Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act
Last recorded step: House, Aug 31, 2026.
Nothing scheduled on the calendars we hold.
This bill would require the DOJ to set national standards and implement federal recommendations to protect prison staff from inmate abuse.
This summary may be out of date
Last regenerated The bill has had legislative action since.
What it does
This bill would require the Department of Justice to establish national standards for preventing, reducing, and punishing sexual harassment and sexual assault committed by incarcerated individuals against Bureau of Prisons employees. Additionally, the Bureau of Prisons would be required to fully implement recommendations from a Department of Justice Inspector General report regarding efforts to address such misconduct toward staff.
Who is affected
This bill directly affects the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons, which must adopt new national standards and implement specific Inspector General recommendations. The legislation also impacts correctional officers and other employees of the Bureau of Prisons by establishing protections against sexual harassment and assault. Additionally, the bill applies to incarcerated individuals within the federal prison system who are subject to the prevention, reduction, and punishment measures outlined in the new standards.
Key provisions
- Establishment of national standards for staff protection. The Department of Justice is required to adopt national standards focused on preventing, reducing, and punishing sexual harassment and sexual assault committed by incarcerated individuals against Bureau of Prisons employees.
- Implementation of Inspector General recommendations. The Bureau of Prisons must fully implement the recommendations from the Department of Justice Inspector General's evaluation regarding efforts to address inmate-on-staff sexual misconduct.
- Agency assessment and response requirements. The bill mandates that the Department of Justice and its component agencies assess and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and assault directed at staff by individuals in federal custody.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to implement specific recommendations from a Department of Justice Inspector General report regarding inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault. It also directs the Department of Justice to establish national standards for preventing and punishing such incidents within the existing federal prison system.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to enhance the safety of Bureau of Prisons staff by establishing national standards to prevent, reduce, and punish sexual harassment and sexual assault committed against them by incarcerated individuals. It also requires the Bureau of Prisons to implement specific safety recommendations previously issued by the Department of Justice Inspector General.