Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act Heads to the President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Laurel Lee's legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, passed through the House. The legislation is a bipartisan and bicameral measure to strengthen safety and accountability in federal correctional facilities. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jon Osoff (D-GA) led the passage of the Senate version of the bill. 

This legislation takes very important and necessary steps to improve the conditions for correctional officers, staff, and inmates by enhancing oversight, promoting safer facility operations, and addressing issues with sexual abuse and misconduct within these prisons. This bill will help to ensure all allegations are properly investigated and strengthen protections for the prison employees when the situation of an inmate assaulting an officer occurs. 

“I am incredibly proud to see the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act head to the President’s desk and become one step closer to being a law,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “For far too long, too many Bureau of Prisons employees have faced sexual harassment and assault by inmates while they are just trying to do their job. This bill is a very important step toward strengthening oversight, protecting our hardworking correctional officers, and ensuring the inmates who commit these horrific crimes are held accountable to the fullest extent. I remain committed to advancing reforms that strengthen public safety, support law enforcement, and improve the justice system.”  

“No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act would help us end the sexual abuse of prison staff who are simply trying to do their jobs.”

The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act was passed under suspension of the House rules and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.