Prison Rape Elimination Act

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law enacted in 2003 with the goal of eliminating sexual abuse in confinement settings.

The purpose of the act is to “provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape.” The act also created the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, which is charged with developing draft standards to prevent, detect, and respond to prison rape. Those standards were subsequently submitted to the Department of Justice for review. The final rule was signed on May 16, 2012, and the standards became effective August 20, 2012. A copy of the PREA Standards for Juvenile Facilities can be found at the National PREA Resource Center website.

The Department of Children's Services shall be committed to a zero-tolerance standard for all forms of sexual abuse/assault/misconduct/harassment or rape within its Youth Development Center facilities and contracted Private Provider Agencies that provide congregate care for children/youth and shall be committed to reducing the risk of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, misconduct and rape through implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) as outlined in Public Law 108-79, Section 3. Department of Children's Services PREA policy can be found in policy 18.8.

Department of Children's Services (DCS) is committed to ensuring the safety of the youth committed to its care, including protecting them from sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. DCS employs a PREA Coordinator charged with developing, implementing, and overseeing agency efforts to comply with the PREA standards in all of its facilities. The Department has dedicated this full time position to serve as the agency's point of contact regarding all PREA related matters. This position provides consultation and guidance to facility and private provider staff with respect to PREA implementation and monitoring. In addition, each facility has appointed a PREA Compliance Manager responsible for coordinating the facility's efforts to comply with the PREA standards.

All employees receive training concerning their responsibilities under PREA, as well as their duty to report all allegations of sexual abuse to the Child Abuse Hotline (800) 237-0004. In addition, employees receive training on identifying youth who have experienced sexual abuse or are in fear of being sexually abused. All DCS/agency employees, volunteers, and contractors are required to sign Form CS-0940, Employee Acknowledgement and Notification of Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Department of Children's Services (DCS) is committed to providing quality investigations of alleged sexual abuse in its facilities as well as private provider contract facilities. All investigators receive specialized training specific to conducting sexual abuse investigations in confinement settings. DCS policies concerning referrals of allegations for investigation can be found in policies 14.25 and 18.8.

Bedford County Juvenile Detention Center
101 Lane Parkway, Shelbyville, TN  37160
2023 Bedford Federal PREA Audit

Bradley County Juvenile Detention Center
1620 Johnson Blvd Cleveland, TN 37311
2023 Bradley Federal PREA Audit

Cedar Grove
1640 Lascassas Pike Murfreesboro, TN 37130
New Facility

Center for Success and Independence (CSI Memphis)
3030 Brunswick Rd, Bartlett, TN 38133 
2022 Memphis Youth Academy Federal PREA Audit

Hamilton County Detention Center
1600 E 3rd St Chattanooga, TN 37404
New Facility

Hollis Academy
942 Andrew Jackson Dr., Waynesboro, TN 38485
2023 Hollis Academy Federal PREA Audit

Hollis Residential Treatment Center
1272 Lawson White Road, Columbia, TN 38401
2023 HRTC Federal PREA Audit

Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center/Knox County Juvenile Detention Center
3321 Division St., Knoxville, TN  37919
2023 Richard L. Bean Federal PREA Audit

Madison County Juvenile Detention Center
224 Lexington Ave, Jackson, TN 38301
2023 Madison Federal PREA Audit 

Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center
1272 Lawson White Drive, Columbia, TN 38401
2023 Middle TN Federal PREA Audit

Mountain View Academy (Hardware Secure)
809 Peal Lane, Dandridge, TN 37725
2021 MVA Federal PREA Audit

Mountain View Academy (Staff Secure)
809 Peal Lane, Dandridge, TN 37725
2021 MVA Federal PREA Audit

Putnam County Juvenile Detention Center
25 N. Washington, Cookeville, TN  38506
2023 Putnam Federal PREA Audit

Rhea County Detention Center
1169 Market Street, Dayton, TN 37321
New Facility

Rosewood Academy
279 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
2022 Walnut Federal PREA Audit

Scott County Juvenile Detention Center
195 Firehall Drive, Ste. 103, Huntsville, TN 37756

Shelby County Detention Center
616 Adams Ave Memphis, TN 38105
New Facility

Standing Tall Music City
3981 Stewart's Lane, Nashville, TN 37218
2023 STMC Federal PREA Audit

Walnut Academy
279 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
2022 Walnut Federal PREA Audit

Wilder Youth Development Center
13870 Highway 79 Somerville, TN 38068
2021 Wilder YDC Federal PREA Audit

Williamson County Juvenile Detention Center
408 Century Court, Franklin, TN 37064   
2021 Williamson County Federal PREA Audit