House subcommittee to examine role of federal statute in denying prison rape victims access to courts

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security will hold a hearing today to examine the role of a federal statute in denying prison rape victims access to courts. During today's hearing, entitled "National Prison Rape Elimination Commission Report and Standards," lawmakers will review the need to reform provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PLRA), a law intended to reduce frivolous lawsuits by prisoners. "Now that we have over a decade of experience with the Prison Litigation Reform Act, it is apparent the law has had a disastrous effect on legitimate, non-frivolous cases," said Jennifer Bellamy, ACLU Legislative Counsel. "Today's hearing should spotlight the need to amend the Act so that prisoners can have their day in court to challenge violations of their constitutional rights while preserving provisions that weed out frivolous lawsuits."