Tampa Republic

On January 31, 2025, Congresswoman Laurel Lee reintroduced the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act in Washington, D.C. The legislation aims to address the issue of sexual assaults on prison staff by inmates within the federal prison system.

A report from February 2023 by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General revealed that 40% of 7,000 surveyed Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff reported being sexually harassed or assaulted by inmates. In response to these findings, Rep. Lee emphasized the need for action: “It is unacceptable that nearly half of Bureau of Prisons staff experience sexual harassment or assault by inmates. The Bureau of Prisons must take stronger action to protect corrections officers and hold perpetrators accountable,” she stated.

The bill is supported in the Senate by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Jon Ossoff, who introduced companion legislation last Congress and are set to reintroduce it this week. Senator Blackburn remarked, “No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work.” Meanwhile, Senator Ossoff expressed his commitment to ending abuse in 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.”

The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act would require a comprehensive review by the DOJ OIG into incidents of sexual harassment and assault against BOP staff by federal inmates. Additionally, it mandates that the U.S. Attorney General reports these findings to Congress and establishes national standards for prevention and punishment related to such offenses.