Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) joined Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX) to introduce bipartisan legislation to address pervasive understaffing in federal prisons.

The bipartisan Prison Staffing Reform Act directs the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to conduct a review of understaffing, devise a 3-year plan to fill vacancies, and implement the plan as well as submit yearly progress reports to Congress.

The BOP plan is mandated by the lawmakers’ proposed legislation to encompass the effects of understaffing on workplace safety, the processing of inmate casework, and the availability of medical care and educational programs for inmates. This would ensure BOP addresses the pervasive understaffing that has had dire consequences for staff and inmates alike.

“Staffing shortages don’t just put unnecessary burdens on the public safety officers and other BOP workers, they actively put the safety of those incarcerated at BOP facilities at risk,” said Congressman Carbajal. “At the Lompoc prison on the Central Coast, chronic understaffing and inadequate resources led to one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks at any BOP facility as well as deadly fights that killed both inmates and staff. Our legislation provides the accountability needed to protect facilities like Lompoc by ensuring there is proper staffing in place to provide the security and services that are needed.”

“The current staffing shortage at the Bureau of Prison facilities endangers the lives of both the staff that serve there and the inmates incarcerated there,” said Rep. Obernolte. “Inmates are not provided thorough care or adequately monitored, and the current inadequate levels of staffing have put lives at risk. It’s time we solve this staffing shortage and address the lack of correctional officers that is plaguing BOP facilities like FCC Victorville in my district.”

“Understaffed prisons endanger prison workers and incarcerated people alike, and without enough on-site medical professionals, minor health problems can become medical emergencies. Further, the inability to maintain proper staff ratios also means serial abusers are kept on prison payrolls, subjecting incarcerated women in particular to sexual violence and harassment.  It was abundantly clear from my visit to a women's federal prison with colleagues that Congress must step up to ensure the Bureau of Prisons fully protects everyone in their custody and to implement an accountability structure when facilities violate the constitutional rights of incarcerated people,” said Rep. Chu.

“The crisis of chronic understaffing at the federal Bureau of Prisons is a major problem that needs to be addressed immediately,” said U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX).“Doing so will lead to better and safer conditions for our correctional officers and inmates.  I am proud to champion solutions to address problems that have plagued the BOP and our correctional officers, and our bipartisan bill is a step in the right direction.”

Since his election to Congress in 2016, Congressman Carbajal has consistently advocated for sufficient staffing and resources at the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution.

When a massive COVID-19 outbreak struck the facility in the spring of 2020, Carbajal repeatedly pushed BOP leadership to allocate the necessary staffing and resources to curb the spread.

Carbajal and California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris also called out the lack of BOP leadership support for its employees when dealing with the outbreak.

In his first term, he fought back against proposed budget cuts that would have cut 60 positions from the Lompoc facility.

The Prison Staffing Reform Act would require BOP to assess the far-reaching impacts of chronic understaffing on the following metrics, as well as implement a plan to fill vacancies and advance associated priorities for the agency:

·         The availability of medical care for inmates, including mental health, substance misuse, and maternal health services.

·         The processing of inmates’ applications for compassionate release, home confinement, and time credits.

·         The availability of teachers, therapists, and support staff aimed at reducing recidivism.

·         Adequate protections for staff and inmates against violence and sexual misconduct.

·         The availability of sanitary and efficient food services.

·         Prison security, including the detection of contraband and installation of cameras.

·         Workplace conditions that may jeopardize employees’ mental health.

·         Wasteful costs incurred by BOP associated with augmentation and overtime.

The BOP must act on a 3-year plan to address understaffing and remedy these related, long-standing challenges.