PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office maintains a zero tolerance for any form of sexual misconduct between staff members, volunteers, contract employees or other agency representatives and inmates. Sexual Misconduct means any behavior or act of a sexual, sexually suggestive or romantic nature directed toward any person an employee, whether visitor, contractor or inmate. Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, acts or attempts to commit acts of sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape, sexual harassment, sexual or intimate or otherwise inappropriate or unnecessary contact, conduct of a sexual nature or implication, obscenity and unreasonable invasion of privacy. Sexual misconduct includes conversations, correspondence or other actions suggesting an interest in a romantic or sexual relationship, jokes of a sexual nature, suggestive looks or leering and physical behavior such as pats or squeezes or brushing against someone’s body. Sexual misconduct includes acts that may not be directed at any particular individual or group, but which create a sexually charged workplace. Sexually explicit talk, actions, e-mails, posted cartoons, jokes or unprofessional dress characterize a sexually charged work environment. A sexually charged work environment severely erodes the professional boundaries between staff and consequently between staff (including contracted employees) and inmates. Contractor agrees to comply with the Sheriff’s Office zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and all applicable requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, Contractor agrees, as follows: A. Neither Contractor nor its employees, agents, or representatives, will disregard allegations of sexual misconduct, regardless of who is making the reports. Contractor will report any allegation of sexual misconduct made in connection with this Agreement to the Columbia County Sheriff or Columbia County Human Resources Director immediately and shall cooperate with the investigation of such allegations. B. Contractor shall not harass, intimidate, discipline, discharge or otherwise interfere with any person because they have reported an incident or suspected incident of sexual misconduct. C. During an investigation of sexual misconduct of an employee, agent, or representative of Contractor, Contractor shall ensure that such person does not enter the facility for any reason. Following an investigation of sexual misconduct Contractor will implement appropriate corrective action, up to and including permanent preclusion of an investigated person from the Columbia County Jail at the direction of the Columbia County Sheriff or Human Resources Director. D. Contractor shall make all reasonable efforts to keep confidential, personal or other confidential information related to an allegation of sexual misconduct. E. Contractor will incorporate into its personnel policies, policies and procedures on expected professional behavior and prohibited sexual misconduct consistent with the Sheriff’s PREA policy. Contractor shall train its employees, agents and representatives on the requirements of PREA and shall instruct all such persons that failure to meet their obligations as employees, agents or representatives will lead to discipline, up to and including discharge and possible criminal penalties.
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