Prison Sexual Assault

“No matter what crime someone may have committed, rape is not part of the penalty.”
Just Detention International

All survivors of sexual violence deserve compassion and support. If you or your loved one has experienced sexual assault, harassment, or abuse while incarcerated in New York State, resources are available to you.

The federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) established national standards to prevent and respond to sexual violence in prisons, jails, and detention centers. This includes ensuring that incarcerated survivors of sexual violence can access the same services as survivors who are not incarcerated.

PREA Statewide Rape Crisis Hotline

Through a partnership between the State Office of Victim Services, State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, local rape crisis programs, and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), survivors who are incarcerated at all DOCCS facilities in New York State can use the confidential PREA Statewide Rape Crisis Hotline.

Incarcerated survivors can dial 777 on any phone in DOCCS facilities to use the hotline and get connected to a rape crisis counselor/advocate for crisis counseling, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, and additional support. Hotline operators are able to take sexual abuse and harassment reports which they then forward to OSI or the facility when requested by the survivor.

This direct-dial number is available every day, in English, Spanish and other languages, at all facilities operated by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).

PREA Centers

Several Rape Crisis Programs serve 40 NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) facilities, with the remaining 14 DOCCS facilities and county jails served primarily by local victim assistance programs and the PREA Centers on an as-needed basis. The PREA Centers provide free, confidential services including: 24/7 emergency hotline; crisis intervention and ongoing support; individual counseling; advocacy and accompaniment through medical, law enforcement, and court systems; information and referrals; and community awareness, outreach, and prevention activities.

  • Center for Victim Safety and Support at Family Services, Inc.: 29 North Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
    • Downstate Correctional Facility
    • Ulster Correctional Facility
  • Crime Victims Treatment Center: 40 Exchange Place, Suite 510, New York, NY 10005
    • Altona Correctional Facility
    • Bare Hill Correctional Facility
    • Clinton Correctional Facility
    • Eastern NY Correctional Facility
    • Edgecombe Correctional Facility
    • Green Haven Correctional Facility
    • Moriah Correctional Facility
    • Queensboro Correctional Facility
    • Shawangunk Correctional Facility
    • Sullivan Correctional Facility
    • Upstate Correctional Facility
    • Wallkill Correctional Facility
    • Woodbourne Correctional Facility
  • Crisis Services, Inc.: 100 River Rock Drive, Suite 300, Buffalo, NY 14207
    • Gowanda Correctional Facility
    • Wende Correctional Facility
    • Collins Correctional Facility
  • Planned Parenthood of Greater New York: 755 East Church Street, Elmira, NY 14901
    • Adirondack Correctional Facility
    • Elmira Correctional Facility
    • Franklin Correctional Facility
  • RESTORE Sexual Assault Services: 1 Mount Hope Avenue, The Skalny Building, Rochester, NY 14569
    • Albion Correctional Facility
    • Attica Correctional Facility
    • Groveland Correctional Facility
    • Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility
    • Orleans Correctional Facility
    • Rochester Correctional Facility
    • Wyoming Correctional Facility
  • Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes: 1 Franklin Square, Suite 324, Geneva, NY 14456
    • Auburn Correctional Facility
    • Five Points Correctional Facility
    • Southport Correctional Facility
    • Willard Drug Treatment Campus
  • St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services: 2215 Burdett Avenue, Troy, NY 12180
    • Coxsackie Correctional Facility
    • Great Meadow Correctional Facility
    • Greene Correctional Facility
    • Hale Creek Alcohol Substance Abuse Comprehensive Treatment Center
    • Hudson Correctional Facility
    • Marcy Correctional Facility
    • Mid-State Correctional Facility
    • Mohawk Correctional Facility
    • Washington Correctional Facility
  • Vera House, Inc.: 723 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203
    • Cayuga Correctional Facility
  • Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County: 418 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601
    • Cape Vincent Correctional Facility
    • Gouverneur Correctional Facility
    • Ogdensburg Correctional Facility
    • Riverview Correctional Facility
    • Watertown Correctional Facility
  • Victims Assistance Services at WestCOP, Inc.: 2 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523
    • Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
    • Fishkill Correctional Facility
    • Otisville Correctional Facility
    • Sing Sing Correctional Facility
    • Taconic Correctional Facility

If your loved one is in a county jail or non-DOCCS detention facility, they are eligible to receive support from the rape crisis program located in the county in which they are incarcerated.

For more information about PREA in New York State, contact NYSCASA’s PREA team: info@nyscasa.org

Additional Resources

 Get Help

If you have been sexually assaulted, call the New York State Hotline for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

1-800-942-6906

 Find Crisis Centers

Search our program directory to find a rape crisis center in your area.

 Subscribe

Sign up to receive news and training announcements from NYSCASA.