H.R. 868: Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act

The bill, titled the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, aims to address issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault against employees of the Bureau of Prisons, particularly correctional officers. Below are key points regarding what the bill would do:

General Provisions

• The bill mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Justice conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of sexual harassment and sexual assault incidents involving incarcerated individuals and correctional staff.
• This review must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment and will focus on understanding the incidence and effects of these issues within Bureau of Prisons facilities.

Definitions

• Correctional officer: Defined by its existing legal meaning, referring to staff responsible for supervising incarcerated individuals.
• Sexual assault: Defined according to established legal standards.
• Sexual harassment: Defined as unwanted sexual behavior that negatively impacts an employee's work environment.

Analysis of Incidents

• The Inspector General's analysis will include data on the punitive measures taken in response to sexual harassment and assault incidents over the past five years.
• Findings will cover the prevalence of such incidents and any patterns in the applicable punishments.

Reporting Findings

• Following the review, a report summarizing the findings must be submitted to the Attorney General and relevant committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives within 180 days of completing the analysis.

National Standards Development

• After receiving the report, the Attorney General is required to create and implement national standards aimed at preventing, reducing, and disciplining sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated individuals against correctional staff within one year.

Implications

The result of this bill, if enacted, would likely lead to increased awareness and formalized approaches to handling incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault within federal prisons, with new rules and standards to strengthen the safety and well-being of prison staff.

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