Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-08-31

Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump’s Desk

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This press release from Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was published on 2026-08-31 and titled "Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump’s Desk".

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Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump’s Desk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed her bipartisan legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, to help address the increasingly pervasive sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates: "No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work," said Senator Blackburn . "I am pleased the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act - which will help us end the appalling sexual abuse of prison staff by inmates - has passed the House and is heading to President Trump's desk to be signed into law." This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). Representative Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. BACKGROUND According to a February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), a staggering 40% of 7,000 surveyed BOP staff stated they had been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by an inmate. At United States Penitentiary Thomson in Illinois, there were over 300 incidents of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment in a single year. USP Thomson houses only 875 inmates. The DOJ OIG report, combined with BOP staff testimonials on this troubling problem, strongly suggests that BOP's reporting and corrective procedures for inmate-on-staff sexual assault and harassment are inadequate, creating an institutional culture that lacks accountability and endangers BOP employees. THE PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act will require: The BOP to fully implement the recommendations in the Inspector General's 2023 report regarding mitigating inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault and to fully ascertain the scope of the problem; The DOJ OIG to conduct an analysis of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual assault in BOP facilities; and The U.S. Attorney General to promulgate a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual assault and harassment of BOP staff by inmates. Click here for bill text. ENDORSEMENTS This legislation is endorsed by the American Correctional Association , the Fraternal Order of Police , and the National Council of Prison Locals 33 . RELATABLE Blackburn, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Blackburn, Ossoff Launch Inquiry to Protect Federal Prison Staff from Sexual Assault and Harassment

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Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Heads to President Trump’s Desk NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed her bipartisan legislation, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, to help address the increasingly pervasive sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates: "No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their safety when they show up to work," said Senator Blackburn . "I am pleased the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act - which will help us end the appalling sexual abuse of prison staff by inmates - has passed the House and is heading to President Trump's desk to be signed into law." This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). Representative Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. BACKGROUND According to a February 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG), a staggering 40% of 7,000 surveyed BOP staff stated they had been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by an inmate. At United States Penitentiary Thomson in Illinois, there were over 300 incidents of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment in a single year. USP Thomson houses only 875 inmates. The DOJ OIG report, combined with BOP staff testimonials on this troubling problem, strongly suggests that BOP's reporting and corrective procedures for inmate-on-staff sexual assault and harassment are inadequate, creating an institutional culture that lacks accountability and endangers BOP employees. THE PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act will require: The BOP to fully implement the recommendations in the Inspector General's 2023 report regarding mitigating inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault and to fully ascertain the scope of the problem; The DOJ OIG to conduct an analysis of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual assault in BOP facilities; and The U.S. Attorney General to promulgate a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual assault and harassment of BOP staff by inmates. Click here for bill text. ENDORSEMENTS This legislation is endorsed by the American Correctional Association , the Fraternal Order of Police , and the National Council of Prison Locals 33 . RELATABLE Blackburn, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Prison Staff Blackburn, Ossoff Launch Inquiry to Protect Federal Prison Staff from Sexual Assault and Harassment