What is an independent PREA auditor?

• A. A facility staff member who reviews PREA compliance internally.
• B. A government prosecutor.
• C. An external evaluator certified to assess a facility’s compliance with PREA standards, not employed by the facility.
• D. A vendor who sells PREA-related software.

Answer: (C)

An independent PREA auditor is an external, certified evaluator who assesses a facility’s compliance with PREA standards and is not employed by the facility. This independence is crucial because it ensures objectivity and reduces any potential conflicts of interest, so the audit accurately reflects how well the facility protects residents from sexual abuse and ensures proper reporting, investigations, training, and retaliation protections. The auditor conducts on-site reviews, examines records, interviews staff and residents, and evaluates whether the facility’s PREA program meets the required standards, then reports findings and recommendations.

Internal staff would lack the necessary neutrality, a prosecutor isn’t in the auditing role, and a vendor is focused on selling services rather than conducting a formal PREA compliance assessment.