Biden signs prison oversight bill sponsored by Ossoff, McBath

ATLANTA – President Joe Biden has signed legislation introduced by two members of Georgia’s congressional delegation establishing independent oversight of the federal prison system. The measure& requires the Justice Department’s Inspector General to conduct comprehensive inspections of the federal Bureau of Prisons’ 122 correctional facilities and provide recommendations to fix any problems it uncovers. The bureau will have 60 days to respond to all inspection reports with a corrective action plan. The new law also establishes an independent ombudsman to investigate the health, safety, welfare, and rights of incarcerated people and staff. The ombudsman’s office will create a secure hotline and online form for family members, friends, and representatives of incarcerated people to submit complaints. “The human rights crisis behind bars in the United States is a stain on America’s conscience,” Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said Thursday after the president signed the Federal Prison Oversight Act. “The United States Congress will no longer tolerate the ongoing and widespread abuse of those who are in the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ custody.” Ossoff introduced the bill into the Senate two years ago after leading multiple bipartisan investigations into corruption, abuse, and misconduct within the federal prison system that uncovered a lack of...