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- Sen. Jon Ossoff’s bill to address inmate-on-staff sexual assault in federal prisons passed the Senate.
- The bill mandates a comprehensive strategy from the Justice Department, including data reporting and a national standard for prevention.
- This legislation follows a 2022 bill establishing independent oversight of the Bureau of Prisons and is co-sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
- A Justice Department report revealed 40% of surveyed prison employees experienced inmate sexual harassment.
The U.S. Senate has passed legislation introduced by Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., aimed at improving safety and security inside the federal prison system.
The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, which senators passed by unanimous consent Thursday night, would require the Justice Department to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for addressing inmate-on-staff sexual assault.
The department also would have to submit data on the prevalence of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment to the agency’s inspector general and establish a national standard for preventing and reducing sexual abuse in federal prisons.
The bill – which Ossoff is sponsoring with Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee – is a follow-up to legislation then-President Joe Biden signed last year establishing independent oversight of the federal Bureau of Prisons.
“I remain focused on oversight of the federal prison system and ending sexual abuse in prisons and jails, including the abuse of prison staff,” Ossoff said Wednesday. “Senator Blackburn and I brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass this bipartisan bill to help end sexual abuse in federal prisons.”
According to a February 2023 report by the Justice Department, 40% of more than 7,000 prison employees surveyed reported having been sexually harassed by an inmate.
Ossoff and Blackburn launched an inquiry last September into reports of inmate-on-staff sexual assault through their leadership roles on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. That led to the Senate passing the bill late last year – also by unanimous consent – but Congress adjourned for the year without the U.S. House of Representatives acting on it.
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