Safe Environmental Standards
Columbus Youth Academy is committed to providing a safe environment free from sexual abuse for the students in our care. To this end, Columbus Youth Academy has developed Safe Environmental Standards in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
Zero Tolerance Policy
Columbus Youth Academy has a Zero Tolerance Policy regarding sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual activity. All students in our programs have a right to be free from sexual assault or harassment, as well as free from retaliation for reporting. There is no “consensual” sexual activity between students or between staff and students at Columbus Youth Academy. (§115.311)
Reporting
Students are encouraged to report sexual harassment or assault by another student or a staff member. They may report to any staff member, to an outside agency (phone numbers on posters throughout the program), or anonymously by writing it down and submitting it to any grievance box in any living area.
Columbus Youth Academy accepts third-party reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment from a friend or family member of a student (§115.354). Third-party reporting forms are available at the front desk of our programs or can be downloaded here. If you suspect sexual abuse you may also call Columbus Youth Academy at (775)267-9411 to report it or report it to the Sheriff or Police Department where the allegations occurred. All reports are taken seriously and investigated.
Staff must report any knowledge or suspicion of sexual harassment or sexual assault to their supervisor immediately. Staff may also privately report to their site PREA Compliance Manager or their Regional Improvement Imbedded PREA Coordinator.
There is often concern that addressing PREA-related issues in policy and procedure, and educating students as to their right to be free from sexual abuse, may result in false accusations or false reports of staff misconduct. All allegations will be thoroughly and timely investigated and knowingly false allegations may be prosecuted.
Investigative Policy
Columbus Youth Academy will ensure that an administrative investigation is completed for all allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment will be referred for investigation to the local agency with the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations, unless the allegation does not involve potentially criminal behavior. (Safe Environmental Standards Policy/PREA Standard §115.322).
Central Communications Center (CCC) Complaint Hotline
2737 Centerview Drive,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3100
(800) 355-2280
Florida Department of Children and Families – Abuse Hotline
2415 North Monroe Street, Suite 400,
Tallahassee, FL 32303-4190
(800) 962-2873
Florida Council Against Sexual Violence Rape Crisis Hotline
(866) 956-7273
Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Florida Referral Line
2-1-1
Tampa Bay Crisis Center
14905 Crisis Center Plaza
Tampa, FL 33613
(813) 964-1964
Sexual Abuse Reporting
In compliance with Columbus Youth Academy’s Safe Environmental Standards Policies, regarding publication of annual reporting and aggregated sexual abuse data, Columbus Youth Academy will report each year using the U.S. Department of Justice Survey of Sexual Violence Summary form, regarding founded allegations of sexual abuse in our programs (§115.388, §115.389). Columbus Youth Academy continuously educates all staff, students, contractors, and volunteers on Safe Environmental Standards regarding the importance of protecting students from sexual abuse.
For additional information and PREA reports, click here.
