Inmate-to-Inmate Sexual Coercion in a Prison for Women

Inmate-to-inmate sexual coercion remains a relatively unexplored topic within correctional literature, especially concerning female inmates. Using data gathered in March 2000 via questionnaires with 245 inmates in a southern female correctional facility, the authors examine various demographic characteristics of victim and perpetrator inmate-to-inmate sexual coercion. Respondents were asked a series of questions regarding their victimization and/or perpetration of threatened or completed forced sexual assault encounters with other inmates. Over four percent of the inmates reported that they had been sexually coerced by other female inmates and two percent had sexually coerced another inmate. Policy implications are also addressed in the study.