15PBJA24GG04412JAGP

The Nevada Department of Public Safety's Office of Criminal Justice Assistance (DPS-OCJA) will use Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) reallocation award to sub-award the funds to the Nevada Department of Corrections (DOC) for use in the efforts to maintain compliance with PREA.

Education, information, communication are all integral elements to establishing a safe, effective PREA compliant program.

In 2025, Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) is preparing for the re-opening of the Warm Springs Correctional Center (WSCC) in Carson City, Nevada.

When reopened, that facility will house up to 600 medium custody male offenders.

Nevada's 81st Legislative Session in 2021 shuttered this facility and NDOC is requesting funding to facilitate a much-needed internal audit once the site re-opens.

The audit will include a review of the institution's surveillance technology and other technological gaps.

Funds will be used to audit the site and provide for any critically necessary surveillance technology to address Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) concerns and areas with blind spots.

The recent transfer of over 1,400 offenders between High Desert State Prison (HDSP) and Ely State Prison (ESP) warrants an internal audit of both facilities.

HDSP is scheduled for a national audit in spring of 2025, ESP is not scheduled until summer of 2026.

An internal audit of ESP would provide an opportunity to assess and address any operational issues, ensuring that the facility meets the required standards.

Conducting the audit well in advance would allow ample time for corrective measures, leading to a more favorable outcome during the national audit.

This proactive approach will demonstrate the agency's commitment to maintaining high standards of operation and offender welfare.

Funds will also be used for personnel costs of the PREA coordinator/designee and two (2) designated staff to develop and instruct training for PREA compliance managers (PCMs) statewide.

In addition, NDOC plans to utilize technology and surveillance equipment that will support a high level of organization and documentation for investigations.

The equipment will also provide an extra layer of protection to the inmates.

Nevada Department Of Public Safety

THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA) PROVIDES 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" (PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT, 2003). IN ADDITION TO MANDATING RESEARCH ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CONFINEMENT FACILITIES, PREA PROVIDES FUNDING, ADMINISTERED BY THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (BJA), IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS, TO SUPPORT EFFORTS ACROSS THE NATION TO ESTABLISH "ZERO TOLERANCE" CULTURES RELATED TO SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN CONFINEMENT FACILITIES. PREA ALSO DIRECTS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROMULGATE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ALL SUCH FACILITIES, INCLUDING PRISONS AND LOCAL JAILS, POLICE LOCKUPS, COMMUNITY CONFINEMENT FACILITIES, AND JUVENILE FACILITIES. THE NATIONAL PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY PREA AND CHARGED WITH DRAFTING NATIONAL STANDARDS. A FINAL DRAFT OF THE STANDARDS WAS PUBLISHED IN JUNE 2009 AND WAS TURNED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) FOR REVIEW AND PASSAGE AS A FINAL RULE. AFTER AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND SUBSEQUENT REVISIONS, THE FINAL RULE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON JUNE 20, 2012 AND BECAME EFFECTIVE ON AUGUST 20, 2012. PREA PROVIDES THAT A STATE WHOSE GOVERNOR DOES NOT CERTIFY FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS IS SUBJECT TO THE LOSS OF 5 PERCENT OF DOJ GRANT FUNDS THAT IT WOULD OTHERWISE RECEIVE FOR PRISON PURPOSES, UNLESS THE GOVERNOR SUBMITS AN ASSURANCE THAT SUCH 5 PERCENT WILL BE USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE STATE TO ACHIEVE AND CERTIFY FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS IN FUTURE YEARS. (SEE 42 U.S.C. 15607(C).) THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE DOJ GRANT PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO THIS REQUIREMENT IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2022. STATES HAVE AN ONGOING OBLIGATION TO WORK TOWARD AND ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PREA STANDARDS; THEREFORE, THE PREA REDUCTION WILL BE APPLIED EACH YEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT CERTIFY FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PREA STANDARDS. PURSUANT TO PREA, THE GOVERNOR HAS THREE OPTIONS: (1) SUBMIT A CERTIFICATION THAT THE STATE IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PREA STANDARDS; (2) SUBMIT AN ASSURANCE THAT NOT LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF ITS DOJ FUNDING FOR PRISON PURPOSES (INCLUDING ITS JAG AWARD) SHALL BE USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE STATE TO ADOPT AND ACHIEVE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PREA STANDARDS THROUGH A JAG PREA REALLOCATION AWARD; (4) SUBMIT AN ASSURANCE THAT NOT LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF ITS DOJ FUNDING FOR PRISON PURPOSES (INCLUDING ITS JAG AWARD) SHALL BE USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE STATE TO ADOPT AND ACHIEVE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PREA STANDARDS AND REQUEST THAT DOJ HOLD THE 5 PERCENT IMPACTED FUNDS IN ABEYANCE; OR (3) ACCEPT A 5 PERCENT REDUCTION IN SUCH GRANTS (INCLUDING ITS JAG AWARD). THE SPECIFIED DATE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A CERTIFICATION OR ASSURANCE BY THE GOVERNOR IS OCTOBER 15, 2021. THROUGH THE FY 2022 BJA SOLICITED-PREA SOLICITATION, BJA WILL ADMINISTER THE PREA REALLOCATION FUNDS FROM THE JAG PROGRAM FUNDS AWARDED TO THE ELIGIBLE SAAS THAT SUBMITTED AND ASSURANCE AND DID NOT CHOSE TO HAVE THE IMPACTED FUNDS HELD IN ABEYANCE. THE 5 PERCENT REDUCTION IS ASSESSED AGAINST THE STATE'S 60% SHARE OF JAG FUNDING PLUS THE LESS THAN $10,000 ALLOCATION, BUT EXCLUDES THE MANDATORY VARIABLE PASS-THROUGH (VPT) AMOUNT. STATES MUST PASS THROUGH THESE REALLOCATION FUNDS TO THE DESIGNATED PREA CONTACT AGENCIES.

16.738 - Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) [DOJ - OJP]

Carson City, Nevada 89711-0001 United States

Single Zip Code

BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Reallocation Funds Program (O-BJA-2024-172178)