United StatesFederal prisons must address sexual harassment and assault against staff
The law sets deadlines for Bureau of Prisons recommendations, a review of staff incident data, and national rules addressing sexual harassment and assault.
What it does
The Bureau must carry out the Inspector General's 2023 recommendations on sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated people against staff.
After the Bureau carries out the recommendations, the Inspector General must review updated incident data and punishments, then report findings and any further recommendations.
The Attorney General must set national rules for preventing, reducing, and punishing sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated people against Bureau staff.
Argument forUpdated incident data and independent review could help identify how often staff face sexual harassment or assault and which steps may reduce it.
Argument againstNew national rules could lead to different punishments across prisons, affecting incarcerated people whose conduct falls under those standards.
More detail
The Bureau of Prisons must implement the Inspector General's 2023 recommendations about sexual harassment and assault against staff. The recommendations concern sexual harassment and sexual assault by incarcerated people against Bureau of Prisons staff. The Bureau must do this within 90 days after September 16, 2026.
The Inspector General must review updated incident data and report findings and any recommendations to Congress and the Attorney General. The data must cover incidents by incarcerated people against correctional officers or other Bureau employees during fiscal years 2022 through 2025. The review also must analyze punishments used in Bureau facilities as of September 16, 2026, including their use during the prior five years. Within one year after the Bureau completes all recommendations, the Inspector General must request and analyze the data and send the report.
The Attorney General must issue national rules for preventing, reducing, and punishing sexual harassment and assault against Bureau staff by incarcerated people. The rules cover sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated people against correctional officers and other Bureau employees. The Attorney General must issue the rules within one year after receiving the Inspector General's analysis.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 16Signed by President.Became Law
- Sep 16Became Public Law No: 119-110.Minor
- Sep 14Presented to President.To President
- Aug 31Ms. Lee (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Vote recorded On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass. Result: Passed.House
- Aug 31Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5268-5270)
- Aug 31DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 307.
- Aug 31At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- Aug 31Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5347)
- Aug 31Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 376 - 8 (Roll no. 284). (text: CR H5268-5269)Passed House
- Aug 31Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025
- May 5Received in the House.
- May 5Held at the desk.
- May 1Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Apr 29Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.Minor
- Apr 29Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2643: 2; text: CR S2643)
- Apr 29Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2643; text: CR S2643)Passed Senate
- Jan 29Introduced in Senate
- Jan 29Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic SafetyGovernment & Ethics