The whole thing is a pretty interesting read.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/programs/pdfs/prea_final_rule.pdf
I. Executive Summary
A. Overview
The goal of this rulemaking is to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities, pursuant to the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. For too long, incidents of sexual abuse against incarcerated persons have not been taken as seriously as sexual abuse outside prison walls. In popular culture, prison rape is often the subject of jokes; in public discourse, it has been at times dismissed by some as an inevitable—or even deserved—consequence of criminality.
But sexual abuse is never a laughing matter, nor is it punishment for a crime. Rather, it is a crime, and it is no more tolerable when its victims have committed crimes of their own. Prison rape can have severe consequences for victims, for the security of correctional facilities, and for the safety and well-being of the communities to which nearly all incarcerated persons will eventually return.
In passing PREA, Congress noted that the nation was “largely unaware of the epidemic character of prison rape and the day-to-day horror experienced by victimized inmates.” 42 U.S.C. 15601(12). The legislation established a National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC) to “carry out a comprehensive legal and factual study of the penalogical [sic], physical, mental, medical, social, and economic impacts of prison rape in the United States” and to recommend to the Attorney General “national standards for enhancing the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison rape.” 42 U.S.C. 15606(d)(1), (e)(1). The statute defines “prison” as “any confinement facility,” including jails, police lockups, and juvenile facilities, and defines “rape” to include a broad range of unwanted sexual activity. 42 U.S.C. 15609(7) & (9).
After over four years of work, the NPREC released its recommended national standards in June 2009 and subsequently disbanded, pursuant to the statute.