Following an investigation, what statuses must the Department inform the inmate about regarding the allegation's outcome?

• A. Substantiated/Sustained, Unsubstantiated/Unsubstained, or Unfounded
• B. Verified, Not Verified, or In Dispute
• C. Proved, Not Proved, or Not Related
• D. Confirmed, Denied, or Inconclusive

Answer: (A)

After a PREA investigation, the department must inform the inmate of the outcome using three standard findings: substantiated (often called sustained), unsubstantiated, or unfounded. Substantiated means there is enough evidence to determine that the allegation occurred. Unsubstantiated means there isn’t enough evidence to make a determination about whether it occurred. Unfounded means the investigation found no evidence to support the allegation, or it concluded the claim was false. These categories provide a clear, uniform way to communicate the result and ensure transparency with the inmate. Other term sets (like verified/not verified/in dispute, proved/not proved, or confirmed/denied/inconclusive) don’t align with PREA’s established outcome categories.