In 2003, Congress enacted The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) which established a zero-tolerance standard for the incidence of prison rape within any confinement facility of a federal, state or local government. Thereafter, it developed and implemented national standards, effective August 20, 2013, for gathering data, as well as the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison rape. 

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is committed to ensuring a safe and humane environment for all prisoners. The MDOC maintains a zero policy of sexual violence against prisoners and investigates allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, misconduct, and overfamiliarity. Sexual abuse against prisoners is a violation of Department policy, institutional rules, and is a crime whether by staff or other prisoners.