The Prison Litigation Reform Act Obstructs Justice for Survivors

For many survivors of sexual abuse in detention, civil litigation is the only avenue through which they can demand accountability and seek justice for the abuses they have endured. Unfortunately, the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) curtails this possibility for the vast majority of prisoner rape survivors. The PLRA distinguishes inmates from other civil rights litigants by imposing complex requirements before a judge may review the merits of any constitutional claims. These requirements include procedural ones, such as fully exhausting the facility’s grievance procedure within short time limits, and substantive demands, such as requiring a showing of a physical injury. JDI believes that the PLRA must be reformed to ensure that survivors are able to secure justice.

Learn more about the PLRA

Read more about JDI’s work to reform the PLRA.