The PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT was signed into law in 2003. The law is to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The Cook County Sheriff's Office has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment and such conduct is strictly prohibited. We want to ensure you understand the rules of the facility and how to report a problem, or issue in the unlikely event something happens while you are here. You, as a volunteer or contractor seeking authorization to enter the Cook County Department of Corrections, must adhere to these requirements.

Sexual activity is strictly prohibited.

• Sexual activity includes any kind of sexual contact, regardless of whether the other party agreed to the contact or not. There is no such thing as consent to sexual activity in a correctional setting.
• This also includes sexual harassment: saying sexual things, saying things about someone's body, talking about who someone likes to date, sexual orientation or identification, or making offensive gestures or comments.

Employees, contractors, and volunteers are prohibited from having any kind of romantic relationship with an individual in custody. There is no such thing as consent to sexual activity in a correctional setting.

Any contractor, volunteer, or employee who engages in sexual abuse, sexual harassment, or discusses content that is sexually inappropriate in nature shall be prohibited from contact with individuals in custody.

You are prohibited from sharing personal information or details of your life, such as their personal contact information, except if necessary to carry out your professional responsibilities.

You are prohibited from contacting individuals in custody outside of the facility through any means (e.g., in person meetings, texting, phone calls, or on social media), without approval of the Sheriff's Office.

At the Cook County Sheriff's Office, we do a number of things to keep everyone safe, including:

• Educating individuals in custody about their right to be free from sexual abuse, and sexual harassment, conduct, or inappropriate conversations.
• Conducting background checks of the individuals we hire.
• Training employees on our policies on preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse, and sexual harassment.
• Offering multiple ways individuals in custody and others can report problems at each facility.
• Fully investigating all allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.
• Providing services and support to individuals in custody who report they have been sexually abused or harassed.
• Protecting employees and individuals in custody from retaliation for reporting problems or assisting with an investigation.
• Enforcing our rules and requirements as explained above.

What to do if you see or suspect sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment, or if the individual in custody is at substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse or sexual harassment, or if an individual in custody reports a problem to you: Although we do a number of things to keep everyone safe, we want you to know what to do if you see something that looks like a problem or if an individual in custody reports a problem to you.

• If you see or suspect an incident of sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment you must report it immediately by informing a staff member (e.g., officer, sergeant/lieutenant, or your program's volunteer coordinator).
• If you become aware of anyone violating the rules and requirements explained in this Form, you must report this immediately by informing a staff member.
• If an individual in custody wants to tell you something but asks you not repeat what they are going to tell you, let them know about your limits of confidentiality. This includes whether you have to report certain behaviors by law once you have knowledge or reasonable suspicion that a crime is being or has been committed.
• For example, you might say, "I am glad you told me and I can understand why you would not want me to tell anyone. If it is regarding sexual abuse or harassment, I am required to report it. I respect your decision if you do not want to tell me as a result. But if you tell me, I can work with you to get help."
• If an individual in custody discloses something that suggests an incident of sexual abuse or harassment has occurred, stay calm, listen to what they are saying, take the report seriously, and convey a message of support (e.g., "I'm glad you were strong enough to come to me").
• Let the individual in custody know you are going to report the incident to DOC staff and that someone will investigate and make sure they are safe. Inform them you will not share their report beyond those who need to know.

Questions: If you have questions pertaining to your PREA responsibilities or other facility rules, or your responsibilities while you are here, you may contact us at ccso.prea@ccsheriff.org.

Acknowledgement: By signing this form, you acknowledge that you have received, read, and understand your responsibilities regarding the Cook County Sheriff's Office PREA related policy to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement settings.

(FCN-28)(JUL 24)