The bill aims to address the issue of widespread inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault within the Bureau of Prisons. It references a 2023 Inspector General report that highlights the lack of adequate data collection on these incidents and the ineffectiveness of current strategies to mitigate them. The bill mandates the Bureau to implement recommendations from the report, and the Inspector General to analyze and report updated data on these incidents. Additionally, the Attorney General is required to establish national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of inmate-perpetrated sexual harassment and assault against prison staff.
Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act
This bill establishes requirements for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and component agencies to assess and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault by incarcerated individuals against Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff.
Specifically, the bill requires DOJ to adopt national standards for the prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and sexual assault by incarcerated individuals against correctional officers or other employees of the BOP.
Additionally, the bill requires the BOP to fully implement the recommendations of the DOJ Inspector General contained in the report titled Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Committed by Inmates Toward Staff.