Summary

Requires the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate current mail-interdiction capabilities and create and implement a nationwide digital mail-scanning strategy to detect fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic drugs in inmate-directed mail. The plan must include timelines, operational safeguards (including protections for legal mail and timelines for delivering digital copies and returning original physical mail when safe), equipment and IT needs, a budget proposal for FY2025–FY2027, and annual progress reports; implementation is required within three years of plan submission, subject to appropriations.

• Directs the BOP to evaluate mail-interdiction capabilities within 180 days and submit a nationwide strategy within 90 days after that evaluation.
• Requires nationwide deployment of digital mail-scanning to detect fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic drugs, targeting 100% mail scanning capacity.
• Operational rules require a digital copy of mail be delivered to an inmate within 24 hours and original physical mail returned within 30 days if it is safe.
• Requires safeguards for legal mail to verify senders and preserve attorney–client privilege while allowing interdiction.
• Strategy must identify IT/equipment needs, training, prioritization of facilities, and include an equipment budget for FY2025–FY2027.
• Plan implementation must occur within three years of strategy submission, but is subject to future appropriations.
• BOP must submit annual progress reports on performance and totals of detected synthetic drugs/opioids.
• The act defines "synthetic drug" to explicitly include fentanyl analogues and ties definitions to the Controlled Substances Act.