BEST PRACTICES: IMPLEMENTATION OF PREA IN THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice April 6, 2008 Washington, DC

GOALS Study and understand extent of issue Raise awareness and change culture Eliminate sexual abuse in juvenile secure and residential facilities in Massachusetts Comply with federal law Reduce exposure to liability

Protect against Further Harm Witnesses to domestic violence and violence in the streets Victims of child abuse and neglect (75% girls and 55% boys) Victims of sexual exploitation Substance Abuse histories (75-80%) Trauma, Mental health or behavioral health Psychotropic medication (20-25%)

Agency Overview Juvenile Justice agency in Mass. Juvenile Justice agency in Mass. pre-trial detention and post-adjudication commitments pre-trial detention and post-adjudication commitments jurisdiction till 18 th or 21 st birthday jurisdiction till 18 th or 21 st birthday no legal custody no legal custody 63 secure and residential units 63 secure and residential units 34 community programs 34 community programs 900 state and 1200 provider employees 900 state and 1200 provider employees separate from DSS (child welfare) separate from DSS (child welfare)

Beginning Formed Internal working group Attended PREA Conferences Need for a plan Grant Consultant: Moss Group, Inc.

DYS PREA Working Group Commissioner General Counsel Director of Clinical Services Director of Residential Services Director of Policy and Training Training Academy staff Director of Victim Services Director of Health Services Research Analyst Director of Grants/Projects

PREA Pilot Survey December, 2006 PREA required national data collection on sexual assault within facilities DYS volunteered to pilot the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) client interviews in three male programs IRB feedback on questions and procedures DYS counseling support for clients

POLICY DEVELOPMENT Fall ’06 – February ’07 Need for two policies: Client Sexual Misconduct Client Sexual Misconduct Staff Sexual Misconduct Staff Sexual Misconduct Clear directives in policy statement non-consensual in facility non-consensual in facility sexual contact + boundary violations sexual contact + boundary violations Moss Group review Moss Group review

Managers’ Training April – May 2007 PREA overview — Moss lecture and video PREA overview — Moss lecture and video New DYS policies New DYS policies Q & A Q & A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Rape crisis centers Rape crisis centers Next steps: Next steps: Client Orientation Client Orientation Client Grievance forms Client Grievance forms Hospital Protocols Hospital Protocols

Non-Manager Trainings Summer 2007 regionally based, existing training staff regionally based, existing training staff 3-hour version 3-hour version Q & A Q & A ▪ ▪ ▪ added PREA curriculum to Basic Skills added PREA curriculum to Basic Skills added PREA for annual recertifications added PREA for annual recertifications

Client Orientation and Grievance Procedures Goals: Inform without creating fear Inform without creating fear Warn against false allegations Warn against false allegations Added to Resident Handbook Added to Resident Handbook Designed brochure at Intake Designed brochure at Intake Client grievance form and drop boxes Client grievance form and drop boxes

DATA CAPTURE SERIOUS INCIDENTS CAPTURE SERIOUS INCIDENTS ANALYZE DATA ANALYZE DATA SPOT PATTERNS AND TRENDS SPOT PATTERNS AND TRENDS REPORT NATIONALLY REPORT NATIONALLY

Hiring Practices and Staff Misconduct Pre-employment screening Pre-employment screening Background checks Background checks Investigations – discipline Surveillance equipment survey Investigations policies and trainings ▪ ▪ ▪

After Action Review Review effectiveness of policies Review effectiveness of trainings Feedback from field on procedures Make adjustments

Prevention Strategies Change Institutional Culture by providing information and training Enforce policies with clear directives Leadership at Commissioner level Develop team approach on units High staff:client ratios Strong programming Surveillance and investigations

MISSION Every caregiver’s responsibility is to ensure that the youth in our care are treated as we would our own children.