MOST PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD ARE AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, MENTAL INSTITUTIONS, GENERAL HOSPITALS, AND SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE WOULD LEAD TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN INSTITUTIONS IS RESTRICTED ALMOST ENTIRELY TO PRISONS, WITH THE MAJORITY OF SUCH ASSAULTS INVOLVING MALES. THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION IN INSTITUTIONS HAS NOT PROGRESSED WITH THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEXUAL CONDUCT IN GENERAL. THE REPORTED RATE OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN JUVENILE AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE AN UNDERESTIMATE. ONE RESEARCHER DOCUMENTED 4 SEXUAL ASSAULTS OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD IN A PRISON; INMATES AT THE INSTITUTION SAID THERE HAD BEEN 50. MANY OF THE REASONS THAT EXPLAIN NONREPORTING OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS OUTSIDE PRISONS APPLY TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS WITHIN PRISONS AS WELL. IT HAS BEEN ASSERTED THAT THE INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE FOSTERS AGGRESSION AND ETHNIC HOSTILITY, WHICH ARE EXPRESSED IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS. ALMOST NO RESEARCH ON THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION ON PRISON INMATES HAS BEEN CONDUCTED. SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT PLAGUE RESEARCH ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN GENERAL ALSO HANDICAP INVESTIGATIONS OF ASSAULTS IN INSTITUTIONS. TWO COURTS HAVE RULED THAT IMMINENT SEXUAL ASSAULT CAN BE A DEFENSE TO THE CRIME OF ESCAPE FROM PRISON. THERE IS A NEED TO GATHER INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN INSTITUTIONS, ON THE EFFECTS ON THE VICTIM AND THE INSTITUTION, AND ON PREVENTIVE PROCEDURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)