The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA)

Congress enacted the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) to address the problem of sexual abuse of persons in the custody of U.S. confinement agencies. PREA calls for federal, state, and local agencies to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and sexual harassment (as defined by PREA) in prisons, jails, police lock-ups, and other confinement facilities. The Act applies to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders and to community-based correctional agencies. 

GEO’s Zero Tolerance Policy

The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) mandates zero tolerance towards all forms of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment in all its facilities. GEO has an aggressive and effective process to comply with all regulations when a GEO operational subsidiary, business unit or program falls within the scope of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) and the DOJ National Standards To Prevent, Detect, and Respond To Prison Rape (Final Rule, dated, June 2012) or Subpart A of the DHS Standards to Prevent, Detect and Respond to Sexual Abuse and Assault in Confinement Facilities (79 Fed. Reg. 13100 dated March 7, 2014), GEO will comply with these regulations as required.

How to Report Allegations of Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment of Someone in a GEO Facility or Program

To report an allegation of Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment on behalf of an individual who is or was housed in any GEO facility or program or if you were previously housed in a GEO facility or program and need to report an allegation of sexual abuse/harassment, you may contact the Facility Administrator’s Office in the facility where the alleged incident occurred or where the individual is housed. Please see our Locations page for each facility’s contact information. Reports can be made over the phone, in person, in writing or anonymously if desired. You can also contact our Corporate PREA Coordinator directly (see contact information below).

It is critical that you provide as many details as possible to help us investigate the allegation

• The names and locations of alleged persons involved;
• Individual’s register/booking number (if known);
• Date, time and location of where the alleged incident occurred;

• The names of any witnesses to the alleged incident;
• A brief description of the alleged incident;
• Your contact phone number and address if you wish to do so

Employee Reporting Options

GEO Employees may report Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment information to the Chief of Security or facility management privately if requested. They may also report Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment directly to the Employee Hotline, which is an independent, professional service, available24 hours per day, 7 days a week on the Internet at www.reportlineweb.com/geogroup or at the toll free phone number (866) 568-5425. Employees may also contact the Corporate PREA Coordinator directly at (561) 999-5827.

Investigations

All cases of alleged sexual conduct shall be promptly, thoroughly, and objectively investigated. Upon substantiation of any allegation of sexual conduct, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against the employee, contractor, volunteer, or individual in a GEO facility or program. Those actions may include possible criminal prosecution. If the allegation potentially involves criminal behavior, GEO will ensure that allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment are referred for investigation to an agency with the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations.