WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-W.Va.) bipartisan bill to strengthen Federal prison oversight passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Federal Prison Oversight Act – led by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) – would establish new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate.
“Investigations into our Federal prisons have produced shocking and alarming results,” Senator Capito said. “The reports of misconduct by some prison officials, the conditions of some facilities, and the stories of abuse of inmates are horrifying. This also emphasizes the need for stricter oversight of the Federal prison system. The House of Representatives’ passage of our bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act reinforces this urgent need for action, and I encourage the Senate to take up this bill as soon as possible.”
In addition to Senators Capito and Ossoff, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
BACKGROUND:
The bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act would require the Department of Justice’s Inspector General (IG) to conduct comprehensive, risk-based inspections of the BOP’s 122 correctional facilities, provide recommendations to fix problems, and assign each facility a risk score, with higher-risk facilities required to be inspected more often. The IG must also report its findings and recommendations to Congress and the public, and the BOP must respond to all inspection reports within 60 days with a corrective action plan.
The bipartisan bill would also establish an independent Ombudsman to investigate the health, safety, welfare, and rights of incarcerated people and staff. The Ombudsman would create a secure hotline and online form for family members, friends, and representatives of incarcerated people to submit complaints and inquiries.
# # #