~ PLEASE DISTRIBUTE BROADLY- SEPTEMBER 27, 2002

STOP PRISON RAPE

Every day prisoners are being sexually harassed by guards who are even doing cavity searches. Men and women are routinely raped and sexually brutalized in jails, prisons, and INS detention centers throughout the country. Victims have been left beaten and bloodied, they have suffered long-term psychological harm, and they have contracted HIV

Here's what you can do:

With one moment of your time YOU can help to end one of the most horrific and neglected human rights abuses in the U.S. today: sexual violence against men and women in prison. Please take part in

Stop Prisoner Rape's quick and simple campaign.

Letters to President Bush are urgently needed RIGHT NOW to garner his support for the Prison Rape Reduction Act of 2002. Congressional leaders from both parties have united in this historic effort, but support from the White House remains critical!

Please paste the following sample letter (or one of your own) in an email to president@whitehouse.gov and Cc it to director@fedcure.org. Please forward this email WIDELY! Together, we can insist that this widespread abuse no longer be trivialized and ignored.

You can learn more about the legislation and read the bill at www.spr.org or www.thomas.loc.gov.

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Dear President Bush:

I am writing to urge you to support the Prison Rape Reduction Act of 2002 (S. 2619, H.R. 4943). The bill authorizes a definitive study of the problem of prisoner rape and creates standards and incentives for corrections officials to help end this serious human rights abuse.

Men and women are routinely raped and sexually brutalized in jails, prisons, and INS detention centers throughout the country. Victims have been left beaten and bloodied, they have suffered long-term psychological harm, and they have contracted HIV. Upon release, victims may bring with them emotional scars and learned violent behavior that continue the cycle of harm. The United States urgently needs to take steps toward ending this horrific and widespread abuse that derails justice and destroys human dignity.

Democratic and Republican members of the House and Senate have come together to introduce the first-ever federal legislation to address this problem.

Sen. Ted Kennedy,
Sen. Jeff Sessions,
Rep. Bobby Scott, and
Rep. Frank Wolf

are all co-sponsors of the bill. President Bush, please join this bipartisan effort to stop a problem that perpetuates violence both inside and outside of prison walls by supporting the Prison Rape Reduction Act of 2002.

Sincerely,

(your) NAME AND ADDRESS