President Trump Signs Blackburn’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Prison Staff from Sexual Abuse by Inmates

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed her bipartisan legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, into law. This legislation will help address the increasingly pervasive sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates.

"No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work," said Senator Blackburn. "I am pleased the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act-which will help us end the appalling sexual abuse of prison staff by inmates-has been signed into law by President Trump."

This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). Representative Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

BACKGROUND

• According to a February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), a staggering 40% of 7,000 surveyed BOP staff stated they had been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by an inmate.

• At United States Penitentiary Thomson in Illinois, there were over 300 incidents of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment in a single year. USP Thomson houses only 875 inmates.

• The DOJ OIG report, combined with BOP staff testimonials on this troubling problem, strongly suggests that BOP's reporting and corrective procedures for inmate-on-staff sexual assault and harassment are inadequate, creating an institutional culture that lacks accountability and endangers BOP employees.

THE PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT

• The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act will require:

Click here for bill text.

ENDORSEMENTS

This legislation is endorsed by the American Correctional Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Council of Prison Locals 33.

"The American Correctional Association (ACA) applauds the President for signing the bipartisan Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act into law. This important legislation will help protect Bureau of Prisons employees from sexual assault and harassment on the job and reflects the bipartisan cooperation our correctional officers deserve. We commend Senators Blackburn and Ossoff for championing this legislation and thank the lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who worked together to get it across the finish line. ACA looks forward to building on this momentum as we continue working with Congress to ensure safe working conditions for correctional officers nationwide," said Robert Green, American Correctional Association Executive Director.

"The National Fraternal Order of Police applauds the passage of S. 307, the "Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act," which was signed into law by President Trump. The new statute ensures that any act of sexual harassment or assault against Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff will be swiftly punished. The FOP is grateful for the leadership of Senators Blackburn and Ossoff in their efforts to help improve the safety of Federal correctional officers," said Patrick Yoes, President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

RELATED

• Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump's Desk

• Blackburn, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff

• Blackburn, Ossoff Launch Inquiry to Protect Federal Prison Staff from Sexual Assault and Harassment