In 2003, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. PREA's intent is to eliminate sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement facilities through a "zero-tolerance" policy, as well as through research and information gathering. As a result, National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape (PREA Standards) were published in the Federal Register on June 20, 2012. The Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center (YIC) has Zero Tolerance for any form of sexual abuse of any youth under YIC jurisdiction. This policy establishes standards in the area of prevention, detection, and response to such matters.

While PREA speaks directly to residential and detention services for YIC, all employees, contractors, juveniles, and volunteers are expected to have a clear understanding that the facility strictly prohibits any type of sexual relationship with an individual under facility supervision, and considers such a relationship a serious breach of the standards of employee conduct and contract compliance, and these relationships will not be tolerated.