[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19805-19812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from 
the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 1435) to provide for the 
analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, 
and local institutions and to provide information, resources, 
recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape, 
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, 
and I will not object, however, I do want to thank the chairman, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), and the ranking member, 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), as well as the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), for their hard work in getting the 
bill to the floor, and especially to my good friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), for developing the bill and 
introducing it with me.
  I should also thank the House leadership and Senators Kennedy and 
Sessions whose bill we consider today.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to first express my appreciation to Chairman 
Sensenbrenner for the heavy lifting he did to get this bill before us 
today. Not only did he make it clear that this matter was of the 
highest priority to him, but he directed his staff to get with 
everybody necessary to expeditiously develop a bill that we all could 
support. A reflection of his commitment to expediting this legislation 
is his agreement, despite his reluctance, to take up the Senate bill 
for House Floor consideration instead of our Committee bill. So, I want 
to thank and commend you, Mr. Chairman for your commitment to this 
legislation and your excellent and expeditious stewardship of this 
matter to this point.
  I would also like to thank my friend and our Ranking Member, John 
Conyers, the gentleman from Michigan, for his support and assistance on 
this bill. And the leadership and determination of my Subcommittee 
Chairman and good friend, Howard Coble, the gentleman from North 
Carolina, must also be recognized. From the moment this matter hit the 
Subcommittee agenda, his strong and persuasive impact was felt in 
having it move forward. It was a pleasure to work with you on this, 
Howard. I must also thank Speaker Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay 
and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for their strong support and 
accommodations in assisting this legislation to this point.
  Of course, the spirit, purpose, and soul of this bill is personified 
in the efforts of its chief sponsor in the House, my friend and 
colleague Frank Wolf, the gentleman from Virginia. The passion and 
dedication he has given to this effort has fueled us all.
  Prison rape has been shown to have a devastating impact on our 
prisons.
  Not only does it cause severe physical and psychological trauma to 
its victims, but prison rape is recognized as a contributing factor to 
prison homicide, violence against staff, and institutional riots. 
Prison rape also increases the transmission of HIV/AIDS, other sexually 
transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B and C--all of which 
exist at a very high rate within U.S. prisons and jails.
  Prison rape is a problem of sizable scope. Of the 2 million people 
incarcerated today, it is estimated that one in ten, or roughly 
200,000, are victims of prison rape. And youths in adult prisons are 5 
times more likely to be raped than adults. Yet, because it occurs in 
prison, like most other aspects of prison life, prison rape is, 
essentially, ignored as a societal problem.
  And society pays dearly for ignoring prison rape. Inmates, often non-
violent first time offenders, come out of a prison rape experience 
severely traumatized and leave prison not only more likely to commit 
crimes, but far more likely to commit violent crimes than when they 
entered. And the high incidence of rape within prison which leads to 
the increased transmission of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases there, 
in turn, increases the incidences of these dreaded diseases and it 
imposes threats and costs to society at large.
  Prison rape is a crime with constitutional implications. The Supreme 
Court held in Farmer v. Brennan that deliberate indifference to the 
risk of prison rape violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to 
the United States Constitution. While prison conditions may be 
``restrictive and even harsh,'' prison and jail officials ``must take 
reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the inmates.''.
  The bill requires an annual statistical study of the incidence of 
rape in a significant number of federal, state and county prisons and 
jails, and public reviews of institutions where the rate of prison rape 
is 30% above the national average rate. It also establishes a 
clearinghouse for complaints of prison rape to assist prevention and 
prosecution, and provide training and assistance to prison and jail 
officials. Further, the bill establishes a program to provide grants, 
from a total authorization of $40 million each year, to state and local 
governments and institutions for the purpose of enhancing the 
prevention and punishment of prison rape.
  The bill also provides for the establishment of a Commission to 
develop standards for addressing and eliminating prison rape, and 
finally, the bill requires prison accreditation organizations to 
examine prison rape prevention practices as a critical component of 
their accreditation reviews.
  In the end, and perhaps most importantly, the effort to combat prison 
rape is a moral imperative. Prison rape is nothing short of prison 
torture--the infliction of severe emotional and physical pain as 
punishment and coercion. Long after bodies have healed, the emotional 
trauma, shame and stigma of brutal and repeated prison rape lasts and 
embitters.

[[Page 19806]]

  Whatever their crimes and whatever the prescribed punishment for 
them, in a humane society prison rape should not be a part of it. 
Prison rape not only derails justice--it destroys human dignity.
  Again, I would like to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner, Chairman, Coble, 
and Chairman Wolf, the chief Sponsor of the bill in the House, for 
their dedication and diligent work on this issue. I would also like to 
thank Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Jeff Sessions, the chief sponsors 
of the Senate bill. A reflection of the work they have done on this 
issue over the past 2 Congresses is the fact that it passed the Senate 
unanimously and in record time.
  Further, I must thank the originators of this effort--Michael 
Horowitz of the Hudson Institute and Vinnie Schraldi of the Justice 
Policy Institute, for their vision, leadership and dedication in 
bringing this matter to the forefront and keeping it going. They 
developed and led the amazingly diverse coalition supporting this bill, 
that is listed at the end of these remarks for the record. And I thank 
our staff--Katy Crooks, Bobby Vassar and Chief Counsel Jay Apperson of 
the Subcommittee, Robert Toone of Senator Kennedy's office and Andrea 
Sanders of Senator Sessions office, Nathaniel Zylstrap of Hudson 
Institute, and, of course, Committee Chief Counsel, Phil Kiko, whose 
heavy hand directed the staff effort, for their yeoman-like work on 
this bill.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.
  This bill is about changing attitudes in America's prisons and in 
America as a whole. In our country, prison rape occurs frequently, but 
unfortunately it is often viewed as a fact of prison life. We know 
these crimes are occurring, but most people would really rather not 
discuss this unpleasant topic.
  Unpleasant as it may be, prison rape is a serious problem that harms 
prisoners and also effects our communities. This problem is brought to 
bear on our communities through higher health costs for increased HIV 
and tuberculosis in prisons. It is brought to bear on our communities 
by the emotional and psychological problems it creates in the prisoners 
who will one day be released back into society. This Congress has 
decided enough is enough. It is time for us to stop ignoring this 
problem.
  S. 1435 as offered on the floor today represents a bipartisan effort 
to address this problem in a meaningful way and bring some 
accountability into America's prisons and jails. It is intended to make 
prevention and prosecution of sexual assault within correctional 
facilities a priority for Federal, State and local institutions and 
require the development of national standards for detection, 
prevention, reduction, and punishment of these incidents. S. 1435 will 
help to eliminate prison rape in a number of ways.
  First, this legislation will require the Department of Justice, for 
the first time, to collect data and statistics on the incidence of 
prison rape. For the first time we will be collecting information on an 
annual basis to determine the extent of this problem. This is the first 
step in our effort to address this problem.
  Additionally, the legislation requires the Attorney General to 
develop national standards on the prevention and prosecution of prison 
rape.
  A state that receives Federal funds for prisons and jails will need 
to comply with these national standards or shift 5 percent of its funds 
from the Federal Government for its prisons to comply with the 
standards.
  Finally, this legislation will establish a new grant program for the 
Attorney General to make one year grants to State and local governments 
to prevent, investigate, and punish prison rape or to help in 
addressing prisoner and community safety issues in states facing budget 
crises.
  Before closing, I would note that this legislation is substantively 
identical to H.R. 1707, introduced by Congressman Wolf, and reported by 
the Judiciary Committee earlier this month. I believe this legislation 
will go a long way towards eliminating this very serious safety issue 
in our prisons and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time under my 
reservation, I again want to thank the chairman of the committee, and I 
hereby submit for the Record a statement on the bill as well as a 
letter in support of the legislation from a long list of organizations.
                                                   April 18, 2003.
       Dear Mr. Speaker, Senator Frist, Senator Daschle, Majority 
     Leader Delay, and Minority Leader Pelosi: We write to 
     strongly urge your support for the Sessions-Kennedy-Wolf-
     Scott Prison Rape Reduction Act of 2003, H.R. 1707.
       Those of us who have signed this letter have many 
     disagreements on public policy matters, including a variety 
     of issues relating to criminal law and punishment. But we are 
     united in our unyielding determination to end the scourge of 
     prison rape and to enact the Sessions-Kennedy-Wolf-Scott 
     bill.
       Of the 2 million prisoners in the U.S., a conservative 
     estimate is that one in 10 has been raped--more than 200,000 
     inmates! Further conservative research indicates that inmates 
     who are sexually assaulted are also victimized, on average, 
     nine additional times during their incarceration. In 
     addition, incarcerated youths are more likely to be raped 
     than are adult inmates and, when they are, more likely to be 
     acutely victimized and shattered.
       The Sessions-Kennedy-Wolf-Scott bill is a moderate and 
     necessary response to this crisis. It is designed to 
     eliminate prison rape in a manner that is respectful of the 
     primary role of States and local governments in administering 
     correctional institutions and of the federal government's 
     obligation not to impose unfunded mandates on them and to 
     make the problem more fully visible to the American people 
     and those who can combat it. Additionally, the legislation 
     has been carefully drawn to ensure comprehensive study and 
     reporting of prison rape, and to reverse perverse prison 
     administration incentives that now often make it exceedingly 
     difficult for prison officials to engage in priority efforts 
     to abate prison rape.
       The Sessions-Kennedy-Wolf-Scott bill is not only a means of 
     protecting inmates. Society pays dearly for ignoring prison 
     rape. Clearly, prison rape costs taxpayers greatly in 
     recidivism and increased violent crime and thus negates 
     federal programs designed to reduce the incidence of crime. 
     Inmates, often non-violet first time offenders, come out of a 
     prison rape experience severely traumatized and thus leave 
     prison far more violent than when they entered. The high 
     incidence of rape within prison also leads to the increased 
     transmission of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases, which in 
     turn imposes costs on all of society.
       Fighting prison rape is also affirmatively mandated by the 
     Constitution. As distinguished from federal programs designed 
     to address problems ranging from teenage drinking to 
     declining education standards, the Sessions-Kennedy-Wolf-
     Scott bill deals with plenary and constitutionally 
     inescapable federal responsibilities--this in light of the 
     determination of a near unanimous Supreme Court in Farmer v. 
     Brennan that deliberate indifference to prison rape violates 
     the 8th Amendment's cruel and unusual punishment provisions.
       In the end, perhaps most importantly, the effort to combat 
     prison rape is a moral imperative. Prison rape is nothing 
     short of torture--the infliction of severe emotional and 
     physical pain as punishment and coercion. And, long after 
     bodies have healed, the emotional trauma, shame and stigma of 
     brutal and repeated prison rape lasts and embitters. Thus, 
     prison rape not only derails justice--it destroys human 
     dignity.
       The Sessions-Kennedy-Wolf-Scott bill offers great hope that 
     the brutality of prison rape can be sharply curtailed, and 
     our joint effort to enact it is thus a coalition of 
     conscience rather than convenience. As such, we take heart 
     from the Speaker's strong endorsement of the bill, and are 
     determined to see its effective, moderate provisions rapidly 
     brought into effect. As men and women of good will we will 
     not rest while the violence of prison rape continues, and we 
     strongly urge you to join us in an effort also certain to 
     bring credit on the United States at a moment when America's 
     need to show its commitment to democratic values has never 
     been higher.
       Working with the bill's sponsors, we stand ready to meet 
     with you at your earliest convenience. If you would like 
     additional information or have any questions please contact 
     Marian Bell, National Policy Director for Prison Fellowship 
     Ministries, at (703) 478-0100 ext. 3630 or Vincent Schiraldi, 
     President, Justice Policy Institute, at (202) 363-7847.
           Very truly yours,
     American Values
     Amnesty International USA
     Center for Religious Freedom
     Christian Coalition
     Concerned Women of America
     Focus on the Family
     Human Rights and the Drug War
     Human Rights Watch
     Intitute on Religion and Democracy
     Justice Policy Institute
     Kids First Coalition
     NAACP
     National Association of Evangelicals
     National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
     National Center on Institutions and Alternatives
     National Council of La Raza
     Open Society Policy Center
     Prison Fellowship
     Salvation Army
     Southern Baptist Convention
     Stop Prisoner Rape
     The Sentencing Project
     Tradition, Family, Property Inc.
     Unitarian Universalists for Juvenile Justice

[[Page 19807]]

     Youth Law Center
     Federal CURE, Inc.
     MALDEF
     American Probation and Parole Association
     Alliance for Children and Families
     Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
     Physicians for Human Rights
     National Association of Sentencing Advocates (NASA)
     Penal Reform International
     Aleph Institute
     Presbyterian Church USA
     Union of American Hebrew Congregations

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 1707, 
the Prison Rape Reduction Act of 2003 which I introduced with my 
Virginia colleague Representative Bobby Scott. Similar legislation S. 
1435, sponsored by Senator Sessions and Senator Kennedy, passed the 
Senate earlier this week. I am encouraged that both the Senate and now 
the House have taken action on this bill and have moved a step closer 
to reducing sexual assault in prisons.
  I want to thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 
Representative James Sensenbrenner, for his assistance with this 
legislation. It is due largely to his efforts and interest in this bill 
that we are on the floor today to pass. This bill, which is essential 
to reversing the increasing numbers of prisoners who are sexually 
assaulted.
  Not often discussed, prison rape is a cruel act which has been 
ignored for too long. Survivors of prison rape often bear physical and 
emotional scars from their experiences for their entire lives. 
Moreover, if we allow this problem to continue, we will be allowing 
increased recidivism, prison unrest, and the spread of disease--all 
byproducts of prison rape--to continue unabated. Reducing sexual 
assault in prison will reduce the numbers of prisoners who when 
released will go back into the community and commit crimes again.
  Prison rape occurs every day, For example, just last month, a 19-
year-old college student in Florida, in jail on marijuana charges, was 
raped by a cell mate who was being held on charges of sexual battery. 
This rape occurred within hours of the student being placed in his 
cell. There are thousands of other stories of prisoners being raped in 
prison.
  The legislation before us today will facilitate the study of prison 
rape, allow hearings on the impact of prison rape on inmates and 
society, and create national standards for preventing prison rape.
  It is important to be tough on crime, but turning a blind eye to 
prison rape has nothing to do with being tough on crime; it has 
everything to do with treating people humanely, reducing recidivism, 
and halting the spread of disease. Recently a number of prison rape 
survivors spoke here: in Washington to explain how prison rape harmed 
them. These were gripping stories, and I have previously entered them 
into the Record. Today the House can pass legislation to help curb 
prison rape and reduce the needless suffering and additional punishment 
of prisoners. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  There have been many individuals responsible for moving this 
legislation through Congress. I wish to thank Rep. Bobby Scott of 
Virginia, who co-sponsored this legislation, and Bobby Vassar of his 
staff. Senator Kennedy and Senator Sessions were the Senate co-sponsors 
of this bill and their leadership is greatly appreciated, along with 
the hard work of their staffers, Robert Toone and Andrea Sanders 
respectively. Representative Howard Coble, chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, 
and his counsel, Katy Crooks who helped guide this legislation through 
their subcommittee, and Phil Kiko, Jay Apperson, and Joseph Gibson on 
the full committee, were very supportive along with Chairman James 
Sensenbrenner.
  The Speaker of the House, J. Dennis Hastert, and Margaret Peterlin in 
the Speaker's office have been of great assistance in moving this bill. 
Majority Leader Tom Delay, and his staffer, Carl Thorsen have been 
invaluable in getting this bill through the final hurdles and onto the 
floor of the House.
  There are others who need to be thanked. First and foremost, I must 
thank Michael Horowitz of the Hudson Institute has been the guiding 
force behind this legislation; his foresight and dedication to this 
issue are incomparable. Nathaniel Zylstra, Mr. Horowitz's assistant, 
has also provided valuable help. There are others outside Capitol Hill 
who played a role in this legislation. They are: Vince Schiraldi, 
Justice Policy Institute; Mariam Bell, Prison Fellowship; Mike 
Thompson, Council on State Governments; Paul Rosenzweig, Heritage 
Foundation, principal drafter of the bill; Ed Haden, formerly of 
Senator Sessions' office; Gene Guerrero, Open Society Institute; Marian 
Zapata-Rossa, National Council of La Raza; Ben Jealous, Amnesty 
International; Hilary Shelton, NAACP; Linda Chavez, Center for Equal 
Opportunity, who first came up with the concept for this bill; John 
Kaneb, private businessman and a passionate backer of our efforts; 
David Saperstein, the Religious Action Center; Wendy Patten, Human 
Rights Watch; Prison Fellowship, specifically Mark Earley, Kate Fowler 
and Chuck Colson; Pat Nolan, Justice Fellowship; Rich Cizik, National 
Association of Evangelicals; Barrett Duke and Shannon Royce, Southern 
Baptist Convention; Salvation Army, specifically Richard Land, George 
Hood, Todd Bassett; Rich Lowry, National Review; Jennie Osmer, Cal 
Skinner, former State Senator in Illinois; Micah Solomon, Virginia 
businessman; Charles Sullivan, Citizens United for Alternatives to the 
Death Penalty; David Whettstone, Mennonite Central Committee; Cindy 
Struckman-Johnson, University of South Dakota; Bob Dumond, licensed 
clinical mental health counselor, Frank Hall, who headed six prison 
systems; Tom Cahill, co-founder, and Lara Stemple, Stop Prison Rape.
  Finally, I wish to thank John Martens of the House Appropriations 
subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-State; Daniel Scandling, my chief of 
staff; Janet Shaffron, my legislative director; Neil Siefring, my 
legislative assistant for Judiciary issues; and Chris Santora, a former 
legislative assistant in my office who worked hard on this issue in the 
early days of the bill's history.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of 
objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                S. 1435

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Prison 
     Rape Elimination Act of 2003''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
Sec. 4. National prison rape statistics, data, and research.
Sec. 5. Prison rape prevention and prosecution.
Sec. 6. Grants to protect inmates and safeguard communities.
Sec. 7. National Prison Rape Reduction Commission.
Sec. 8. Adoption and effect of national standards.
Sec. 9. Requirement that accreditation organizations adopt 
              accreditation standards.
Sec. 10. Definitions.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) 2,100,146 persons were incarcerated in the United 
     States at the end of 2001: 1,324,465 in Federal and State 
     prisons and 631,240 in county and local jails. In 1999, there 
     were more than 10,000,000 separate admissions to and 
     discharges from prisons and jails.
       (2) Insufficient research has been conducted and 
     insufficient data reported on the extent of prison rape. 
     However, experts have conservatively estimated that at least 
     13 percent of the inmates in the United States have been 
     sexually assaulted in prison. Many inmates have suffered 
     repeated assaults. Under this estimate, nearly 200,000 
     inmates now incarcerated have been or will be the victims of 
     prison rape. The total number of inmates who have been 
     sexually assaulted in the past 20 years likely exceeds 
     1,000,000.
       (3) Inmates with mental illness are at increased risk of 
     sexual victimization. America's jails and prisons house more 
     mentally ill individuals than all of the Nation's psychiatric 
     hospitals combined. As many as 16 percent of inmates in state 
     prisons and jails, and 7 percent of Federal inmates, suffer 
     from mental illness.
       (4) Young first-time offenders are at increased risk of 
     sexual victimization. Juveniles are 5 times more likely to be 
     sexually assaulted in adult rather than juvenile facilities--
     often within the first 48 hours of incarceration.
       (5) Most prison staff are not adequately trained or 
     prepared to prevent, report, or treat inmate sexual assaults.
       (6) Prison rape often goes unreported, and inmate victims 
     often receive inadequate treatment for the severe physical 
     and psychological effects of sexual assault--if they receive 
     treatment at all.
       (7) HIV and AIDS are major public health problems within 
     America's correctional facilities. In 2000, 25,088 inmates in 
     Federal and State prisons were known to be infected with HIV/
     AIDS. In 2000, HIV/AIDS accounted for more than 6 percent of 
     all deaths in Federal and State prisons. Infection rates for 
     other sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and 
     hepatitis B and C are also far greater for prisoners than for 
     the American population as a whole. Prison rape undermines 
     the public health by contributing to the spread of

[[Page 19808]]

     these diseases, and often giving a potential death sentence 
     to its victims.
       (8) Prison rape endangers the public safety by making 
     brutalized inmates more likely to commit crimes when they are 
     released--as 600,000 inmates are each year.
       (9) The frequently interracial character of prison sexual 
     assaults significantly exacerbates interracial tensions, both 
     within prison and, upon release of perpetrators and victims 
     from prison, in the community at large.
       (10) Prison rape increases the level of homicides and other 
     violence against inmates and staff, and the risk of 
     insurrections and riots.
       (11) Victims of prison rape suffer severe physical and 
     psychological effects that hinder their ability to integrate 
     into the community and maintain stable employment upon their 
     release from prison. They are thus more likely to become 
     homeless and/or require government assistance.
       (12) Members of the public and government officials are 
     largely unaware of the epidemic character of prison rape and 
     the day-to-day horror experienced by victimized inmates.
       (13) The high incidence of sexual assault within prisons 
     involves actual and potential violations of the United States 
     Constitution. In Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994), the 
     Supreme Court ruled that deliberate indifference to the 
     substantial risk of sexual assault violates prisoners' rights 
     under the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause of the Eighth 
     Amendment. The Eighth Amendment rights of State and local 
     prisoners are protected through the Due Process Clause of the 
     Fourteenth Amendment. Pursuant to the power of Congress under 
     Section Five of the Fourteenth Amendment, Congress may take 
     action to enforce those rights in States where officials have 
     demonstrated such indifference. States that do not take basic 
     steps to abate prison rape by adopting standards that do not 
     generate significant additional expenditures demonstrate such 
     indifference. Therefore, such States are not entitled to the 
     same level of Federal benefits as other States.
       (14) The high incidence of prison rape undermines the 
     effectiveness and efficiency of United States Government 
     expenditures through grant programs such as those dealing 
     with health care; mental health care; disease prevention; 
     crime prevention, investigation, and prosecution; prison 
     construction, maintenance, and operation; race relations; 
     poverty; unemployment and homelessness. The effectiveness and 
     efficiency of these Federally funded grant programs are 
     compromised by the failure of State officials to adopt 
     policies and procedure that reduce the incidence of prison 
     rape in that the high incidence of prison rape--
       (A) increases the costs incurred by Federal, State, and 
     local jurisdictions to administer their prison systems;
       (B) increases the levels of violence, directed at inmates 
     and at staff, within prisons;
       (C) increases health care expenditures, both inside and 
     outside of prison systems, and reduces the effectiveness of 
     disease prevention programs by substantially increasing the 
     incidence and spread of HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B 
     and C, and other diseases;
       (D) increases mental health care expenditures, both inside 
     and outside of prison systems, by substantially increasing 
     the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, 
     suicide, and the exacerbation of existing mental illnesses 
     among current and former inmates;
       (E) increases the risks of recidivism, civil strife, and 
     violent crime by individuals who have been brutalized by 
     prison rape; and
       (F) increases the level of interracial tensions and strife 
     within prisons and, upon release of perpetrators and victims, 
     in the community at large.
       (15) The high incidence of prison rape has a significant 
     effect on interstate commerce because it increases 
     substantially--
       (A) the costs incurred by Federal, State, and local 
     jurisdictions to administer their prison systems;
       (B) the incidence and spread of HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, 
     hepatitis B and C, and other diseases, contributing to 
     increased health and medical expenditures throughout the 
     Nation;
       (C) the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, 
     suicide, and the exacerbation of existing mental illnesses 
     among current and former inmates, contributing to increased 
     health and medical expenditures throughout the Nation; and
       (D) the risk of recidivism, civil strife, and violent crime 
     by individuals who have been brutalized by prison rape.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are to--
       (1) establish a zero-tolerance standard for the incidence 
     of prison rape in prisons in the United States;
       (2) make the prevention of prison rape a top priority in 
     each prison system;
       (3) develop and implement national standards for the 
     detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison 
     rape;
       (4) increase the available data and information on the 
     incidence of prison rape, consequently improving the 
     management and administration of correctional facilities;
       (5) standardize the definitions used for collecting data on 
     the incidence of prison rape;
       (6) increase the accountability of prison officials who 
     fail to detect, prevent, reduce, and punish prison rape;
       (7) protect the Eighth Amendment rights of Federal, State, 
     and local prisoners;
       (8) increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal 
     expenditures through grant programs such as those dealing 
     with health care; mental health care; disease prevention; 
     crime prevention, investigation, and prosecution; prison 
     construction, maintenance, and operation; race relations; 
     poverty; unemployment; and homelessness; and
       (9) reduce the costs that prison rape imposes on interstate 
     commerce.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL PRISON RAPE STATISTICS, DATA, AND RESEARCH.

       (a) Annual Comprehensive Statistical Review.--
       (1) In general.--The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the 
     Department of Justice (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Bureau'') shall carry out, for each calendar year, a 
     comprehensive statistical review and analysis of the 
     incidence and effects of prison rape. The statistical review 
     and analysis shall include, but not be limited to the 
     identification of the common characteristics of--
       (A) both victims and perpetrators of prison rape; and
       (B) prisons and prison systems with a high incidence of 
     prison rape.
       (2) Considerations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
     Bureau shall consider--
       (A) how rape should be defined for the purposes of the 
     statistical review and analysis;
       (B) how the Bureau should collect information about staff-
     on-inmate sexual assault;
       (C) how the Bureau should collect information beyond inmate 
     self-reports of prison rape;
       (D) how the Bureau should adjust the data in order to 
     account for differences among prisons as required by 
     subsection (c)(3);
       (E) the categorization of prisons as required by subsection 
     (c)(4); and
       (F) whether a preliminary study of prison rape should be 
     conducted to inform the methodology of the comprehensive 
     statistical review.
       (3) Solicitation of views.--The Bureau of Justice 
     Statistics shall solicit views from representatives of the 
     following: State departments of correction; county and 
     municipal jails; juvenile correctional facilities; former 
     inmates; victim advocates; researchers; and other experts in 
     the area of sexual assault.
       (4) Sampling techniques.--The review and analysis under 
     paragraph (1) shall be based on a random sample, or other 
     scientifically appropriate sample, of not less than 10 
     percent of all Federal, State, and county prisons, and a 
     representative sample of municipal prisons. The selection 
     shall include at least one prison from each State. The 
     selection of facilities for sampling shall be made at the 
     latest practicable date prior to conducting the surveys and 
     shall not be disclosed to any facility or prison system 
     official prior to the time period studied in the survey. 
     Selection of a facility for sampling during any year shall 
     not preclude its selection for sampling in any subsequent 
     year.
       (5) Surveys.--In carrying out the review and analysis under 
     paragraph (1), the Bureau shall, in addition to such other 
     methods as the Bureau considers appropriate, use surveys and 
     other statistical studies of current and former inmates from 
     a sample of Federal, State, county, and municipal prisons. 
     The Bureau shall ensure the confidentiality of each survey 
     participant.
       (6) Participation in survey.--Federal, State, or local 
     officials or facility administrators that receive a request 
     from the Bureau under subsection (a)(4) or (5) will be 
     required to participate in the national survey and provide 
     access to any inmates under their legal custody.
       (b) Review Panel on Prison Rape.--
       (1) Establishment.--To assist the Bureau in carrying out 
     the review and analysis under subsection (a), there is 
     established, within the Department of Justice, the Review 
     Panel on Prison Rape (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Panel'').
       (2) Membership.--
       (A) Composition.--The Panel shall be composed of 3 members, 
     each of whom shall be appointed by the Attorney General, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
       (B) Qualifications.--Members of the Panel shall be selected 
     from among individuals with knowledge or expertise in matters 
     to be studied by the Panel.
       (3) Public hearings.--
       (A) In general.--The duty of the Panel shall be to carry 
     out, for each calendar year, public hearings concerning the 
     operation of the three prisons with the highest incidence of 
     prison rape and the two prisons with the lowest incidence of 
     prison rape in each category of facilities identified under 
     subsection (c)(4). The Panel shall hold a separate hearing 
     regarding the three Federal or State prisons with the highest 
     incidence of prison rape. The purpose of these hearings shall 
     be to collect evidence to aid in the identification of common 
     characteristics of both victims and perpetrators of prison 
     rape, and the identification of common characteristics of 
     prisons and prison systems with a

[[Page 19809]]

     high incidence of prison rape, and the identification of 
     common characteristics of prisons and prison systems that 
     appear to have been successful in deterring prison rape.
       (B) Testimony at hearings.--
       (i) Public officials.--In carrying out the hearings 
     required under subparagraph (A), the Panel shall request the 
     public testimony of Federal, State, and local officials (and 
     organizations that represent such officials), including the 
     warden or director of each prison, who bears responsibility 
     for the prevention, detection, and punishment of prison rape 
     at each entity, and the head of the prison system 
     encompassing such prison.
       (ii) Victims.--The Panel may request the testimony of 
     prison rape victims, organizations representing such victims, 
     and other appropriate individuals and organizations.
       (C) Subpoenas.--
       (i) Issuance.--The Panel may issue subpoenas for the 
     attendance of witnesses and the production of written or 
     other matter.
       (ii) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or refusal to 
     obey a subpoena, the Attorney General may in a Federal court 
     of appropriate jurisdiction obtain an appropriate order to 
     enforce the subpoena.
       (c) Reports.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than June 30 of each year, the 
     Attorney General shall submit a report on the activities of 
     the Bureau and the Review Panel, with respect to prison rape, 
     for the preceding calendar year to--
       (A) Congress; and
       (B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
       (2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       (A) with respect to the effects of prison rape, 
     statistical, sociological, and psychological data;
       (B) with respect to the incidence of prison rape--
       (i) statistical data aggregated at the Federal, State, 
     prison system, and prison levels;
       (ii) a listing of those institutions in the representative 
     sample, separated into each category identified under 
     subsection (c)(4) and ranked according to the incidence of 
     prison rape in each institution; and
       (iii) an identification of those institutions in the 
     representative sample that appear to have been successful in 
     deterring prison rape; and
       (C) a listing of any prisons in the representative sample 
     that did not cooperate with the survey conducted pursuant to 
     section 4.
       (3) Data adjustments.--In preparing the information 
     specified in paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall use 
     established statistical methods to adjust the data as 
     necessary to account for differences among institutions in 
     the representative sample, which are not related to the 
     detection, prevention, reduction and punishment of prison 
     rape, or which are outside the control of the of the State, 
     prison, or prison system, in order to provide an accurate 
     comparison among prisons. Such differences may include the 
     mission, security level, size, and jurisdiction under which 
     the prison operates. For each such adjustment made, the 
     Attorney General shall identify and explain such adjustment 
     in the report.
       (4) Categorization of prisons.--The report shall divide the 
     prisons surveyed into three categories. One category shall be 
     composed of all Federal and State prisons. The other two 
     categories shall be defined by the Attorney General in order 
     to compare similar institutions.
       (d) Contracts and Grants.--In carrying out its duties under 
     this section, the Attorney General may--
       (1) provide grants for research through the National 
     Institute of Justice; and
       (2) contract with or provide grants to any other entity the 
     Attorney General deems appropriate.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 
     through 2010 to carry out this section.

     SEC. 5. PRISON RAPE PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION.

       (a) Information and Assistance.--
       (1) National clearinghouse.--There is established within 
     the National Institute of Corrections a national 
     clearinghouse for the provision of information and assistance 
     to Federal, State, and local authorities responsible for the 
     prevention, investigation, and punishment of instances of 
     prison rape.
       (2) Training and education.--The National Institute of 
     Corrections shall conduct periodic training and education 
     programs for Federal, State, and local authorities 
     responsible for the prevention, investigation, and punishment 
     of instances of prison rape.
       (b) Reports.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than September 30 of each year, 
     the National Institute of Corrections shall submit a report 
     to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
     This report shall be available to the Director of the Bureau 
     of Justice Statistics.
       (2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall summarize the activities of the Department of Justice 
     regarding prison rape abatement for the preceding calendar 
     year.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 
     through 2010 to carry out this section.

     SEC. 6. GRANTS TO PROTECT INMATES AND SAFEGUARD COMMUNITIES.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--From amounts made available for 
     grants under this section, the Attorney General shall make 
     grants to States to assist those States in ensuring that 
     budgetary circumstances (such as reduced State and local 
     spending on prisons) do not compromise efforts to protect 
     inmates (particularly from prison rape) and to safeguard the 
     communities to which inmates return. The purpose of grants 
     under this section shall be to provide funds for personnel, 
     training, technical assistance, data collection, and 
     equipment to prevent and prosecute prisoner rape.
       (b) Use of Grant Amounts.--Amounts received by a grantee 
     under this section may be used by the grantee, directly or 
     through subgrants, only for one or more of the following 
     activities:
       (1) Protecting inmates.--Protecting inmates by--
       (A) undertaking efforts to more effectively prevent prison 
     rape;
       (B) investigating incidents of prison rape; or
       (C) prosecuting incidents of prison rape.
       (2) Safeguarding communities.--Safeguarding communities 
     by--
       (A) making available, to officials of State and local 
     governments who are considering reductions to prison budgets, 
     training and technical assistance in successful methods for 
     moderating the growth of prison populations without 
     compromising public safety, including successful methods used 
     by other jurisdictions;
       (B) developing and utilizing analyses of prison populations 
     and risk assessment instruments that will improve State and 
     local governments' understanding of risks to the community 
     regarding release of inmates in the prison population;
       (C) preparing maps demonstrating the concentration, on a 
     community-by-community basis, of inmates who have been 
     released, to facilitate the efficient and effective--
       (i) deployment of law enforcement resources (including 
     probation and parole resources); and
       (ii) delivery of services (such as job training and 
     substance abuse treatment) to those released inmates;
       (D) promoting collaborative efforts, among officials of 
     State and local governments and leaders of appropriate 
     communities, to understand and address the effects on a 
     community of the presence of a disproportionate number of 
     released inmates in that community; or
       (E) developing policies and programs that reduce spending 
     on prisons by effectively reducing rates of parole and 
     probation revocation without compromising public safety.
       (c) Grant Requirements.--
       (1) Period.--A grant under this section shall be made for a 
     period of not more than 2 years.
       (2) Maximum.--The amount of a grant under this section may 
     not exceed $1,000,000.
       (3) Matching.--The Federal share of a grant under this 
     section may not exceed 50 percent of the total costs of the 
     project described in the application submitted under 
     subsection (d) for the fiscal year for which the grant was 
     made under this section.
       (d) Applications.--
       (1) In general.--To request a grant under this section, the 
     chief executive of a State shall submit an application to the 
     Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and 
     accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may 
     require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application required by paragraph (1) 
     shall--
       (A) include the certification of the chief executive that 
     the State receiving such grant--
       (i) has adopted all national prison rape standards that, as 
     of the date on which the application was submitted, have been 
     promulgated under this Act; and
       (ii) will consider adopting all national prison rape 
     standards that are promulgated under this Act after such 
     date;
       (B) specify with particularity the preventative, 
     prosecutorial, or administrative activities to be undertaken 
     by the State with the amounts received under the grant; and
       (C) in the case of an application for a grant for one or 
     more activities specified in paragraph (2) of subsection 
     (b)--
       (i) review the extent of the budgetary circumstances 
     affecting the State generally and describe how those 
     circumstances relate to the State's prisons;
       (ii) describe the rate of growth of the State's prison 
     population over the preceding 10 years and explain why the 
     State may have difficulty sustaining that rate of growth; and
       (iii) explain the extent to which officials (including law 
     enforcement officials) of State and local governments and 
     victims of crime will be consulted regarding decisions 
     whether, or how, to moderate the growth of the State's prison 
     population.
       (e) Reports by Grantee.--
       (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall require each 
     grantee to submit, not later than 90 days after the end of 
     the period for which the grant was made under this section, a 
     report on the activities carried out under the grant. The 
     report shall identify

[[Page 19810]]

     and describe those activities and shall contain an evaluation 
     of the effect of those activities on--
       (A) the number of incidents of prison rape, and the 
     grantee's response to such incidents; and
       (B) the safety of the prisons, and the safety of the 
     communities in which released inmates are present.
       (2) Dissemination.--The Attorney General shall ensure that 
     each report submitted under paragraph (1) is made available 
     under the national clearinghouse established under section 5.
       (f) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' 
     includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
     States.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     for grants under this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2004 through 2010.
       (2) Limitation.--Of amounts made available for grants under 
     this section, not less than 50 percent shall be available 
     only for activities specified in paragraph (1) of subsection 
     (b).

     SEC. 7. NATIONAL PRISON RAPE REDUCTION COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be 
     known as the National Prison Rape Reduction Commission (in 
     this section referred to as the ``Commission'').
       (b) Members.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 
     members, of whom--
       (A) 3 shall be appointed by the President;
       (B) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, unless the Speaker is of the same party as 
     the President, in which case 1 shall be appointed by the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and 1 shall be 
     appointed by the minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (C) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     House of Representatives (in addition to any appointment made 
     under subparagraph (B));
       (D) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
     Senate, unless the majority leader is of the same party as 
     the President, in which case 1 shall be appointed by the 
     majority leader of the Senate and 1 shall be appointed by the 
     minority leader of the Senate; and
       (E) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate 
     (in addition to any appointment made under subparagraph (D)).
       (2) Persons eligible.--Each member of the Commission shall 
     be an individual who has knowledge or expertise in matters to 
     be studied by the Commission.
       (3) Consultation required.--The President, the Speaker and 
     minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the 
     majority leader and minority leader of the Senate shall 
     consult with one another prior to the appointment of the 
     members of the Commission to achieve, to the maximum extent 
     possible, fair and equitable representation of various points 
     of view with respect to the matters to be studied by the 
     Commission.
       (4) Term.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
     the Commission.
       (5) Time for initial appointments.--The appointment of the 
     members shall be made not later than 60 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
       (6) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
     in the manner in which the original appointment was made, and 
     shall be made not later than 60 days after the date on which 
     the vacancy occurred.
       (c) Operation.--
       (1) Chairperson.--Not later than 15 days after appointments 
     of all the members are made, the President shall appoint a 
     chairperson for the Commission from among its members.
       (2) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
     chairperson. The initial meeting of the Commission shall take 
     place not later than 30 days after the initial appointment of 
     the members is completed.
       (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
     shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the 
     Commission may establish a lesser quorum for conducting 
     hearings scheduled by the Commission.
       (4) Rules.--The Commission may establish by majority vote 
     any other rules for the conduct of Commission business, if 
     such rules are not inconsistent with this Act or other 
     applicable law.
       (d) Comprehensive Study of the Impacts of Prison Rape.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out a 
     comprehensive legal and factual study of the penalogical, 
     physical, mental, medical, social, and economic impacts of 
     prison rape in the United States on--
       (A) Federal, State, and local governments; and
       (B) communities and social institutions generally, 
     including individuals, families, and businesses within such 
     communities and social institutions.
       (2) Matters included.--The study under paragraph (1) shall 
     include--
       (A) a review of existing Federal, State, and local 
     government policies and practices with respect to the 
     prevention, detection, and punishment of prison rape;
       (B) an assessment of the relationship between prison rape 
     and prison conditions, and of existing monitoring, 
     regulatory, and enforcement practices that are intended to 
     address any such relationship;
       (C) an assessment of pathological or social causes of 
     prison rape;
       (D) an assessment of the extent to which the incidence of 
     prison rape contributes to the spread of sexually transmitted 
     diseases and to the transmission of HIV;
       (E) an assessment of the characteristics of inmates most 
     likely to commit prison rape and the effectiveness of various 
     types of treatment or programs to reduce such likelihood;
       (F) an assessment of the characteristics of inmates most 
     likely to be victims of prison rape and the effectiveness of 
     various types of treatment or programs to reduce such 
     likelihood;
       (G) an assessment of the impacts of prison rape on 
     individuals, families, social institutions and the economy 
     generally, including an assessment of the extent to which the 
     incidence of prison rape contributes to recidivism and to 
     increased incidence of sexual assault;
       (H) an examination of the feasibility and cost of 
     conducting surveillance, undercover activities, or both, to 
     reduce the incidence of prison rape;
       (I) an assessment of the safety and security of prison 
     facilities and the relationship of prison facility 
     construction and design to the incidence of prison rape;
       (J) an assessment of the feasibility and cost of any 
     particular proposals for prison reform;
       (K) an identification of the need for additional scientific 
     and social science research on the prevalence of prison rape 
     in Federal, State, and local prisons;
       (L) an assessment of the general relationship between 
     prison rape and prison violence;
       (M) an assessment of the relationship between prison rape 
     and levels of training, supervision, and discipline of prison 
     staff; and
       (N) an assessment of existing Federal and State systems for 
     reporting incidents of prison rape, including an assessment 
     of whether existing systems provide an adequate assurance of 
     confidentiality, impartiality and the absence of reprisal.
       (3) Report.--
       (A) Distribution.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the initial meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall 
     submit a report on the study carried out under this 
     subsection to--
       (i) the President;
       (ii) the Congress;
       (iii) the Attorney General;
       (iv) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
       (v) the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons;
       (vi) the chief executive of each State; and
       (vii) the head of the department of corrections of each 
     State.
       (B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A) shall 
     include--
       (i) the findings and conclusions of the Commission;
       (ii) recommended national standards for reducing prison 
     rape;
       (iii) recommended protocols for preserving evidence and 
     treating victims of prison rape; and
       (iv) a summary of the materials relied on by the Commission 
     in the preparation of the report.
       (e) Recommendations.--
       (1) In general.--In conjunction with the report submitted 
     under subsection (d)(3), the Commission shall provide the 
     Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services with recommended national standards for enhancing 
     the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of 
     prison rape.
       (2) Matters included.--The information provided under 
     paragraph (1) shall include recommended national standards 
     relating to--
       (A) the classification and assignment of prisoners, using 
     proven standardized instruments and protocols, in a manner 
     that limits the occurrence of prison rape;
       (B) the investigation and resolution of rape complaints by 
     responsible prison authorities, local and State police, and 
     Federal and State prosecution authorities;
       (C) the preservation of physical and testimonial evidence 
     for use in an investigation of the circumstances relating to 
     the rape;
       (D) acute-term trauma care for rape victims, including 
     standards relating to--
       (i) the manner and extent of physical examination and 
     treatment to be provided to any rape victim; and
       (ii) the manner and extent of any psychological 
     examination, psychiatric care, medication, and mental health 
     counseling to be provided to any rape victim;
       (E) referrals for long-term continuity of care for rape 
     victims;
       (F) educational and medical testing measures for reducing 
     the incidence of HIV transmission due to prison rape;
       (G) post-rape prophylactic medical measures for reducing 
     the incidence of transmission of sexual diseases;
       (H) the training of correctional staff sufficient to ensure 
     that they understand and appreciate the significance of 
     prison rape and the necessity of its eradication;
       (I) the timely and comprehensive investigation of staff 
     sexual misconduct involving rape or other sexual assault on 
     inmates;

[[Page 19811]]

       (J) ensuring the confidentiality of prison rape complaints 
     and protecting inmates who make complaints of prison rape;
       (K) creating a system for reporting incidents of prison 
     rape that will ensure the confidentiality of prison rape 
     complaints, protect inmates who make prison rape complaints 
     from retaliation, and assure the impartial resolution of 
     prison rape complaints;
       (L) data collection and reporting of--
       (i) prison rape;
       (ii) prison staff sexual misconduct; and
       (iii) the resolution of prison rape complaints by prison 
     officials and Federal, State, and local investigation and 
     prosecution authorities; and
       (M) such other matters as may reasonably be related to the 
     detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison 
     rape.
       (3) Limitation.--The Commission shall not propose a 
     recommended standard that would impose substantial additional 
     costs compared to the costs presently expended by Federal, 
     State, and local prison authorities.
       (f) Consultation With Accreditation Organizations.--In 
     developing recommended national standards for enhancing the 
     detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison 
     rape, the Commission shall consider any standards that have 
     already been developed, or are being developed simultaneously 
     to the deliberations of the Commission. The Commission shall 
     consult with accreditation organizations responsible for the 
     accreditation of Federal, State, local or private prisons, 
     that have developed or are currently developing standards 
     related to prison rape. The Commission will also consult with 
     national associations representing the corrections profession 
     that have developed or are currently developing standards 
     related to prison rape.
       (g) Hearings.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall hold public hearings. 
     The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such 
     times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
     evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out 
     its duties under this section.
       (2) Witness expenses.--Witnesses requested to appear before 
     the Commission shall be paid the same fees as are paid to 
     witnesses under section 1821 of title 28, United State Code. 
     The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be 
     paid from funds appropriated to the Commission.
       (h) Information From Federal or State Agencies.--The 
     Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or 
     agency such information as the Commission considers necessary 
     to carry out its duties under this section. The Commission 
     may request the head of any State or local department or 
     agency to furnish such information to the Commission.
       (i) Personnel Matters.--
       (1) Travel expenses.--The members of the Commission shall 
     be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of service for the Commission.
       (2) Detail of federal employees.--With the affirmative vote 
     of \2/3\ of the Commission, any Federal Government employee, 
     with the approval of the head of the appropriate Federal 
     agency, may be detailed to the Commission without 
     reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption 
     or loss of civil service status, benefits, or privileges.
       (3) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.--
     Upon the request of the Commission, the Attorney General 
     shall provide reasonable and appropriate office space, 
     supplies, and administrative assistance.
       (j) Contracts for Research.--
       (1) National institute of justice.--With a \2/3\ 
     affirmative vote, the Commission may select nongovernmental 
     researchers and experts to assist the Commission in carrying 
     out its duties under this Act. The National Institute of 
     Justice shall contract with the researchers and experts 
     selected by the Commission to provide funding in exchange for 
     their services.
       (2) Other organizations.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
     be construed to limit the ability of the Commission to enter 
     into contracts with other entities or organizations for 
     research necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission 
     under this section.
       (k) Subpoenas.--
       (1) Issuance.--The Commission may issue subpoenas for the 
     attendance of witnesses and the production of written or 
     other matter.
       (2) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or refusal to 
     obey a subpoena, the Attorney General may in a Federal court 
     of appropriate jurisdiction obtain an appropriate order to 
     enforce the subpoena.
       (3) Confidentiality of documentary evidence.--Documents 
     provided to the Commission pursuant to a subpoena issued 
     under this subsection shall not be released publicly without 
     the affirmative vote of \2/3\ of the Commission.
       (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section.
       (m) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the 
     date that is 60 days after the date on which the Commission 
     submits the reports required by this section.
       (n) Exemption.--The Commission shall be exempt from the 
     Federal Advisory Committee Act.

     SEC. 8. ADOPTION AND EFFECT OF NATIONAL STANDARDS.

       (a) Publication of Proposed Standards.--
       (1) Final rule.--Not later than 1 year after receiving the 
     report specified in section 7(d)(3), the Attorney General 
     shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for 
     the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of 
     prison rape.
       (2) Independent judgment.--The standards referred to in 
     paragraph (1) shall be based upon the independent judgment of 
     the Attorney General, after giving due consideration to the 
     recommended national standards provided by the Commission 
     under section 7(e), and being informed by such data, 
     opinions, and proposals that the Attorney General determines 
     to be appropriate to consider.
       (3) Limitation.--The Attorney General shall not establish a 
     national standard under this section that would impose 
     substantial additional costs compared to the costs presently 
     expended by Federal, State, and local prison authorities. The 
     Attorney General may, however, provide a list of improvements 
     for consideration by correctional facilities.
       (4) Transmission to states.--Within 90 days of publishing 
     the final rule under paragraph (1), the Attorney General 
     shall transmit the national standards adopted under such 
     paragraph to the chief executive of each State, the head of 
     the department of corrections of each State, and to the 
     appropriate authorities in those units of local government 
     who oversee operation in one or more prisons.
       (b) Applicability to Federal Bureau of Prisons.--The 
     national standards referred to in subsection (a) shall apply 
     to the Federal Bureau of Prisons immediately upon adoption of 
     the final rule under subsection (a)(4).
       (c) Eligibility for Federal Funds.--
       (1) Covered programs.--
       (A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, a grant 
     program is covered by this subsection if, and only if--
       (i) the program is carried out by or under the authority of 
     the Attorney General; and
       (ii) the program may provide amounts to States for prison 
     purposes.
       (B) List.--For each fiscal year, the Attorney General shall 
     prepare a list identifying each program that meets the 
     criteria of subparagraph (A) and provide that list to each 
     State.
       (2) Adoption of national standards.--For each fiscal year, 
     any amount that a State would otherwise receive for prison 
     purposes for that fiscal year under a grant program covered 
     by this subsection shall be reduced by 5 percent, unless the 
     chief executive of the State submits to the Attorney 
     General--
       (A) a certification that the State has adopted, and is in 
     full compliance with, the national standards described in 
     section 8(a); or
       (B) an assurance that not less than 5 percent of such 
     amount shall be used only for the purpose of enabling the 
     State to adopt, and achieve full compliance with, those 
     national standards, so as to ensure that a certification 
     under subparagraph (A) may be submitted in future years.
       (3) Report on noncompliance.--Not later than September 30 
     of each year, the Attorney General shall publish a report 
     listing each grantee that is not in compliance with the 
     national standards adopted pursuant to section 8(a).
       (4) Cooperation with survey.--For each fiscal year, any 
     amount that a State receives for that fiscal year under a 
     grant program covered by this subsection shall not be used 
     for prison purposes (and shall be returned to the grant 
     program if no other authorized use is available), unless the 
     chief executive of the State submits to the Attorney General 
     a certification that neither the State, nor any political 
     subdivision or unit of local government within the State, is 
     listed in a report issued by the Attorney General pursuant to 
     section 4(c)(2)(C).
       (5) Redistribution of amounts.--Amounts under a grant 
     program not granted by reason of a reduction under paragraph 
     (2), or returned by reason of the prohibition in paragraph 
     (4), shall be granted to one or more entities not subject to 
     such reduction or such prohibition, subject to the other laws 
     governing that program.
       (6) Implementation.--The Attorney General shall establish 
     procedures to implement this subsection, including procedures 
     for effectively applying this subsection to discretionary 
     grant programs.
       (7) Effective date.--
       (A) Requirement of adoption of standards.--The first grants 
     to which paragraph (2) applies are grants for the second 
     fiscal year beginning after the date on which the national 
     standards under section 8(a) are finalized.
       (B) Requirement for cooperation.--The first grants to which 
     paragraph (4) applies are grants for the fiscal year 
     beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9. REQUIREMENT THAT ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS ADOPT 
                   ACCREDITATION STANDARDS.

       (a) Eligibility for Federal Grants.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law,

[[Page 19812]]

     an organization responsible for the accreditation of Federal, 
     State, local, or private prisons, jails, or other penal 
     facilities may not receive any new Federal grants during any 
     period in which such organization fails to meet any of the 
     requirements of subsection (b).
       (b) Requirements.--To be eligible to receive Federal 
     grants, an accreditation organization referred to in 
     subsection (a) must meet the following requirements:
       (1) At all times after 90 days after the date of enactment 
     of this Act, the organization shall have in effect, for each 
     facility that it is responsible for accrediting, 
     accreditation standards for the detection, prevention, 
     reduction, and punishment of prison rape.
       (2) At all times after 1 year after the date of the 
     adoption of the final rule under section 8(a)(4), the 
     organization shall, in addition to any other such standards 
     that it may promulgate relevant to the detection, prevention, 
     reduction, and punishment of prison rape, adopt accreditation 
     standards consistent with the national standards adopted 
     pursuant to such final rule.

     SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
       (1) Carnal knowledge.--The term ``carnal knowledge'' means 
     contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the 
     anus, including penetration of any sort, however slight.
       (2) Inmate.--The term ``inmate'' means any person 
     incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of, 
     convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, 
     violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of 
     parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program.
       (3) Jail.--The term ``jail'' means a confinement facility 
     of a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency to 
     hold--
       (A) persons pending adjudication of criminal charges; or
       (B) persons committed to confinement after adjudication of 
     criminal charges for sentences of 1 year or less.
       (4) HIV.--The term ``HIV'' means the human immunodeficiency 
     virus.
       (5) Oral sodomy.--The term ``oral sodomy'' means contact 
     between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vulva, or 
     the mouth and the anus.
       (6) Police lockup.--The term ``police lockup'' means a 
     temporary holding facility of a Federal, State, or local law 
     enforcement agency to hold--
       (A) inmates pending bail or transport to jail;
       (B) inebriates until ready for release; or
       (C) juveniles pending parental custody or shelter 
     placement.
       (7) Prison.--The term ``prison'' means any confinement 
     facility of a Federal, State, or local government, whether 
     administered by such government or by a private organization 
     on behalf of such government, and includes--
       (A) any local jail or police lockup; and
       (B) any juvenile facility used for the custody or care of 
     juvenile inmates.
       (8) Prison rape.--The term ``prison rape'' includes the 
     rape of an inmate in the actual or constructive control of 
     prison officials.
       (9) Rape.--The term ``rape'' means--
       (A) the carnal knowledge, oral sodomy, sexual assault with 
     an object, or sexual fondling of a person, forcibly or 
     against that person's will;
       (B) the carnal knowledge, oral sodomy, sexual assault with 
     an object, or sexual fondling of a person not forcibly or 
     against the person's will, where the victim is incapable of 
     giving consent because of his or her youth or his or her 
     temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity; or
       (C) the carnal knowledge, oral sodomy, sexual assault with 
     an object, or sexual fondling of a person achieved through 
     the exploitation of the fear or threat of physical violence 
     or bodily injury.
       (10) Sexual assault with an object.--The term ``sexual 
     assault with an object'' means the use of any hand, finger, 
     object, or other instrument to penetrate, however slightly, 
     the genital or anal opening of the body of another person.
       (11) Sexual fondling.--The term ``sexual fondling'' means 
     the touching of the private body parts of another person 
     (including the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, 
     or buttocks) for the purpose of sexual gratification.
       (12) Exclusions.--The terms and conditions described in 
     paragraphs (9) and (10) shall not apply to--
       (A) custodial or medical personnel gathering physical 
     evidence, or engaged in other legitimate medical treatment, 
     in the course of investigating prison rape;
       (B) the use of a health care provider's hands or fingers or 
     the use of medical devices in the course of appropriate 
     medical treatment unrelated to prison rape; or
       (C) the use of a health care provider's hands or fingers 
     and the use of instruments to perform body cavity searches in 
     order to maintain security and safety within the prison or 
     detention facility, provided that the search is conducted in 
     a manner consistent with constitutional requirements.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________