Wyoming Girls School

PREA

WGS Commitment to Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Prevention:

The Wyoming Girls School (WGS) has a zero-tolerance policy relating to staff sexual misconduct, youth sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and consensual youth sexual misconduct. It is our policy to fully cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of those who are involved in such conduct, if in fact a crime has been committed.

It is the policy and priority of the WGS to maintain a sexually safe and healthy environment for all youth committed to the WGS. It is the responsibility of all staff at the WGS to actively implement this policy to prohibit and prevent staff sexual misconduct, youth sexual misconduct, abusive sexual contact, nonconsensual sex, or consensual sex regardless of a youth’s age, sexual orientation, or sexual identification.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law that became effective August 20, 2012. PREA establishes a zero-tolerance standard against sexual abuse in adult prisons, jails, police lockups, private prisons, as well as youth centers and community confinement centers. The Act requires agencies to comply with national standards to eliminate sexual abuse. The standards include the prevention, detection and prosecution of any sexual abuse within youth and juvenile facilities
There are 9 Purposes established under the Act
- 1. Establish a zero-tolerance standard for the incidence of prison rape in prisons in the US
  2. Make the prevention of prison rape a top priority in each prison system
  3. Develop and implement national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction and punishment of prison rape
  4. Increase the available data and information on the incidence of prison rape, consequently improving the management and administration of correctional facilities
  5. Standardize the definitions used for collecting data on the incidence of prison rape
  6. Increase the accountability of prison officials who fail to detect, prevent, reduce and punish prison rape
  7. Protect the Eighth Amendment rights of Federal, State and local prisoners
  8. Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal expenditures through grant programs
  9. Reduce the costs that prison rape imposes on interstate commerce

PREA Hotline

Wyoming Girls School (WGS) residents who are victims of, or witnesses to, inappropriate sexual misconduct, assaults, sexual assaults, sexual harassment, or criminal activity are provided access to confidential telephone hotline system to report against other residents or staff. Information on how to access this hotline is posted throughout the WGS in each respective building and dormitory on campus. Persons outside the WGS facility may also file a report by calling the Advocacy and Resource Center Crisis Line 307-672-3222.

Anonymous reports may also be made in writing and sent directly to the Advocacy and Resource Center 136 Coffeen Ave., Sheridan, WY 82801

Please refer PREA related questions to:

Samantha Heide, PREA Compliance Manager

(307) 675-3019 - samantha.heide@wyo.gov

Annual Reports:

Auditor Summary Reports ( WGS is audited every three years by federal mandate):

Next Scheduled Audit: 2024