Q&A
Measures to protect witnesses and complainants from retaliation
1:43:14
·
104 sec
DOC officials outline the measures in place to protect witnesses and complainants from retaliation following sexual assault allegations. These measures include immediate actions and ongoing monitoring.
- Victims are immediately separated from alleged perpetrators upon receiving an allegation
- Cases are monitored for 90 days to ensure no retaliation occurs
- The PREA compliance unit tracks cases to prevent further victimization or retaliation
- After the 90-day period, standard reporting measures remain available, including:
- Information stenciled throughout facilities
- Ability to contact the Board of Corrections (BOC)
- Option to speak with officers or civilian staff members
- Access to 311 for additional assistance
Christopher Marte
1:43:14
And how do you protect these witnesses or complainers from retaliation because I think where you conduct those interviews and how you conduct those interviews and who's present in those interviews can make someone feel safe and protected from retaliation while other measures are in place to make sure that people don't speak up and have to live with that fear.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
1:43:39
So one of the things that's done for sure at the beginning when we receive the allegation that individual is removed from the perpetrator, the victim.
1:43:48
And so they're separated.
1:43:50
They're provided with services, but we also monitor those cases for 90 days, right, to ensure that there's no retaliation.
1:43:58
Our pre compliance unit tracks those cases to ensure that the individual is not further victimized or the retaliated against because of that allegation.
1:44:07
So that work is ongoing.
1:44:09
And if the victim reaches out to us, then we follow-up and and do a further investigation if there's an incident of retaliation.
Christopher Marte
1:44:19
And post those 90 days, what other measures that they have in place to be able to communicate in with a with within a protective criteria?
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
1:44:31
Well, it's the same measures that are in place.
1:44:35
They're you know, the information is stenciled throughout our facilities.
1:44:39
They can utilize they can contact BOC.
1:44:42
They can talk to an officer or a civilians staff member that's in their housing area.
1:44:47
If they need additional assistance, they can contact 311.
1:44:52
You know, those measures are still in place and it's not removed from them as they go through the process of being incarcerated in our care.
Christopher Marte
1:44:59
Yeah.
