The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has zero tolerance for sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and unauthorized relationships.  No employee shall engage in any sexual abuse, sexual conduct, sexual contact, or an unauthorized relationship with an incarcerated individual or a releasee, whether in a correctional facility or under Community Supervision; engage in sexual harassment of an incarcerated individual or a releasee; or engage in retaliation related to such an incident or investigation.  No incarcerated individual or releasee shall engage in sexual abuse or sexual harassment or engage in retaliation related to such an incident or investigation. 

Incarcerated individuals and releasees have the right to be free from sexual abuse and sexual harassment.  Sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and unauthorized relationships violate Department rules, may violate criminal statutes, and are a serious breach of the public trust. Additionally, they constitute serious threats to safety and security.

All allegations of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, unauthorized relationships, and retaliation against staff, an incarcerated individual, or a releasee for reporting a sexual abuse or sexual harassment incident or for participating in an investigation will be thoroughly investigated.  Furthermore, any perpetrator of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, an unauthorized relationship, or retaliation related to such an incident or investigation will be dealt with severely through discipline and, where there is evidence that a crime was committed, prosecution to the fullest extent permitted by law.