ethnicity...............................................................................................................56 Criminal History...................................................................................................................58 Relationship between Victim and Perpetrator........................................................................59 CASE HISTORIES OF L.O. AND P.E. .........................................................................................60 V. RAPE SCENARIOS.................................................................................................................63 Consent and Coercion in Prison...........................................................................................64 Violent or Forcible Assaults .................................................................................................67 Coerced Sexual Abuse ........................................................................................................69 Continuing Sexual Abuse......................................................................................................71 Slavery................................................................................................................................73 Sex, Violence and Power.....................................................................................................75 CASE HISTORIES OF S.H. AND M.R.........................................................................................78 VI. BODY AND SOUL: THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY OF PRISON RAPE..................................................................................................................................85 Physical Effects and the Threat of HIV Transmission.............................................................86 Psychological Impact ...........................................................................................................87 Inadequate Treatment ..........................................................................................................94 CASE HISTORIES OF P.N. AND L.T. .........................................................................................95 VII. ANOMALY OR EPIDEMIC: THE INCIDENCE OF PRISONER-ON-PRISONER RAPE.99 Chronic Underreporting .....................................................................................................100 Low Numbers Reported by State Correctional Authorities..................................................101 High Numbers Estimated by Correctional Officers..............................................................103 Findings of Empirical Studies..............................................................................................103 CASE HISTORY OF B.L.............................................................................................................107 VIII. DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE: STATE AUTHORITIES= RESPONSE TO PRISONER- ON PRISONER SEXUAL ABUSE..................................................................................110 Failure to Recognize and Address the ProblemCand the Perverse Incentives Created by Legal Standards..............................................................................................................111 The North Carolina Pilot Program......................................................................................112 Lack of Prisoner Orientation..............................................................................................112 Improper Classification and Negligent Double-Celling.........................................................113 CASE HISTORY OF W.H...........................................................................................................121 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Joanne Mariner, deputy director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, is the author of this report, which is based on research conducted from 1996 to 1999. The research was a collective effort requiring the assistance of a number of Human Rights Watch staff members, interns, and others. Among those who gave generously of their time and ideas were Sahr Muhammedaly, former program associate; Gail Yamauchi, program associate; Kokayi K. Issa, former Leonard Sandler Fellow; Rae Terry, former New York University law student; Anna-Rose Mathieson, former Everett Intern; Emma Algotsson, former intern; Zoe Hilden, former intern; Caroline Flintoft, former intern; Marcia Allina, program associate; and Ali Ehsassi, former intern. Professor Michael Mushlin of Pace University offered helpful suggestions regarding the report=s legal section. During informal discussions on prison issues with Associate Counsel Jamie Fellner, the author gained many insights that inform this report. She would also like to thank Cynthia Brown, former program director of Human Rights Watch, who was a steadfast supporter of the project. The report was edited by Michael McClintock, deputy program director of Human Rights Watch, and Malcolm Smart, program director. Jamie Fellner also provided invaluable editorial comments. Dinah PoKempner, general counsel of Human Rights Watch, reviewed it for legal accuracy. Jonathan Horowitz, program associate, provided production assistance. Generous financial assistance for the research was provided by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, and John Kaneb. The author wishes to thank the many prisoners who contributed to the report, both by recounting their personal experiences and by offering their thoughts and recommendations on the topic. The report is dedicated to the memory of two exceptional men: the late Justice Harry Blackmun, a former member of the U.S. Supreme Court, notable, among other things, for his eloquent concern for the humane treatment of prisoners, and the late Stephen Donaldson, a former prisoner and tireless activist whose groundbreaking work drew needed attention to the human suffering that is the subject of this report. PREFACE I=ve been sentenced for a D.U.I. offense. My 3rd one. When I first came to prison, I had no idea what to expect. Certainly none of this. I=m a tall white male, who unfortunately has a small amount of feminine characteristics. And very shy. These characteristics have got me raped so many times I have no more feelings physically. I have been raped by up to 5 black men and two white men at a time. I=ve had knifes at my head and throat. I had fought and been beat so hard that I didn=t ever think I=d see straight again. One time when I refused