The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation

Sharon Weaver; Margaret E Shippen; Nicholas Derzis; Rebecca S. Curtis Rebecca S. Curtis Rebecca S. Curtis; Angela L Hall; Christine L Fleming

doi:10.29333/ajqr/15879

Sharon Weaver ¹, Margaret E Shippen ² ^* , Nicholas Derzis ² ^* , Rebecca S. Curtis Rebecca S. Curtis Rebecca S. Curtis ², Angela L Hall ³, Christine L Fleming ⁴

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AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 9, Issue 1, pp. 52-74

https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879

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Abstract

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA, 2003) mandates zero-tolerance for sexual assault in prisons. Despite the increase in female inmates, the criminal justice system policies remain male-focused. This study, stemming from a settlement agreement between the US Department of Justice and a state Department of Corrections, explores female inmates’ perceptions of PREA through three constructs: impressions of (a) PREA, (b) sexual safety, and (c) system efficacy/change. Conducted via Zoom, 44 confidential interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Findings show most participants indicated PREA is weaponized for retaliation. Future research should examine improvements in response to inmate feedback.

Keywords: Women’s prison, sexual safety, prisoner perceptions, interviews

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Citation

Weaver, S., Shippen, M. E., Derzis, N., Rebecca S. Curtis, R. S. C. R. S. C., Hall, A. L., & Fleming, C. L. (2025). The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(1), 52-74. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879

Weaver, S., Shippen, M. E., Derzis, N., Rebecca S. Curtis, R. S. C. R. S. C., Hall, A. L., and Fleming, C. L. (2025). The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(1), pp. 52-74. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879

Weaver S, Shippen ME, Derzis N, Rebecca S. Curtis RSCRSC, Hall AL, Fleming CL. The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(1), 52-74. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879

Weaver, Sharon, Margaret E Shippen, Nicholas Derzis, Rebecca S. Curtis Rebecca S. Curtis Rebecca S. Curtis, Angela L Hall, and Christine L Fleming. "The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation". American Journal of Qualitative Research 2025 9 no. 1 (2025): 52-74. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879

Weaver, Sharon et al. "The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation". American Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 9, no. 1, 2025, pp. 52-74. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879

Weaver S, Shippen ME, Derzis N, Rebecca S. Curtis RSCRSC, Hall AL, Fleming CL. The Power of Perception: Female Inmate Views on PREA Implementation. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(1):52-74. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/15879