[117th Congress Public Law 321]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 4429]]
PRISON CAMERA REFORM ACT OF 2021
[[Page 136 STAT. 4430]]
Public Law 117-321
117th Congress
An Act
To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to address deficiencies
and make necessary upgrades to the security camera and radio systems of
the Bureau of Prisons to ensure the health and safety of employees and
inmates. <<NOTE: Dec. 27, 2022 - [S. 2899]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Prison Camera
Reform Act of 2021. 18 USC 4042 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Bureau of Prisons has 122 institutions located
throughout the United States. The Bureau of Prisons employs
nearly 38,000 employees and is responsible for more than 150,000
Federal inmates.
(2) Video footage from security camera systems and reliable
communication over radio systems within Bureau of Prisons
institutions are essential to protecting the health and safety
of Bureau of Prisons employees and Federal inmates.
(3) Based on the experience of Bureau of Prisons
correctional staff, the noticeable presence of functioning
security cameras serves as an effective deterrent to criminal
behavior and misconduct.
(4) Well-documented deficiencies of camera systems at Bureau
of Prisons' facilities have hindered investigators' ability to
substantiate allegations of serious misconduct by staff and
inmates, including sexual and physical assaults, medical
neglect, and introduction of contraband.
(5) In a 2016 report, the Office of the Inspector General
for the Department of Justice determined that ``deficiencies
within the BOP's security camera system have affected the OIG's
ability to secure prosecutions of staff and inmates in BOP
contraband introduction cases, and these same problems adversely
impact the availability of critical evidence to support
administrative or disciplinary action against staff and
inmates''.
(6) Shortcomings in the land-mobile radio systems at Bureau
of Prison facilities institutions impede the communication
abilities of staff, slowing or preventing the response of
correctional officers during an emergency or threat of attack,
and jeopardizing the safety of both staff and Federal inmates.
[[Page 136 STAT. 4431]]
SEC. 3. REQUIRED PLAN FOR REFORM OF BOP SECURITY CAMERA AND RADIO
COVERAGE AND CAPABILITIES.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons
shall--
(1) <<NOTE: Evaluation.>> evaluate the security camera,
land-mobile radio (referred to in this Act as ``LMR''), and
public address (referred to in this Act as ``PA'') systems in
use by the Bureau of Prisons as of the date of enactment of this
Act; and
(2) submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives a plan for ensuring that all Bureau of Prisons
correctional facilities have the security camera, LMR, and PA
system coverage and capabilities necessary to--
(A) ensure the health and safety of staff and
Federal inmates; and
(B) ensure the documentation and accessibility of
video evidence that may pertain to misconduct by staff
or inmates, negligent or abusive treatment of inmates,
or criminal activity within correctional facilities.
(b) Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall--
(1) identify and include plans to address any deficiencies
in the security camera system in use at Bureau of Prisons
correctional facilities, including those related to--
(A) an insufficient number of cameras;
(B) inoperable or malfunctioning cameras;
(C) blind spots;
(D) poor quality video; and
(E) any other deficits in the security camera
system;
(2) identify and include plans to adopt and maintain any
security camera system upgrades needed to achieve the purposes
described in subsection (a), including--
(A) conversion of all analog cameras to digital
surveillance systems, with corresponding infrastructure
and equipment upgrade requirements;
(B) upgrades to ensure the secure storage, logging,
preservation, and accessibility of recordings such that
the recordings are available to investigators or Courts
at such time as may be reasonably required; and
(C) additional enterprise-wide camera system
capabilities needed to enhance the safety and security
of inmates and staff;
(3) identify and include plans to address any deficiencies
in the LMR and PA systems in use at Bureau of Prisons
correctional facilities, including those related to--
(A) an inadequate number of radios;
(B) inoperable, outdated, or malfunctioning LMR or
PA systems;
(C) areas of Bureau of Prisons correctional
facilities that lack adequate reception for radio
operation;
(D) radios that lack an emergency notification
feature (also known as a ``man down'' function), which
automatically sends an alert and transmits the location
of that radio in the event the wearer is in a prone
position; and
(E) any other deficits in the LMR or PA systems;
(4) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> include an assessment of
operational and logistical considerations in implementing the
plan required under subsection (a), including--
[[Page 136 STAT. 4432]]
(A) a prioritization of facilities for needed
upgrades, beginning with high security institutions;
(B) the personnel and training necessary to
implement the changes; and
(C) ongoing repair and maintenance requirements; and
(5) include a 3-year strategic plan and cost projection for
implementing the changes and upgrades to the security camera,
LMR, and PA systems identified under paragraphs (1) through (4).
(c) Implementation Deadline.--Not later than 3 years after the date
on which the plan is submitted under subsection (a)(2), and subject to
appropriations, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall complete
implementation of the submitted plan.
(d) Annual Progress Reports.--Beginning 1 year after the date on
which the plan is submitted under subsection (a)(2), and each year
thereafter until the end of the 3-year period described in subsection
(c), the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall submit to the Committee
on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives a report on the progress of the implementation
of the submitted plan.
Approved December 27, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2899:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 167 (2021):
Oct. 20, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 168 (2022):
Dec. 14, considered and passed
House.
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