Southern West Virginia News

Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) has introduced the Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act of 2024 (SASIDA), alongside Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and Hank Johnson (D-GA). The proposed legislation aims to authorize grants to expand emotional support services for sexual abuse survivors in prisons, jails, and detention facilities.

“There are no words to describe the horrors of sexual abuse. It is imperative for survivors, regardless of their situation, to have the resources they need to feel supported. The Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act provides funding for emotional support services for sexual abuse survivors in detention facilities, provides training for employees of correctional services to help them provide better emotional support services for incarcerated survivors, and creates a national resource center to give guidance and training within penitentiaries to those seeking help. This bipartisan bill will expand the support facilities within the prison and jail systems to those who need it most,” said Congresswoman Miller.

“All survivors of sexual abuse deserve support services that are within reach—especially incarcerated individuals, who are more at risk for experiencing abuse and dealing with the aftermath alone. As we take steps to protect those in prisons and jails from sexual abuse, this legislation will ensure that incarcerated individuals have access to life-saving services like telephone hotlines and crisis intervention. Protecting survivors of abuse is a bipartisan issue, and I will continue working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure every individual has the resources and support they need to heal,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove.

“The uptick in sexual abuse allegations in federal prisons is appalling. Our legislation aims to increase safety measures in prisons, protect incarcerated individuals from sexual abuse, and ensure that resources needed to report sexual abuse are accessible," said Congressman Armstrong.

“There is a human rights crisis happening in our prisons, and it’s up to us to put a stop to it. The Sexual Abuse Services in Detention Act is a crucial first step towards a more just and safe existence for those incarcerated in our nation’s federal prisons," said Congressman Johnson.

The SASIDA has received endorsements from 33 organizations supporting victims of sexual abuse.

The bill would fund emotional support services such as telephone hotline services and crisis intervention services for survivors of sexual abuse within detention facilities. Additionally, it would finance training programs for correctional agencies' staff on providing better emotional support services. A national resource center would also be established under this act to offer guidance on best practices related to emotional support services for incarcerated victims.