When Checking a Box is not Enough: The (Un)Readability of PREA Messaging

• Published date: 01 December 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00328855231208008
• Author: Jessie L. Krienert,Jeffrey A. Walsh
• Date: 01 December 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

When Checking a Box is

not Enough: The (Un)

Readability of

PREA Messaging

Jessie L. Krienert

and Jeffrey A. Walsh

Abstract

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was implemented to prevent sexual

assault within correctional facilities. To communicate PREA principles to

inmates, written materials including handbooks, policies, and brochures are

utilized. This research evaluates the readability of PREA messaging, employing

three established metrics: Flesh Reading Ease Score, Flesch–Kincaid Grade

Level, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Findings reveal signif‌icant devia-

tion from recommended reading targets for both the general (7th–8th grade)

and inmate (5th–6th grade) populations. Prison Rape Elimination Act policies

averaged a 16th-grade level, raising concerns regarding the eff‌icacy of PREA

implementationand compliance in light of potential comprehension challenges.

Keywords

PREA, readability, policy, incarceration

Introduction

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was implemented to address sexual

assault and sexual harassment within correctional facilities by establishing a

Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jessie L. Krienert, Illinois State University Department of Criminal Justice Sciences, Campus Box

5250, Normal, IL 61790, USA.

Email: jlkrien@ilstu.edu

Article

The Prison Journal

2023, Vol. 103(6) 728–748

© 2023 SAGE Publications

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/00328855231208008

journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj

set of standards that delineate institutional measures for prevention and

response to prison rape (“Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003”). Signed

into law in 2003, PREA advocates for zero-tolerance of sexual assault

through enforcement of comprehensive mandates including educational and

training programs for both inmates and staff (Jenness & Smyth, 2011).

The Prison Rape Elimination Act included requirements for data collection,

training initiatives, allocation of federal funds, and creation of the National

Prison Rape Elimination Commission.

For PREA to be effective, acceptance from off‌icers, inmates, and prison

administration is critical. Successful implementation has been hindered by

attitudinal barriers from both inmates and staff. Utilizing staff survey data

across six institutions, Rudes et al. (2021, p. 242) determined correctional

staff did not perceive PREA as benef‌icial, and instead viewed its implemen-

tation as an “administrative, safety, and cultural burden.”Similarly, Smith

et al. (2023), in their examination of staff and inmate perceptions and knowl-

edge regarding PREA, emphasized successful implementation relied on the

support and understanding of staff and inmates, noting if “either does not

comprehend accurately this policy and/or express little to no support for it,

this can severely hamper efforts to abolish acts of sexual harassment and/or

assault within corrections”(p. 6). Survey data from staff and inmates revealed

that while most staff and inmates had knowledge about and support for

PREA, there were notable discrepancies in certain areas including mandatory

reporting procedures and staff/inmate relationships. Additionally, they noted

a divergence in the perceived level of support for PREA policy (Smith et al.,

2023).

In accordance with PREA standards, correctional agencies are obligated to

ensure meaningful access to all PREA-related information. Notably, PREA

standard 115.16, specif‌ically addresses individuals with disabilities and man-

dates writtenmaterials be provided in a format thatfacilitates effective commu-

nication. Various strategies have been employed to deliver PREA information

to inmates including policy, handbooks, handouts, signage, and brochures.

Additionally, printed materials are offered to inmates as supplementary

resources during in-person training sessions that expound upon the provisions

of PREA (Harrellet al., 2015). Emphasizing the importance of writtencommu-

nication, PREA compliance audits incorporate multiple checkboxes to verify

the inclusion of PREA language and information in inmate handbooks,

posters, and other printed materials (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2014).

These checkboxes underscore the importance placed upon integrating written

information as a fundamental tenet of comprehensive PREA implementation.

Highlighting the signif‌icance of presenting PREA information and

resources in a language inmates comprehend, Hastings and Brickman

Krienert and Walsh 729