SSV 2007 mailout letter

March 15, 2008

Name

Department

Address

Address

City, State ZIP

Dear :

I am writing to you to request your assistance in implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA). As you may know, PREA requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to collect annual data on the incidence of sexual assault within correctional facilities. Last year, BJS conducted the 2005 Survey on Sexual Violence (SSV) using administrative data reported to correctional authorities during the year. In August 2007 BJS issued a report, Sexual Violence Reported by Correctional Authorities, 2006, fulfilling the Congressional requirement. The report is available on the BJS website at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/svrca06.htm .

BJS is currently conducting the 2007 version of the SSV. The U.S. Census Bureau is the data collection agent for this survey. The forms are unchanged from the 2006 collection, and are tailored for use by various types of adult and juvenile correctional systems and facilities covered under the Act. Please forward the enclosed forms to the appropriate person who is best able to complete the survey.

The forms can be also completed online via the internet. You can access the forms at http://harvester.census.gov/ssv . Your password and user id to use this option appears on the form to the left of the address label.

Please return the forms to the Census Bureau by July 1, 2008. If you need any assistance regarding your submission, please contact Greta Clark at the Census Bureau at 1-800-253-2078. If we can be of any assistance, please feel free to call me at (202) 616-3277 or Devon Adams at (202) 514-9157.

Sincerely,

Allen J. Beck, Ph.D.

Principal Deputy Director, BJS

Enclosures.