Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act
Key claim: S307 would require DOJ to adopt national standards preventing and punishing sexual harassment and assault of Bureau of Prisons staff by incarcerated individuals, and mandate BOP implement existing Inspector General recommendations.
Abstract
(S307 · 119th Congress) Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act This bill establishes requirements for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and component agencies to assess and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault by incarcerated individuals against Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff. Specifically, the bill requires DOJ to adopt national standards for the prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and sexual assault by incarcerated individuals against correctional officers or other employees of the BOP. Additionally, the bill requires the BOP to fully implement the recommendations of the DOJ Inspector General contained in the report titled Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Committed by Inmates Toward Staff . Latest action (2025-05-05): Held at the desk.
Why this matters
Federal correctional officers have limited statutory protections against on-the-job sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated individuals, a gap flagged in prior DOJ Inspector General work. S307 would codify national standards and force implementation of existing IG recommendations, extending the civil-rights and workplace-safety framework inside prisons to cover staff rather than only incarcerated people. Because the bill is only introduced, its practical effect on BOP working conditions and inmate discipline procedures remains contingent on enactment and DOJ rulemaking.