Central ND News

The Federal Prison Oversight Act, H.R. 3019, sponsored by U.S. Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL) and Lucy McBath (D-GA-07), passed the Senate unanimously last night. The legislation aims to establish new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and now awaits the President's signature.

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, led the companion bill in the Senate.

“The Federal Prison Oversight Act moves our prison system into the 21st century, works across agencies, creates accountability structures, and requires risk assessments for our prisons,” said Rep. Armstrong. “I am proud that Congress came together to improve the safety, dignity, and cost-effectiveness of our judicial system.”

Rep. McBath shared a personal note on her involvement: “My 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed 12 years ago by a man who is now serving a life sentence in prison. Through my family’s pain, I found the strength to forgive my son’s killer,” she said. “The passage of my Federal Prison Oversight legislation in the Senate marks a new step forward in ensuring accountability to protect staff and incarcerated individuals in our federal prisons."

Senator Braun emphasized transparency: “More transparency and accountability will create a safer environment for correctional officers and staff who work in our federal prisons as well as the inmates incarcerated in them,” he stated.

Senator Ossoff highlighted his investigations: “Our bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act has passed the Senate,” he said. “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.”

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin noted his committee's priorities: “Restoring integrity to the Bureau of Prisons and addressing mismanagement in correctional facilities is a top priority of the Senate Judiciary Committee,” he said.

The bill mandates comprehensive inspections by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General at BOP’s 122 correctional facilities with risk-based evaluations determining inspection frequency. The findings must be reported to Congress and made public while requiring BOP responses within 60 days with corrective action plans.

Additionally, an independent Ombudsman will be established to investigate health, safety, welfare issues concerning incarcerated people and staff with provisions for secure complaint submissions from family members or representatives.