US President Joe Biden today approved a bill that strengthens oversight of the federal prison agency, after an Associated Press report exposed systemic corruption and abuses in the prison system.
The Federal Prison Oversight Act – which was approved by the Senate on July 10 and by the House of Representatives in May – creates the figure of an independent ombudsman to respond to and investigate complaints following allegations of sexual assault and other criminal conduct committed by employees, chronic staff shortages, escapes and high-profile deaths.
The new law further requires the Justice Department’s inspector general to conduct risk-based checks of all 122 federal correctional facilities, provide recommendations to address deficiencies, and assign each facility a risk score.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters praised the bill when testifying before Congress this week, but warned that the agency will need tens of millions of dollars in additional funding “to effectively respond to the additional oversight and make this significant change.” and lasting”.
Under the new legislation, the independent federal prison provider must collect complaints through a secure helpline and online form, then investigate and report to the Attorney General and Congress dangerous conditions that may affect the health, safety, well-being and rights of prisoners and staff.
Along with inspection of correctional facilities, the legislation requires the Justice Department’s inspector general to report any findings and recommendations to Congress and the public.
Last year, Inspector General Michael Horowitz launched an unannounced inspection program of federal prison facilities that identified critical deficiencies, including staffing shortages in health and education programs, crumbling infrastructure, and moldy and rotting food served to inmates.
An ongoing investigation by the Associated Press has uncovered deep, previously unreported flaws at the prison agency, the Justice Department’s largest law enforcement agency, with more than 30,000 employees, 158,000 inmates and an annual budget of about 8,000. million dollars (around 7.5 billion euros).
Data collected by the AP points to dozens of escapes, chronic violence, deaths and a serious lack of staff that have hampered responses to emergencies, including attacks on inmates and suicides.
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