S. 307

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Table of contents

• S. 307
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Findings
  • SEC. 3. Addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act.
• Short title

SEC. 2. Findings

• Congress finds the following:
• Findings
  • In 2023, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice released a report titled (in this section referred to as the ). Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Committed by Inmates Toward Staff Inspector General report
  • The Inspector General report examined all sanctioned inmate sexual incidents in the Bureau of Prisons (in this section referred to as the ) between fiscal years 2015 and 2021, and found that inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault is widespread. Bureau
  • The Inspector General report further found that the Bureau does not collect adequate data on inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault and that, because of the Bureau's inadequate data, the Bureau has not been able to identify the full scope of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault.
  • The Inspector General report further found that the Bureau does not have systems to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bureau's strategies to mitigate inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault.
  • The Inspector General report made recommendations to the Bureau to address the failures in the Bureau's data collection and mitigation efforts, but the Bureau has not implemented these recommendations.

SEC. 3. Addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff

• Addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff
• (a) Definitions
  • In this section:
  • Definitions
  • (1) Bureau
    • The term Bureau means the Bureau of Prisons.
    • Bureau
  • (2) Correctional officer
    • The term correctional officer has the meaning given the term in section 4051 of title 18, United States Code.
    • Correctional officer
  • (3) Inspector General
    • The term Inspector General means the Inspector General of the Department of Justice.
    • Inspector General
  • (4) Incarcerated individual
    • The term incarcerated individual,prisoner has the meaning given the term in section 4051 of title 18, United States Code.
    • Incarcerated individual
  • (5) Sexual assault
    • The term sexual assault means an act described in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 920 of title 10, United States Code.
    • Sexual assault
  • (6) Sexual harassment
    • The term sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that explicitly or implicitly affect an individual’s employment, unreasonably interfere with an individual’s work performance, or create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
    • Sexual harassment
• (b) Implementation of recommendations by Bureau
  • Implementation of recommendations by Bureau
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Bureau shall fully implement each recommendation in the report released by the Inspector General in 2023 titled . Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Committed by Inmates Toward Staff
    • In general
  • (2) Report
    • If the Bureau has not fully implemented each recommendation referenced in paragraph (1) by the deadline under that paragraph, the Bureau shall submit a report to Congress by that deadline that includes an explanation of the failure to fully implement each recommendation and a detailed timeline for full implementation.
    • Report
• (c) Data analysis by Inspector General
  • Data analysis by Inspector General
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than 1 year after the date as of which the Bureau has fully implemented each recommendation referenced in subsection (b)(1)—
    • In general
      • the Inspector General shall request from the Bureau, and the Bureau shall provide, updated data on the number and prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault incidents perpetrated by incarcerated individuals against a correctional officer or other employee of the Bureau during fiscal years 2022 through 2025;