Just Detention International
{{Short description|American non-profit organization}}
{{AfDM|page=Just Detention International (2nd nomination)|year=2025|month=April|day=3|substed=yes|origtag=afdx|help=off}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Just Detention International
| logo =
| logo_size =
| caption =
| formation = 1980
| founder = Russell D. Smith
| type = Non-governmental organization
| status = 501(c)(3) nonprofit
| purpose = Ending sexual abuse in detention
| headquarters = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| region_served = United States; South Africa
| leader_title = Executive Director
| leader_name =
| budget = $3.049 million (2023)
| website = [https://justdetention.org justdetention.org]
}}
Just Detention International (JDI) is an American human rights organization dedicated to ending prison rape. As of 2011, JDI was the only NGO exclusively devoted to combatting the sexual abuse of prisoners.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=505}} JDI is based in Los Angeles.Abdollah, Tami. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/04/01/most-juvenile-detention-staff-who-abused-children-faced-no-legal-action/11571406002/ "Juvenile detention staff who sexually victimized children face few legal sanctions, study says"]. USA Today. April 1, 2023.
History
JDI grew out of People Organized to Stop Rape of Imprisoned Persons (POSRIP), founded in 1980 by Russell D. Smith, a survivor of prison rape.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=505}} The organization's name was eventually changed to Stop Prisoner Rape (SPR).{{sfn|Singer|2013|p=15}}{{Cite book |last=Bosworth |first=Mary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1w5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA255 |title=Encyclopedia of Prisons and Correctional Facilities |date=2005 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=978-0-7619-2731-0 |language=en}}{{Rp|page=255}} Smith was succeeded by Stephen Donaldson.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=505}} Donaldson, a fellow survivor and longtime gay rights activist, incorporated SPR as a legal entity (in 1994), expanded its media presence, and coordinated the amicus curiae brief it filed in Farmer v. Brennan.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=505}} Donaldson ran the organization out of his apartment in Manhattan. Sennott, Charles M. "Tale of 2 victims: One drawn to light, the other darkness." Boston Globe. June 16, 1994. After Donaldson, SPR was led by Don Collins and Tom Cahill, also prison sexual assault survivors.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=505}} In 2001 SPR opened its first permanent office and hired Lara Stemple, an attorney with a human rights background, as executive director.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=505}}
SPR played a key role in the passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 and similar state-level legislation.{{sfn|Singer|2013|p=15}}{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=506}} T.J. Parsell headed its board of directors for a time.Bell, Dan. [https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/they-deserve-it/ "‘They Deserve It’"]. The Nation. July 10, 2006. In 2008 it changed its name to Just Detention International.{{sfn|Singer|2013|p=15}} JDI began working in South Africa in 2004 (after being approached by a group of corrections officers at Pollsmoor Prison) and formally opened a South African branch in 2013.[https://justdetention.org/fortydays/jdi-sa-opens-its-doors/ JDI-SA Opens Its Doors]. Just Detention International.[https://justdetention.org/jdi-south-africa-officially-opens-its-doors/ JDI-South Africa Officially Opens Its Doors]. Just Detention International. March 2014.
Activities
In addition to lobbying for new legislation, JDI has sought to educate correctional administrators about sexual violence in prisons, change public opinion on the issue, and provide resources to prisoners and ex-prisoners.{{sfn|Jenness|Smyth|2011|p=506}}
Budget and funding
JDI's reported revenue for 2023 was $3.049 million.[https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133711840 Just Detention International Inc]. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
References
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Bibliography
- {{cite journal |last1=Jenness |first1=Valerie |first2=Michael |last2=Smyth |url=https://law.stanford.edu/publications/passage-implementation-prison-rape-elimination-act-legal-endogeneity-uncertain-road-symbolic-law-instrumental-effects |title=The Passage and Implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act: Legal Endogeneity and the Uncertain Road from Symbolic Law to Instrumental Effects. |journal=Stanford Law and Policy Review |volume=22 |number=2 |date=July 2011}}
- {{cite book |last1=Singer |first1=Michael |title=Prison Rape: An American Institution? |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2013}}