The Senate passed Thursday the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), aimed at addressing the alarming prevalence of sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates.
“Last year, nearly half of surveyed Bureau of Prisons staff stated they had been sexually harassed or assaulted by an inmate. This statistic is appalling and unacceptable,” Senator Blackburn stated. “No federal employee or law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work, and I’m pleased to see the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act move one step closer to becoming law.”
RELATED: Georgia Sen. Ossoff Intros Bipartisan Bill To Improve Prison Safety, End Sexual Abuse Of Staff
Senator Ossoff highlighted the bipartisan effort, saying, “I remain focused on oversight of the Federal prison system and ending sexual abuse in prisons and jails, including the abuse of prison staff. Senator Blackburn and I brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass this bipartisan bill to help end sexual abuse in Federal prisons.”
A February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) revealed that 40% of 7,000 surveyed BOP staff reported being sexually harassed or assaulted by an inmate.
Despite the gravity of the problem, the report highlighted that the BOP lacks adequate data on inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault and has been unable to fully ascertain the scale of the issue.
READ: Tennessee Sen. Blackburn, Texas Sen. Cornyn’s Crime Victims Restitution Bill Signed Into Law
The report also provided key recommendations to improve the BOP’s ability to mitigate the problem and protect its employees. Testimonies from BOP staff and data from institutions like the United States Penitentiary Thomson in Illinois, where over 300 incidents of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment occurred in 2022, further underscore the inadequacy of the BOP’s current reporting and corrective measures.
The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act mandates several measures to improve the safety of BOP employees:
- Full implementation of the DOJ Inspector General’s 2023 recommendations to address and mitigate inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault.
- An analysis by the DOJ OIG of punishments for sexual harassment and assault in BOP facilities.
- Development of national standards by the U.S. Attorney General to prevent, reduce, and punish sexual assault and harassment of BOP staff by inmates.
Additionally, Senators Blackburn and Ossoff sent a letter to BOP Director Colette Peters, urging the release of information about inmate-on-staff sexual assault reporting procedures, corrective measures, and staff assistance programs.
READ: Iowa Senator Joni Ernst Backs Bill To Combat Sexual Misconduct Against Federal Prison Staff
The legislation has received strong support from the Council of Prison Locals 33. National President Brandy Moore White expressed backing for the bill, emphasizing the urgent need to protect prison staff from systemic abuse.
With bipartisan support and backing from the corrections community, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act represents a significant step forward in creating a safer and more accountable environment for federal prison employees.
The bill now moves closer to becoming law, providing hope for a long-overdue resolution to this pervasive issue.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.