The U.S. Department of Justice recently released its first-ever estimate of the number of inmates who are sexually abused in America each year. According to the department’s data, which are based on nationwide surveys of prison and jail inmates as well as young people in juvenile detention centers, at least 216,600 inmates were victimized in 2008 alone. Contrary to popular belief, most of the perpetrators were not other prisoners but staff members—corrections officials whose job it is to keep inmates safe. On average, each victim was abused between three and five times over the course of the year. The vast majority were too fearful of reprisals to seek help or file a formal complaint.
It is largely ignored because most people think that anyone who is in prison "deserves" it. "It" being whatever happens to them, regardless what it is. It's not that most Americans are ambivalent to what happens to prisoners. I think most actually advocate for the inhumane treatment of prisoners.
I still think most people are sociopaths - but again, the self segregating helps. I'm only annoyed when I'm in situations where I can't help but be exposed to them.
In terms of prisoner treatment, I think it's only going to get worse, not better.
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