Does PREA address electronic or online sexual abuse?

• A. Yes; PREA requires policies and procedures to address sexual exploitation or abuse conducted through electronic means and ensure proper reporting and investigation.
• B. No, PREA focuses only on physical encounters.
• C. Yes, but only for inmates under 18.
• D. Yes, but only for staff-to-inmate communications.

Answer: (A)

Electronic or online sexual abuse is addressed by PREA. The standards require agencies to have policies and procedures that cover sexual exploitation or abuse conducted through electronic means, and to establish clear procedures for reporting and investigating such incidents. This ensures that abuse isn’t limited to physical encounters and that digital avenues are monitored, reported, and handled with the same seriousness as in-person abuse.

This is why the choice stating that PREA requires addressing electronic abuse and proper reporting/investigation is the best fit. The other options are too narrow or inaccurate: PREA is not limited to physical encounters, it applies to all inmates regardless of age (with juvenile facilities having their own context but not a blanket “under 18 only” scope), and it covers abuse involving both staff and inmates, not just staff‑to‑inmate communications.