Central ND News

Legislation led by Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL) and Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) to overhaul the federal prison system was approved today by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Federal Prison Oversight Act establishes new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, lead the companion bill in the Senate. The bill was approved on a bipartisan vote of 392-2.

“Criminal justice is not a red or a blue issue, it’s not a liberal or a conservative issue - it is a smart policy issue,” said Rep. Armstrong. “I am encouraged that the Federal Prison Oversight Act passed the House, and we are one step closer to a more cost-effective federal prison system. This commonsense reform also improves the health and safety of incarcerated individuals, employees, and visitors in its facilities. There aren’t many times in Congress where you can pass legislation that changes people’s lives for the better, so I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this legislation, add accountability to the federal prison system, and work to stop the cycle of crime and addiction.”

“My son, Jordan Davis, was killed at just 17 years old by a man with a gun who is now serving a life sentence in prison. Through my family’s pain, I have found the strength to forgive my son’s killer. Today’s vote marks significant progress in our work to make needed reforms to protect the staff and incarcerated individuals in our federal prison system,” said Congresswoman McBath. “I am very proud that the committee vote last month and today’s vote in the full House received such overwhelming bipartisan support. This is proof of what is possible when Democrats and Republicans work together for the benefit of the American people. I look forward to swift passage of this legislation in the Senate.”

“Measures included in the Federal Prison Oversight Act establish necessary safeguards to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of incarcerated individuals and staff. Individuals associated with the Federal Bureau of Prisons deserve dignity through operations, conditions, conduct, and facilities that are held to a standard through oversight. Accessible channels for complaints and recommendations created in this bill will ensure accountability for shortcomings in the federal prison system environment,” said House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY).

“Our bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act has passed the House. This is a major milestone. My bipartisan Senate investigations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct in the federal prison system have revealed an urgent need to overhaul federal prison oversight,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff.“I commend Congresswoman McBath and Congressman Armstrong’s leadership in shepherding our bipartisan bill to House passage,and I now urge Senate leadership to bring our bipartisan bill for a voteand send it tothe President’s desk.”

“More transparencyand accountability will createa safer environmentfor correctional officersand staffwho workinourfederal prisons as wellas inmatesincarcerated inthem.Thisbill doesnot allowthe DepartmentofJusticeto interveneinto affairsstate localjails,andwillhelp improve workingconditions keepourfederal corrections officers safe,"saidSenatorBraun.

"TheSenate JudiciaryCommittee continues takeactive role restoring integrityFederal BureauPrisons addressing mismanagementcorrectionalfacilities.Thisbill willhelp improveoversight ensureBureaulivesupmission providesafe humane conditions confinement ensure successful returnincarcerated individualstocommunity.I’m pleased seeourbillpassHouse willworkmycolleagues Senatemakebill law,"saidU.S.Senate Majority WhipDickDurbin(D-IL),ChairSenateJudiciaryCommittee.

This legislationis endorsedby FamiliesAgainstMandatoryMinimums(FAMM),ThePrisonFellowship,CitizensforResponsibilityEthicsWashington(CREW), DueProcessInstitute.

“For too long,theBureauofPrisonshasoperatedwith nexttonindependent oversight theresultshavebeendisastrous fortheover150000peopleincarcerated infederalprisons tens thousandspeoplewhoworkthere,”saidDanielLandsman,VicePresidentPolicyFAMM."Today’voteisacrucialstep bringingtransparency accountabilitytoanagencythathasbeenplaguedbyscandalfordecades.FAMMisgratefulRep.LucyMcBath Rep.KellyArmstrongfortheirsteadfastleadershiponthislegislation.WespeedquicklytotheSenatetogetthisbilltothePresident'sdesk forthesakeofeveryonewholivesworksinourfederalprisonstheirfamilies."

"Numerousinvestigationsofederalprisonhaveuncoversdangerousphysicalconditions widespreadsexualabusehighlightingurgentneedforincreasedoversight,"saiddDebraPerlinPolicyDirectorCREW."Byestablishingindependentinspectionsregime,FederalPrisonOversightActwouldbegintobringmeasuretransparencyaccountabilitytothisdeeplybrokensystem.WecallontheSenatetoimmediatelypassthislongoverturelegislation."

"TheU.SHouserRecognizethatfederlprisoshouldbesafectructiveplacesforallliveworkinside,"saidHeatherRice-Minus,PisionFellowhippresidentCEO."Withnearly50yearsexperienceprovidinghelphopeincarcereindividuals,PionFellowsstandsbipartianleadersactingmakefderalprisosaferhealthiermorehumane.WelookforwarddaythisillbecomeslawmarkingsignificantmilestonebringaccountabiltyreformAmerica'fderalprsionsystem."

"The storiesinrecentyears sexualviolenceagainstincarceratedwomen,corrution unhealthyconditioninfderlprisonfacilitisareicrediblyconcerning.ThesestorishowusnowherenearenoughindepeentoversighthverFederaBureauoPrisonesponsiblityCongresmakecoursecorrection.Theconsequencesdoingnothingputthehealth safeyofarceratedpersons corretionstaffwhosecaretunder risk.WeThankCngressomanMcBath CongressmanArmstrongfortremendousleaderhipnFederalPrsonOversighAct,"sidJasonPyeVicePresidetDueProessInstitutue

ThebipartisanbilrequireDepartmntJustice'sInspecterGeneraconductcomprehensive,riskbasedinspectionoftheBOP'122correcionalfacilitesprovidecommendationfixproblemsassignfacilityriskcorehigheriskfacilitiesrequiredinspectdoften.TIGmustalsoreportfindingsrecommendationsCongrespulic,BOPrespondllnspectionreportswithin60dayscorrectiveactionplan.

Thebipartisanbillealsoestablindependentmbudsman investigatehealth,safety,welfare,rightsincracerateple stat.Ombudsmanwoudcreateecurehotlineonlinefamilymembefriendsrepresentativeincarcerrateople submitcomplaint inquiries.

Click here read full text biprtisan Federl Prisn OverigtAct.

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