119 HR 868 IH: Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 868IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 31, 2025Ms. Lee of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

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

2.

Addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Correctional officer

The term correctional officer has the meaning given the term in section 4051 of title 18, United States Code.(2)

Inspector General

The term Inspector General means the Inspector General of the Department of Justice.(3)

Incarcerated individual

The term incarcerated individual has the meaning given the term prisoner in section 4051 of title 18, United States Code.(4)

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.(5)

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.(b)

Review and analysis

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General shall carry out a comprehensive statistical review and analysis of the incidence and effects of sexual harassment and sexual assault perpetrated by incarcerated individuals against a correctional officer or other employee of the Bureau of Prisons.(2)

Analysis

The review and analysis required under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual assault as of the date of enactment of this Act in facilities controlled by the Bureau of Prisons, including data on the use of such punishments during the 5-year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act.(c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after completing the review and analysis under subsection (b)(1), the Inspector General shall submit to the Attorney General and to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report that summarizes the findings of the review and analysis.(d)

Rulemaking

Not later than 1 year after receiving the report under subsection (c), the Attorney General shall promulgate a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and sexual assault perpetrated by an incarcerated individual against a correctional officer or other employee of the Bureau of Prisons.