Prison Staff Safety Act

Summary#

This bill requires the Justice Department's Inspector General to study sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff by incarcerated individuals. It defines key terms, including correctional officer, incarcerated individual, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. The Inspector General must finish a comprehensive statistical review within 1 year of enactment and include an analysis of punishments used in BOP facilities during the 5 years before enactment. Within 180 days after finishing the review, the Inspector General must send a report to the Attorney General and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The Attorney General must issue a nationwide rule setting standards to prevent, reduce, and punish such sexual harassment and assault within 1 year of receiving the report.

What it means for you#

  • BOP staff: The bill leads to a formal study and could lead to national standards aimed at preventing and punishing sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated people.
  • BOP administrators: The bill requires data collection, a report, and a required rulemaking process that could change facility practices.
  • General public: The bill sets timelines for review and rulemaking but does not itself change operations until the Attorney General issues rules.

Expenses#

No publicly available information. The text provided does not include funding amounts or cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

The bill's text and title indicate it is intended to better document and address sexual harassment and sexual assault of BOP employees by requiring a study and national standards for prevention and punishment.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.