The PREA program is a national program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The goal of the PREA program is to assist efforts to establish "zero tolerance" cultures related to sexual abuse and harassment in confinement facilities. As defined in PREA program guidance, "confinement facilities" include: jails, police lockups, prisons, juvenile facilities, and community confinement facilities.
Florida receives a PREA allocation as part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. Under the PREA program, all funds must be used to implement initiatives to reduce, eliminate, and/or mitigate the risk of prison rape.
The table below shows the funding breakdown for Florida's PREA program for the past five years.
Application Process
Florida's Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) program competitively awards funds across the state. However, in alternating years, continuation funding is offered to existing projects. If a continuation program declines funding, OCJG evaluates the amount of funding available and determines if a new competitive process should be conducted.
During the competitive process, an OCJG review panel scores applications on objective criteria provided in the award solicitation. Once the OCJG review panel evaluates all applications, recommendations are provided to the Bureau Chief and projects are approved for funding.
Priority Provided
Florida gives preference to evidence-based projects which are appropriate to the target population. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) www.crimesolutions.gov website is one resource prospective recipients may use to find information about evidence-based programs within criminal justice.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible recipients for the PREA program include state agencies and local units of government, including federally recognized Indian tribal governments which perform law enforcement functions. Additional eligibility requirements are outlined in the award solicitation.
Application Requirements
Applications for Florida's PREA program must be submitted electronically in the OCJG's electronic grant management system (AmpliFund). Detailed information regarding application content requirements and associated application forms may be found in posted award solicitation. READ THE SOLICITATION!
Post-Award
OCJG submits all selected projects to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for federal approval. Once approved by BJA, OCJG executes award documents and provides copies to the recipient. Upon receipt of the award documents, recipients are advised to carefully review all enclosures to ensure there are no special conditions applied to the award. If there are special conditions on the award, recipients should contact the PREA grant manager at (850) 617-1250 for more information prior to beginning project activities.
Requirements
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) funds shall be used to assist state and local governments in carrying out activities which address the major provisions of the PREA standards, including:
- General prevention planning;
- Supervision and monitoring;
- Staffing of juvenile facilities;
- Juveniles in adult facilities;
- Cross-gender searches and viewing;
- Training and education;
- Screening;
- Reporting;
- Responsive planning;
- Investigations;
- Discipline;
- Medical and mental health care;
- Grievances;
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) and gender nonconforming inmates; and
- Inmates with disabilities and Limited English Proficiency (LEP).