---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 30307"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "30307"
heading: "Adoption and effect of national standards"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/30307"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Prevention of Particular Crimes"
  - "Chapter 303 — Prison Rape Elimination"
---

# §30307. Adoption and effect of national standards

- (a) **Publication of proposed standards—**
  - (1) **Final rule—** Not later than 1 year after receiving the report specified in [section 30306(d)(3) of this title](/usc/34/30306.md?p=d-3), the Attorney General shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of [prison rape](/usc/34/30309.md?p=8).
  - (2) **Independent judgment—** The standards referred to in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall be based upon the independent judgment of the Attorney General, after giving due consideration to the recommended national standards provided by the Commission under [section 30306(e) of this title](/usc/34/30306.md?p=e), and being informed by such data, opinions, and proposals that the Attorney General determines to be appropriate to consider.
  - (3) **Limitation—** The Attorney General shall not establish a national standard under this section that would impose substantial additional costs compared to the costs presently expended by Federal, [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), and [local](/usc/34/30502.md?p=3) [prison](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) authorities. The Attorney General may, however, provide a list of improvements for consideration by correctional facilities.
  - (4) **Transmission to States—** Within 90 days of publishing the final rule under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the Attorney General shall transmit the national standards adopted under such paragraph to the chief executive of each [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), the head of the department of corrections of each [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), and to the appropriate authorities in those units of [local](/usc/34/30502.md?p=3) government who oversee operations in one or more [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7).
- (b) **Applicability to Federal Bureau of Prisons—** The national standards referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) shall apply to the Federal Bureau of [Prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) immediately upon adoption of the final rule under [subsection (a)(4)](#a-4).
- (c) **Applicability to detention facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after March 7, 2013, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of [rape](/usc/34/30309.md?p=9) and sexual assault in facilities that maintain custody of aliens detained for a violation of the immigrations laws of the United States.
  - (2) **Applicability—** The standards adopted under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall apply to detention facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security and to detention facilities operated under contract with the Department.
  - (3) **Compliance—** The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
    - (A) assess compliance with the standards adopted under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) on a regular basis; and
    - (B) include the results of the assessments in performance evaluations of facilities completed by the Department of Homeland Security.
  - (4) **Considerations—** In adopting standards under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall give due consideration to the recommended national standards provided by the Commission under [section 30306(e) of this title](/usc/34/30306.md?p=e).
  - (5) **Definition—** As used in this section, the term “detention facilities operated under contract with the Department” includes, but is not limited to contract detention facilities and detention facilities operated through an intergovernmental service agreement with the Department of Homeland Security.
- (d) **Applicability to custodial facilities operated by the Department of Health and Human Services—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after March 7, 2013, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of [rape](/usc/34/30309.md?p=9) and sexual assault in facilities that maintain custody of unaccompanied alien children (as defined in [section 279(g) of title 6](/usc/6/279.md?p=g)).
  - (2) **Applicability—** The standards adopted under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall apply to facilities operated by the Department of Health and Human Services and to facilities operated under contract with the Department.
  - (3) **Compliance—** The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
    - (A) assess compliance with the standards adopted under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) on a regular basis; and
    - (B) include the results of the assessments in performance evaluations of facilities completed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
  - (4) **Considerations—** In adopting standards under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall give due consideration to the recommended national standards provided by the Commission under [section 30306(e) of this title](/usc/34/30306.md?p=e).
- (e) **Eligibility for Federal funds—**
  - (1) **Covered programs—**
    - (A) **In general—** For purposes of this subsection, a grant program is covered by this subsection if, and only if—
      - (i) the program is carried out by or under the authority of the Attorney General;
      - (ii) the program may provide amounts to [States](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) for [prison](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) purposes; and
      - (iii) the program is not administered by the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice.
    - (B) **List—** For each fiscal year, the Attorney General shall prepare a list identifying each program that meets the criteria of [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A) and provide that list to each [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4).
  - (2) **Adoption of national standards—**
    - (A) **In general—** For each fiscal year, any amount that a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) would otherwise receive for [prison](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) purposes for that fiscal year under a grant program covered by this subsection shall be reduced by 5 percent, unless the chief executive officer of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) submits to the Attorney General proof of compliance with this chapter through—
      - (i) a certification that the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) has adopted, and is in full compliance with, the national standards described in [subsection (a)](#a); or
      - (ii) an assurance that the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) intends to adopt and achieve full compliance with those national standards so as to ensure that a certification under [clause (i)](#e-2-A-i) may be submitted in future years, which includes—
        - (I) a commitment that not less than 5 percent of such amount shall be used for this purpose; or
        - (II) a request that the Attorney General hold 5 percent of such amount in abeyance pursuant to the requirements of [subparagraph (E)](#e-2-E).
    - (B) **Rules for certification—**
      - (i) **In general—** A chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who submits a certification under this paragraph shall also provide the Attorney General with—
        - (I) a list of the [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4);
        - (II) a list of the [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) listed under [subclause (I)](#e-2-B-i-I) that were audited during the most recently concluded audit year;
        - (III) all final audit reports for [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) listed under [subclause (I)](#e-2-B-i-I) that were completed during the most recently concluded audit year; and
        - (IV) a proposed schedule for completing an audit of all the [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) listed under [subclause (I)](#e-2-B-i-I) during the following 3 audit years.
      - (ii) **Audit appeal exception—** Beginning on the date that is 3 years after December 16, 2016, a chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) may submit a certification that the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) is in full compliance pursuant to [subparagraph (A)(i)](#e-2-A-i) even if a [prison](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) has an audit appeal pending.
    - (C) **Rules for assurances—**
      - (i) **In general—** A chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who submits an assurance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)](#e-2-A-ii) shall also provide the Attorney General with—
        - (I) a list of the [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4);
        - (II) a list of the [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) listed under [subclause (I)](#e-2-C-i-I) that were audited during the most recently concluded audit year;
        - (III) an explanation of any barriers the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) faces to completing required audits;
        - (IV) all final audit reports for [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) listed under [subclause (I)](#e-2-C-i-I) that were completed during the most recently concluded audit year;
        - (V) a proposed schedule for completing an audit of all [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) during the following 3 audit years; and
        - (VI) an explanation of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4)’s current degree of implementation of the national standards.
      - (ii) **Additional requirement—** A chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who submits an assurance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)(I)](#e-2-A-ii-I) shall, before receiving the applicable funds described in [subparagraph (A)(ii)(I)](#e-2-A-ii-I), also provide the Attorney General with a proposed plan for the expenditure of the funds during the applicable grant period.
      - (iii) **Accounting of funds—** A chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who submits an assurance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)(I)](#e-2-A-ii-I) shall, in a manner consistent with the applicable grant reporting requirements, submit to the Attorney General a detailed accounting of how the funds described in [subparagraph (A)](#e-2-A) were used.
    - (D) **Sunset of assurance option—**
      - (i) **In general—** On the date that is 3 years after December 16, 2016, [subclause (II)](#e-2-A-ii-II) of subparagraph (A)(ii) shall cease to have effect.
      - (ii) **Additional sunset—** On the date that is 6 years after December 16, 2016, [clause (ii)](#e-2-A-ii) of subparagraph (A) shall cease to have effect.
      - (iii) **Emergency assurances—**
        - (I) **Request—** Notwithstanding [clause (ii)](#e-2-D-ii), during the 2-year period beginning 6 years after December 16, 2016, a chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who certifies that the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) has audited not less than 90 percent of [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) may request that the Attorney General allow the chief executive officer to submit an emergency assurance in accordance with [subparagraph (A)(ii)](#e-2-A-ii) as in effect on the day before the date on which that subparagraph ceased to have effect under clause (ii) of this subparagraph.
        - (II) **Grant of request—** The Attorney General shall grant a request submitted under [subclause (I)](#e-2-D-iii-I) within 60 days upon a showing of good cause.
    - (E) **Disposition of funds held in abeyance—**
      - (i) **In general—** If the chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who has submitted an assurance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)(II)](#e-2-A-ii-II) subsequently submits a certification under [subparagraph (A)(i)](#e-2-A-i) during the 3-year period beginning on December 16, 2016, the Attorney General will release all funds held in abeyance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)(II)](#e-2-A-ii-II) to be used by the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) in accordance with the conditions of the grant program for which the funds were provided.
      - (ii) **Release of funds—** If the chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who has submitted an assurance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)(II)](#e-2-A-ii-II) is unable to submit a certification during the 3-year period beginning on December 16, 2016, but does assure the Attorney General that ⅔ of [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) have been audited at least once, the Attorney General shall release all of the funds of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) held in abeyance to be used in adopting and achieving full compliance with the national standards, if the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) agrees to comply with the applicable requirements in clauses [(ii)](#e-2-C-ii) and [(iii)](#e-2-C-iii) of subparagraph (C).
      - (iii) **Redistribution of funds—** If the chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) who has submitted an assurance under [subparagraph (A)(ii)(II)](#e-2-A-ii-II) is unable to submit a certification during the 3-year period beginning on December 16, 2016, and does not assure the Attorney General that ⅔ of [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) have been audited at least once, the Attorney General shall redistribute the funds of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) held in abeyance to other [States](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) to be used in accordance with the conditions of the grant program for which the funds were provided.
    - (F) **Publication of audit results—** Not later than 1 year after December 16, 2016, the Attorney General shall request from each [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), and make available on an appropriate Internet website, all final audit reports completed to date for [prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) under the operational control of the executive branch of each [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4). The Attorney General shall update such website annually with reports received from [States](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) under subparagraphs [(B)(i)](#e-2-B-i) and [(C)(i)](#e-2-C-i).
    - (G) **Report on implementation of national standards—** Not later than 2 years after December 16, 2016, the Attorney General shall issue a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on the status of implementation of the national standards and the steps the Department, in conjunction with the [States](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) and other key stakeholders, is taking to address any unresolved implementation issues.
  - (3) **Report on noncompliance—** Not later than September 30 of each year, the Attorney General shall publish a report listing each grantee that is not in compliance with the national standards adopted pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (4) **Cooperation with survey—** For each fiscal year, any amount that a [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) receives for that fiscal year under a grant program covered by this subsection shall not be used for [prison](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) purposes (and shall be returned to the grant program if no other authorized use is available), unless the chief executive of the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) submits to the Attorney General a certification that neither the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), nor any political subdivision or unit of [local](/usc/34/30502.md?p=3) government within the [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), is listed in a report issued by the Attorney General pursuant to [section 30303(c)(2)(C) of this title](/usc/34/30303.md?p=c-2-C).
  - (5) **Redistribution of amounts—** Amounts under a grant program not granted by reason of a reduction under [paragraph (2)](#e-2), or returned by reason of the prohibition in [paragraph (4)](#e-4), shall be granted to one or more entities not subject to such reduction or such prohibition, subject to the other laws governing that program.
  - (6) **Implementation—** The Attorney General shall establish procedures to implement this subsection, including procedures for effectively applying this subsection to discretionary grant programs.
  - (7) **Effective date—**
    - (A) **Requirement of adoption of standards—** The first grants to which [paragraph (2)](#e-2) applies are grants for the second fiscal year beginning after the date on which the national standards under [subsection (a)](#a) are finalized.
    - (B) **Requirement for cooperation—** The first grants to which [paragraph (4)](#e-4) applies are grants for the fiscal year beginning after September 4, 2003.
  - (8) **Standards for auditors—**
    - (A) **In general—**
      - (i) **Background checks for auditors—** An individual seeking certification by the Department of Justice to serve as an auditor of [prison](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) compliance with the national standards described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall, upon request, submit fingerprints in the manner determined by the Attorney General for criminal history record checks of the applicable [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4) and Federal Bureau of Investigation repositories.
      - (ii) **Certification agreements—** Each auditor certified under this paragraph shall sign a certification agreement that includes the provisions of, or provisions that are substantially similar to, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Auditor Certification Agreement in use in April 2018.
      - (iii) **Auditor evaluation—** The PREA Management Office of the Bureau of Justice Assistance shall evaluate all auditors based on the criteria contained in the certification agreement. In the case that an auditor fails to comply with a certification agreement or to conduct audits in accordance with the PREA Auditor Handbook, audit methodology, and instrument approved by the PREA Management Office, the Office may take remedial or disciplinary action, as appropriate, including decertifying the auditor in accordance with [subparagraph (B)](#e-8-B).
    - (B) **Auditor decertification—**
      - (i) **In general—** The PREA Management Office may suspend an auditor’s certification during an evaluation of an auditor’s performance under [subparagraph (A)(iii)](#e-8-A-iii). The PREA Management Office shall promptly publish the names of auditors who have been decertified, and the reason for decertification. Auditors who have been decertified or are on suspension may not participate in audits described in [subsection (a)](#a), including as an agent of a certified auditor.
      - (ii) **Notification—** In the case that an auditor is decertified, the PREA Management Office shall inform each facility or agency at which the auditor performed an audit during the relevant 3-year audit cycle, and may recommend that the agency repeat any affected audits, if appropriate.
    - (C) **Audit assignments—** The PREA Management Office shall establish a system, to be administered by the Office, for assigning certified auditors to Federal, [State](/usc/34/30502.md?p=4), and [local](/usc/34/30502.md?p=3) facilities.
    - (D) **Disclosure of documentation—** The Director of the Bureau of [Prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) shall comply with each request for documentation necessary to conduct an audit under [subsection (a)](#a), which is made by a certified auditor in accordance with the provisions of the certification agreement described in [subparagraph (A)(ii)](#e-8-A-ii). The Director of the Bureau of [Prisons](/usc/34/30309.md?p=7) may require an auditor to sign a confidentiality agreement or other agreement designed to address the auditor’s use of personally identifiable information, except that such an agreement may not limit an auditor’s ability to provide all such documentation to the Department of Justice, as required under section 115.401(j) of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–79, § 8, Sept. 4, 2003, 117 Stat. 985; Pub. L. 113–4, title XI, § 1101(c), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 134; Pub. L. 114–324, §§ 5, 7(2), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1950, 1951; Pub. L. 115–274, § 4, Oct. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 4161.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15607 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 115–274 amended par. (8) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “An individual seeking certification by the Department of Justice to serve as an auditor of prison compliance with the national standards described in subsection (a) shall, upon request, submit fingerprints in the manner determined by the Attorney General for criminal history record checks of the applicable State and Federal Bureau of Investigation repositories.”

2016—Subsec. (e)(1)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 114–324, § 5, added cl. (iii).

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 114–324, § 7(2)(A), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “For each fiscal year, any amount that a State would otherwise receive for prison purposes for that fiscal year under a grant program covered by this subsection shall be reduced by 5 percent, unless the chief executive of the State submits to the Attorney General—

“(A) a certification that the State has adopted, and is in full compliance with, the national standards described in subsection (a); or

“(B) an assurance that not less than 5 percent of such amount shall be used only for the purpose of enabling the State to adopt, and achieve full compliance with, those national standards, so as to ensure that a certification under subparagraph (A) may be submitted in future years.”

Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 114–324, § 7(2)(B), added par. (8).

2013—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 113–4 added subsecs. (c) and (d) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (e).