AP: US Senate Group Looking Into Problems in Bureau of Prisons

An Associated Press Article From February indicated that the United States Senate is looking into problems in the Bureau of Prisons.

The United States Senate has launched a bipartisan group to investigate problems in the federal prison system. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism will look into a range of issues, including overcrowding, mental health care, and the use of solitary confinement.

The group is being led by Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. and is aimed at "at developing policies and proposals to strengthen oversight of the beleaguered federal prison system and improve communication between the Bureau of Prisons and Congress."

"The federal prison system, a hotbed of corruption and misconduct, has been plagued by myriad crises in recent years, including widespread criminal activity among employees, systemic sexual abuse at a federal women’s prison in California, critically low staffing levels that have hampered responses to emergencies, the rapid spread of COVID-19, a failed response to the pandemic and dozens of escapes. And late last month, two inmates were killed in a gang clash at a federal penitentiary in Texas, prompting a nationwide lockdown."

The move comes as the Senate is considering the EQUAL Act. The bipartisan group will likely consider a range of proposals, including changes to sentencing laws and prison conditions.

The launch of the subcommittee follows a series of investigative reports by the Associated Press that detailed problems in the federal prison system. The AP found that overcrowding, poor conditions, and a lack of resources have contributed to a decline in safety and security in federal prisons.

The group is expected to hold hearings and release a report on its findings later this year.