PoliticsPrisonsPoliticsTexas politics

Rick Perry Says Texas Won't Comply With Measures To Reduce Rape in Prison

Rick Perry Says Texas Won't Comply With Measures To Reduce Rape in Prison
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Staff Reporter, The Huffington Post

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) refused last week to adopt federal standards aimed at combatting rape in prisons, saying that it would be "impossible" for Texas to comply with the new measures.

In a letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder on March 28, the governor wrote that though the intention of 2003's Prison Rape Elimination Act is "commendable," the Department of Justice's rules to implement the legislation are "unnecessarily cumbersome" and "counterproductive."

The DOJ's rules address widespread sexual assault in prisons by imposing requirements such as separating teens from adults, eliminating cross-gender pat-downs in teen and juvenile units and allotting more staff to juvenile facilities. The federal government spent 10 years soliciting input from experts as to how to best implement the law.

Perry argued that the DOJ's rules wouldn't be feasible in Texas, because the state -- unlike the federal government -- considers 17-year-old inmates to be adults rather than teens. The governor wrote that it would be too expensive to separate those younger inmates from other adult prisoners, and that the cost of adding more staff would be "unacceptable" in smaller counties.

"The rules appear to have been created in a vacuum with little regard for input from those who daily operate state prisons and local jails," Perry wrote.

Just Detention International, an advocacy organization focused on preventing sexual abuse, wrote in a press release Friday that Perry's stance "puts the safety of thousands of people at risk" and "ignores the overwhelming evidence of a human rights crisis in Texas prisons."

The press release cites a 2013 Bureau of Justice Statistics report that singled out more detention facilities in Texas than in any other state for having high levels of inmate-on-inmate sexual abuse.

The organization also refuted Perry's criticism that the DOJ's standards were developed without input from corrections officials, noting that a bipartisan commission held hearings with corrections officials and others, including one in Austin in 2007.

A 2010 Bureau of Justice survey found that 1 in 8 juveniles in detention are sexually assaulted, with LGBT inmates at least 10 times more likely to have experienced sexual abuse.

Texas could lose federal grant money if state prisons don't comply with the law.

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Before You Go

Rick Perry's Gaffes
"Oops"(01 of10)
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At the CNBC debate on November 9, Perry famously forgot one of the government agencies he would eliminate if elected:
"It's three government agencies when I get there that are gone: Commerce, Education and the um, what's the third one there. Let's see," Perry said. He turned to Texas Rep. Ron Paul, looking for some help, but got nothing but a remark from Paul that he would eliminate five agencies."Oh five," Perry said. "So Commerce, Education, and, uh, the uh, um, um.""EPA?" offered former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney."EPA, there ya go," Perry said as the room exploded in laughter.CNBC moderator John Harwood honed in and pressed Perry: "Seriously? Is EPA the one you were talking about?""No sir. No sir. We were talking about the, um, agencies of government," Perry said. "The EPA needs to be rebuilt.""But you can't name the third one?" Harwood persisted."The third agency of government," Perry said. "I would do away with the education, the um, Commerce, and let's see. I can't think of the third one. I can't. Sorry. Oops."
 (credit:AP)
Voting Age Flub(02 of10)
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During a campaign stop at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, Perry got both the voting age and the date of the 2012 presidential election wrong. "Those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote," he said to the students. The legal voting age has been 18 since the 26th Amendment was adopted in 1971. The general election is scheduled for November 6, 2012. (credit:Getty Images)
New Hampshire... Caucus?(03 of10)
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During a November interview with Fox News, Perry mistakenly referred to the New Hampshire "caucuses." When asked about the emergence of front runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, Perry responded, "Americans haven't decided yet at all who they want to lead the Republican nomination, and we're going to be talking about that and we're going to be talking about it in harsh and strong terms over the course of the next four to five weeks as we get ready for those New Hampshire caucuses." New Hampshire holds primaries, not caucuses. (credit:Getty Images)
Minimum Age To Run For President(04 of10)
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While speaking to Catcher Jones, a seven-year-old from Greenville, South Carolina in December, Perry flubbed the minimum age to run for president. "I'm glad you're not 21," Perry told Jones, who was wearing a t-shirt that said "Future President: Accepting Campaign Donations Now." Perry realized his mistake and added, "Or actually 35." (credit:AP)
War With Iran(05 of10)
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After a woman in South Carolina asked Perry what he thought about current United States military operations, Perry mistakenly started talking about the wars in Afghanistan and Iran. When an audience member alerted Perry to his error, he joked that his comment "will be on the front page." (credit:AP)
Revolutionary War(06 of10)
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Following a debate in New Hampshire, Perry met with fraternity brothers at Dartmouth College. When someone asked him about the issue of states' rights, Perry said that one of the "reasons we fought the revolution in the 16th century was to get away from that kind of onerous crown." The Revolutionary War occurred in the 18th century. (credit:Getty Images)
Decade Mix-Up(07 of10)
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In an interview with CNN last year, Perry got stuck in a time warp. "Washington has abused the Constitution. You go back to the, a decade ago, with Woodrow Wilson..." Wilson was president from 1913 to 1921. (credit:Getty Images)
Bizarre Campaign Speech(08 of10)
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In October, an unusual performance at a speech in Manchester led many to question the candidate's sobriety. Perry later made a statement to dispel rumors that he was drinking or using painkillers during the speech. (credit:AP)
Bush Was Good At "Defending Us From Freedom"(09 of10)
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During an interview with the Today Show last November, Perry told host Meredith Viera that "Bush did an incredible job, in the presidency, defending us from freedom." (credit:AP)
"Montomayor" (10 of10)
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While speaking with the editorial board of the Des Moines Register, Perry struggled to remember Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's name:
"Do you really think he [President Barack Obama] is waging a war on religion?" asked an editorial board member, referring to Perry's recent ad pledging to "end Obama's war on religion" and "fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage" as president."I do because when you see his appointment of two -- from my perspective, inarguably -- activist judges, whether it was," he said, then trailing off for about six seconds trying to recall her name. "Montomayor," he said. Someone on the editorial board said Sotomayor's name. "Sotomayor and [Elena] Kagan, who are both activist judges," he continued.
 (credit:AP)
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