Indiana won't comply with prison rape act, will lose federal funding

Gov. Mike Pence has told the U.S. attorney general that Indiana won't comply with federal prison rape standards because they are too costly.

In a letter to Eric Holder, Pence said complying with the Prison Rape Elimination Act "would require the redirection of millions of tax dollars currently supporting other critical needs for Indiana."

Indiana is one of seven states to tell the Department of Justice that it will not follow federal guidelines designed to reduce prison rape and sexual abuse. The law was passed in 2003, and governors had a May 15 deadline to inform the Justice Department whether they were in compliance or planned to be.

Indiana Department of Correction spokesman Doug Garrison said it would cost the state $15 million to $20 million a year to follow the guidelines, mostly because they require hiring more staff.

He said the DOC already has put many rape prevention measures in place on its own, including a rape complaint coordinator in every prison.

Pence, in his letter, said meeting the federal mandate wasn't feasible.

"Many additional staff would need to be hired, additional equipment installed, and resources put in place," he wrote.

The state stands to lose 5 percent in certain Justice grants, but Garrison said that adds up to $345,000 a year at most.

"Certainly less than the overall cost to comply," he said in an email.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-6418. Follow him on Twitter: @john_tuohy.