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Corrections

Reporting Sexual Abuse (PREA)
Congress enacted the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) to address the problem of sexual abuse of persons in the custody of U.S. confinement agencies. PREA calls for federal, state, and local agencies to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and sexual harassment (as defined by PREA) in prisons, jails, police lock-
ups, and other confinement facilities. Allen Parish Sheriff's Office mandates zero tolerance towards all forms of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment in this facility.

How to Report Allegations of Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment of Someone in this facility:
To report an allegation of Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment on behalf of an individual who is housed in our facility, you may contact Michael Manuel, APSO Warden, or our PREA Coordinator Ruby Trahan at 337-639-4353 or the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024. Reports can be made over the phone, in person, in writing or anonymously if desired.

It is critical that you provide as many details as possible to help us investigate the allegation:

  • The names and locations of alleged persons involved;
  • Individual's register/booking number (if known);
  • Date, time and location of where the alleged incident occurred;
  • The names of any witnesses to the alleged incident;
  • A brief description of the alleged incident;
  • Your contact phone number and address if you wish to do so.

APSO / APPSC PREA Investigation Protocols

All cases of alleged sexual conduct shall be promptly, thoroughly, and objectively investigated. Upon substantiation of any allegation of sexual conduct, appropriate actions will be taken against the employee, contractor, volunteer, or individual detained in our facility. The Allen Parish Sheriff's Office and Allen Parish Public Safety Complex has a zero tolerance of all forms of sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Investigations are conducted for all allegations of sexual assault, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment, including any third party/anonymous reports. Allen Parish Public Safety Complex shall use PREA investigators who have received specialized training in sexual abuse investigations. The specialized training shall include techniques for interviewing sexual abuse victims.

APSO protocol shall ensure that all allegations are promptly reported to the required agencies, unless the allegation does not involve potentially criminal behavior, are promptly referred for investigation to an appropriate law enforcement agency with the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations. APSO may separately, and in addition to the above reports and referrals, conduct its own investigation.

Allen Parish Sheriff's Office Investigations Division will conduct the outside investigation and collection of evidence. APSO / APPSC will preserve and protect the crime scene until law enforcement personnel assume control of the crime scene and all evidence.

APSO /APPSC shall cooperate with outside investigators by providing law enforcement personnel with requested information, including reports, documents, and video surveillance footage, subject to privacy restrictions.

When a detainee, prisoner, inmate, or resident of the facility in which an alleged detainee victim is housed is alleged to be the perpetrator of detainee sexual abuse, APSO / APPSC shall ensure that the incident is promptly reported to the Joint Intake Center, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility or the DHS Office of Inspector General, as well as the appropriate ICE Field Office Director, and, if it is potentially criminal, referred to an appropriate law enforcement agency having jurisdiction for investigation.

When a staff member, contractor, or volunteer is alleged to be the perpetrator of detainee sexual abuse, APSO / APPSC shall ensure that the incident is promptly reported to the Joint Intake Center, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility or the DHS Office of Inspector General, as well as to the appropriate ICE Field Office Director, and to the local government entity or contractor that owns or operates the facility. If the incident is potentially criminal, the facility shall ensure that it is promptly referred to an appropriate law enforcement agency having jurisdiction for investigation.

APSO / APPSC shall offer all individuals who experience sexual abuse access to forensic medical examinations with the victim's consent and without cost to the individual and regardless of whether the victim names the abuser or cooperates with any investigation arising out of the incident. Examinations shall be performed by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE). A victim advocate shall be made available to accompany the victim through examinations and investigatory interviews.

APSO / APPSC shall ensure that all allegations of detainee sexual abuse are promptly reported to the PSA Coordinator and to the appropriate offices within the agency and within DHS to ensure appropriate oversight of the investigation.

APSO / APPSC shall ensure that any alleged detainee victim of sexual abuse that is criminal in nature is provided timely access to U nonimmigrant status information.

Closed PREA investigation files shall be maintained indefinitely in a secure location that will contain all documentary and video evidence if available.

To report any allegations, on the behalf of an offender/detainee, of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and/or sexual harassment, you may contact any of the following:

Allen Parish Sheriff's Office
Ruby Istre - PREA Coordinator
Jasmine Briscoe - PREA Investigator

Phone: 337-639-4353

PO Box 278
Oberlin, La. 70655

Oakdale Immigration & Custom Enforcement
 Phone: 318-335-7500

1010 East Whatley Road Oakdale, La. 71463

Department of Homeland Security
Email: dhsoighotline@dhs.gov
Phone: 1-800-323-8603

245 Murray Drive, SW
Washington, DC. 20528