Ryan Community Inc. has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy toward all forms of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. While at Ryan Community Inc., no client, staff, or person of any affiliation has the right to pressure you into any sexual acts. Regardless of your gender, age, size, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, you have the right to be safe from any sexual advances, acts, and/or harassment.
Under Wisconsin Law:
Sexual intercourse, contact or conduct between clients and/or between clients & staff is prohibited.
Sexual assault of an inmate or staff member will be investigated and referred for prosecution pursuant to the laws of Wisconsin.
The Federal government passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003 to help prevent, reduce, and eliminate any sexual harassment between clients and between clients and staff.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual Assault or Sexual Contact – When one or more clients tries to force or convince another client to participate in a sexual act through manipulation or through the house of threats, intimidation, inappropriate touch, or other actions.
Client-on-Client Sexual Abuse and Harassment is Prohibited. While residing in our Halfway house, other clients do not have the right to pressure you to engage in sexual acts. Everyone needs to respect others. It is never right to pressure someone to engage in behavior he/she/they does not need or want to do. You do not have the right to force any type of sexual behavior on a person and No one has the right to force it upon you. There should be no joking or teasing of any kind of sexual nature. These behaviors are not tolerated.
Sexual Conduct – sexual act or contact between clients (like holding hands, kissing, etc.) even when consensual, are not allowed. Both clients involved will be held accountable.
Sexual Assault or Sexual Contact by a Staff Member – It is NEVER appropriate for a staff member to make sexual advances or comments, or to engage in sexual contact with a client. Even if the client initiates or consents to the act, the staff member is not allowed to participate. Wisconsin law and Ryan Community Inc. forbid sexual activity between clients and staff, contractors, or volunteers. Staff is subject to discipline and prosecution regardless of whether the activity was consensual.
Staff sexual harassment includes sexual acts or behaviors that occur, consensually or non-consensually, between RCI staff member, volunteer, contractor, or agency representative and a client.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
Any sexual act or sexual advance by a staff member.
Request for sexual favors by a staff member.
Threats by staff for refusing sexual advances.
Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature by staff members.
Invasion of client privacy beyond that reasonably necessary for safety and security.
Intention touching of genitals, anus, groin, breast, or inner thigh area to gratify sexual desire.
Indecent exposure by a staff member in front of a client.
Kissing, touching, inappropriate comments about your personal appearance.
Demeaning references to or derogatory comments about a client’s gender or sexual orientation.
Jokes about sex or gender specific traits.
Abusive, threatening, profane or degrading sexual comments.
Touching, attention, language or conduct of a sexual nature.
How to report an Incident of Sexual Harassment or Sexual Assault It is important that you tell a staff member as soon as possible if you have been sexually assaulted, have been threatened or being asked to do something sexually. You can tell your case manager, the deputy director, or any staff on duty. There are other ways to report sexual harassment or an assault if you are not comfortable talking with staff. You can contact your agent, local law enforcement, dial 911, or contact ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Appleton, 920-454-2169, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to do if you are Assaulted
If you are sexually assaulted, you should report it immediately as instructed above.
You may want to clean up after the assault, however, it is important NOT to shower, wash yourself, drink or eat anything, change your clothing, or use the bathroom before you see medical staff.
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center has a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medical staff will gather any physical evidence of the assault, examine you for injuries (some may not be visible to you) and check you for sexually transmitted infections. Please remember that by reporting the crime of a sexual assault or sexual harassment right away, you are assisting in helping stop this harmful behavior and sending a message to the perpetrator that his behavior will not be tolerated.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO OR WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SAFE FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE Prevention, Detection, Investigation To prevent sexual harassment, Ryan Community Inc. requires that all employees, clients, volunteers, or associated parties, are informed of, acknowledge, and have constant access to PREA laws and policies.
All clients are assessed for their risk of being sexually abused by other clients or risk of being sexually abusive toward other clients. These assessments are conducted using an objective screening instrument.
In compliance with PREA standards, Ryan Community Inc., has an annually reviewed staffing plan in place. There must be at least 1 Licensed PREA investigator employed with Ryan Community, as well as PREA compliance manager. All Licensed PREA investigators are specifically trained in conducting sexual abuse investigations in confinement settings. The PREA investigator will follow a uniform evidence protocol when conducting any sexual abuse investigations.
In the event that an act of sexual assault or harassment were discovered or reported, Ryan Community Inc. would conduct a formal investigation, as well as report the incident to local law enforcement for an independent investigation. Any client who alleges that he or she suffered sexual abuse in an agency facility shall be informed, verbally or in writing, as to whether the allegation has been determined to be substantiated, unsubstantiated, or unfounded following the investigation by the certified PREA investigator and/or local law enforcement.
If requested by the victim, a victim advocate, qualified agency staff member, or qualified community-based organization staff member will accompany and support the victim through the forensic medical examination process and investigatory interview and provide emotional support, crisis intervention, information, and referrals.
Ryan Community Inc. will continuously work to identify any potential areas of concern for adhering to PREA laws and policies and take corrective action on an ongoing basis. Ryan Community Inc. will prepare and post on its website, available to the public, annual reports of allegations, violations, investigations, results, and corrective action for each facility, as well as the agency.
