Justice: Prisons to step up anti-rape efforts

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is ordering federal, state and local prisons to increase efforts to stop prison rape by issuing mandatory screening, enforcement and prevention regulations in hopes of reducing sexual victimization behind bars. The Justice Department announced the regulations today on the heels of a new study showing that almost 1 in every 10 former state or local prisoners reported being sexually victimized at least once in prison. The new regulations are immediately binding on federal prisons. State prisons face losing federal money if they don’t comply, and local jails will not be able to get re-accredited without falling in line. The White House also ordered that all federal detainment facilities outside of the prison system come up with ways to fight prison rape within a year.