Dear Friend,
Good news for those of us fighting for safer, more humane prisons! Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill in Congress to create meaningful and independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The Federal Prison Oversight Act would provide important avenues for meaningful independent oversight of our federal prisons.
Contact your senators and Delegate Eleanor Norton and urge them to support the Federal Prison Oversight Act: https://secure.everyaction.com/uzVJx5v8R02Pu4smVECTGg2
The BOP has operated without meaningful independent oversight for far too long. The result has been disastrous for incarcerated people, their loved ones, and correctional staff. The Federal Prison Oversight Act would change that. First, it would require the Inspector General to conduct routine inspections of every federal prison facility. Second, this bill creates an Ombuds who is charged with investigating complaints filed by incarcerated individuals, staff, family members, or others regarding any issue that may affect the health, safety, wellbeing, or rights of incarcerated people or staff. Both the Ombuds and Inspector General will have access to all areas used by and accessible to incarcerated individuals. Equally important, these visits can be either announced or unannounced.
This is an incredibly exciting and important bill. It would bring the kind of transparency and oversight a system the size and cost of the Bureau of Prisons deserve. We would no longer live in the dark about the facilities where our friends and loved ones are incarcerated.
Join us in advocating the passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act this Congress! Contact your senators and Delegate Eleanor Norton today:
https://secure.everyaction.com/uzVJx5v8R02Pu4smVECTGg2
Sincerely,
