Survey Request Participation Letter

Attachment 5
Survey Request Letter

(MONTH/DAY), 2011

Name
Agency Name
Address
Address2
CityStZip
Dear XXXX:
I am writing to request your assistance in implementing the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA;
P.L. 108-79). As you may know, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is tasked with the implementation
of PREA, which includes the Survey of Sexual Violence (SSV). The Act requires BJS to “carry out, for
each calendar year, a comprehensive statistical review and analysis of the incidence and effects of prison
rape.” BJS is responsible for generating facility-level estimates of sexual assault in “not less than 10
percent” of jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities, as well as the prevalence of abuse among former inmates.
In completing this task, BJS collects characteristics of these incidents to aid correctional administrators in
addressing the prevention, reporting, investigation, and prosecution of such incidents.
Last year, BJS conducted the 2009 calendar year Survey of Sexual Violence (SSV) using administrative
data reported to correctional authorities during the preceding year. We expect to release the 2009 survey
results in September 2011. We are now conducting the 2010 SSV, as mandated by PREA. We hope that
you will take the time to complete the survey.
Please forward the enclosed forms to the person who is best able to complete the survey. As an alternative
to filling out the enclosed forms, you may also complete this survey on the Web at
http://harvester.census.gov/ssv. Your Web UserID and password appear on the enclosed summary form to
the left of the address label.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the data collection agent for the 2010 SSV. Please return the enclosed form to
the Census Bureau or complete the Web survey by October 1, 2011. If you need any assistance regarding
your submission, please contact Greta Clark at the Census Bureau at 800-253-2078 or
govs.ssv@census.gov. If BJS can be of assistance, please contact Paul Guerino, BJS statistician, at 202307-0349 or Paul.Guerino@usdoj.gov.
Sincerely,

Allen J. Beck, Ph.D.
Senior Statistical Advisor
Enclosures.