NCJ Number
310551
Date Published
October 2026
Length
51 pages
Abstract
This report provides counts and rates of allegations of inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate sexual victimization across all types of adult correctional facilities. The report also provides summary-level information for 2021 and 2022 separately and aggregated estimates for substantiated incidents of sexual victimization for 2021 and 2022, reflective of both years. Findings are based on the Survey of Sexual Victimization (SSV), which BJS has conducted annually since 2004 to meet the requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA; P.L. 108–79).
Highlights
- Correctional administrators reported 38,160 allegations of sexual victimization in 2022, a 7% increase from 2021 (35,620).
- In 2022, the number (2,600) and rate (1.4 incidents per 1,000 inmates) of total substantiated incidents of sexual victimization increased, compared to the number (2,320) and rate (1.3 per 1,000 inmates) reported in 2021.
- Allegations of inmate-perpetrated nonconsensual sexual acts, inmate-perpetrated sexual harassment, staff sexual misconduct, and staff sexual harassment increased from 2021 to 2022, while allegations of inmate-perpetrated abusive sexual contact decreased over that same period.
- During 2021–22, 81% of substantiated inmate-on-inmate incidents and 36% of staff-on-inmate incidents were reported by the victim.
Date Published: October 1, 2026