Law Commons^™

Identity Crises And Incarceration: Preventing Prison Rape By Channeling Expressions Of Masculinity, Daniel A. Nolan Iv

Daniel A Nolan IV

Prison rape is a well-known and widely publicized problem in the American prison system. Even with this high degree of visibility, the problem persists despite correctional officials’ best efforts. These efforts to combat prison rape have focused almost exclusively on preventing the physical act from occurring. While it might seem like a straightforward or obvious approach, this type of strategy does nothing to address why rape is so common among prison inmates. Solutions that merely prevent rape from occurring, without addressing the underlying cause, do nothing to change a cultural environment that rewards sexual assault.

This Article argues that the …