U.S. Senate passes bipartisan Braun/Ossoff bill to improve federal prisons through independent oversight

Braun

The Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen federal prison oversight by Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), has passed the U.S. Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to become law.

The bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act will require the Department of Justice’s Inspector General (IG) to conduct comprehensive, risk-based inspections of the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) 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 will establish an independent Ombudsman to investigate the health, safety, welfare, and rights of prisoners and staff. The Ombudsman would also create a secure hotline and online form for complaints and inquiries.

“More transparency and accountability will create a safer environment for correctional officers and staff who work in our federal prisons as well as the inmates incarcerated in them,” Sen. Braun said. “This bill does not allow the Department of Justice to intervene into the affairs of state and local jails, and will help to improve working conditions and keep our federal corrections officers safe.”

The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (I-W.V.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.); and Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-Ga.-07) and Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.-At Large) introduced and led the companion bipartisan bill in the House, which has nearly 40 co-sponsors.

The Federal Prison Oversight Act passed the U.S. House last month.

The bill is supported by the Council of Prison Locals. Click here to read the full text of the bill.