Today in San Francisco, the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission will take testimony from survivors of prison rape and sexual abuse. The congressional commission held its first hearing in Washington in June; it is charged with creating a report on the problem and proposing national standards to fight it.

"One of the things that I have been most shocked by is we don't know what the extent of the problem is," said Judge Reggie Walton, who chairs the nine-member bipartisan committee. "I believe in tough punishment, but I firmly believe when we incarcerate people we're obligated to make sure they're treated humanely."

Department of Justice officials, state and local lawmakers and abuse survivors are expected to testify at today's hearing, which will focus on protecting vulnerable inmates -- the young, gay, lesbian, transgender and mentally ill.

At the hearing, Kendell Spruce, 42, will describe the abuse he suffered more than a dozen years ago while incarcerated in Arkansas for a parole violation. Spruce said he was raped by 27 prisoners, including one who infected him with HIV. Diagnosed with AIDS in 2002, he is now unable to work. "Everybody needs to know what happened to me. I don't want it to happen to more people," Spruce said.

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