Integrating the Issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Detention Monitoring A previous history of abusive behaviour: A prior history of being abused is one of the main risk factors for sexual abuse in detention. Status within the prison hierarchy: Those at the top ends of the prison hierarchy are more likely to perpetrate abuse against those at the lower ends. The nature of their conviction or alleged offence: Persons accused or convicted of certain offences, including rape and violence offences, could also perpetrate SGBV in places of deprivation of liberty. Membership of a particular gang or gang affiliations: Gang members may be more likely to commit SGBV against other those in other gangs. Incarceration history: Detainees/prisoners who have been in prison for a longer time, and who are more familiar with prison culture might perpetrate SGBV, particularly against newly arrived detainees/prisoners. The extent to which support programmes and activities are available to them: Perpetrators of SGBV who have no access to support programmes, such as violence reduction programmes, are more likely to repeat the abuse. While information about potential perpetrators may not be comparable across countries, existing research about the characteristics of perpetrators may still be useful for monitors. For example, research in the United States has found that there are both static and dynamic factors that indicate a risk that a detainee/prisoner will commit sexual abuse:11 - Being under the age of 30, but older than the victim; - Being physically stronger than the victim; and - Being more accustomed to incarceration than the victim. It has also been observed that detainees/prisoners who commit sexual assault in detention facilities are: - More likely to have spent time in juvenile detention facilities; - More likely to have lived in an urban area prior to incarceration; - More likely to have committed a violent crime; - More likely to be affiliated with a gang; and - More likely to break other prison rules. 11 Kim English et al.,”Sexual Assault in Jail and Juvenile Facilities: Promising Practices for Prevention and Response”, Final Report, United States Department of Justice, November 2011, p.6, <https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236738.pdf>. 15