The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law that prohibits and seeks to eliminate sexual assaults and sexual misconduct in correctional institutions and community corrections settings. Cowlitz County Youth Services is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for youth. We have adopted a zero tolerance policy pertaining to any form of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment of youth.
Agency Policy
In compliance with Section 115.322 of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards, Cowlitz County Youth Services has provided policies to ensure referrals of allegations for investigations. Those policies can be found by clicking PREA Policy 13.6.
Reporting Abuse
If you suspect sexual abuse has happened at the Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention Center, or have information regarding a youth who has been sexually assaulted while in detention, you may call the Detention Manager at 360-577-3101, or you may call the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney or the Longview Police Department. You may also fill out the Third Party Reporting Form and submit by following the instructions on the form. Please have any information or evidence available for the investigator who will be assigned to handle the case. False accusations may be prosecuted. All reports are to be taken seriously and investigated as outlined in PREA.
Data Review for Corrective Action & Publication
In compliance with Section 115.388 of the PREA Standards, Cowlitz County Youth Services has reviewed data collected and aggregated pursuant to section 115.387 in order to access and improve the effectiveness of its sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response policies, practices, and training including:
- Identifying problem areas
- Taking corrective action on an ongoing basis
- Preparing an annual report of its findings and corrective actions
Also, in compliance with Section 115.389 of the PREA Standards, Cowlitz County Youth Services shall make all aggregated sexual abuse data readily available to the public at least annually. To review the policy governing this data collection, view our Survey of Sexual Victimization.
The Detention Manager of Cowlitz County Youth Services Center issues an annual report regarding PREA. Cowlitz County Youth Services was audited, pursuant to Section 115.401 of the PREA’s Standards, November 29th - December 1st, 2022. Click to review the Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention Final PREA Audit Report 2022.
More Resources
View the following resources for more information on the PREA effort in Cowlitz County:
