The Prison Rape Elimination Act and the related standards were developed to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse in corrections. However, neither PREA nor the Standards provide specific guidance regarding evaluating a patient and documenting the evaluation. This presentation explores through case examples what constitutes forensic evidence and the ethical challenges facing both medical and behavioral health professionals in conducting and documenting PREA evaluations.

Educational objectives

Discuss guidelines for appropriate documentation related to forensic examinations and behavioral health evaluations conducted pursuant to PREA

Explain the legal and ethical implications of considering forensic evidence when conducting PREA forensic examinations and behavioral health evaluations

Describe the challenges in conducting and documenting PREA evaluations

Level: Intermediate