PUBLIC LAW 114–133—MAR. 9, 2016 

ERIC WILLIAMS CORRECTIONAL OFFICER 

PROTECTION ACT OF 2015 


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130 STAT. 296 PUBLIC LAW 114–133—MAR. 9, 2016 

Public Law 114–133 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To amend title 18, United States Code, to authorize the Director of the Bureau 

of Prisons to issue oleoresin capsicum spray to officers and employees of the 

Bureau of Prisons. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Eric Williams Correctional Officer 

Protection Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE BUREAU OF PRISONS 

AUTHORIZED TO CARRY OLEORESIN CAPSICUM SPRAY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 303 of part III of title 18, United 

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘§ 4049. Officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons 

authorized to carry oleoresin capsicum spray 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall 

issue, on a routine basis, oleoresin capsicum spray to— 

‘‘(1) any officer or employee of the Bureau of Prisons who— 

‘‘(A) is employed in a prison that is not a minimum 

or low security prison; and 

‘‘(B) may respond to an emergency situation in such 

a prison; and 

‘‘(2) to such additional officers and employees of prisons 

as the Director determines appropriate, in accordance with 

this section. 

‘‘(b) TRAINING REQUIREMENT.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order for an officer or employee of 

the Bureau of Prisons, including a correctional officer, to be 

eligible to receive and carry oleoresin capsicum spray pursuant 

to this section, the officer or employee shall complete a training 

course before being issued such spray, and annually thereafter, 

on the use of oleoresin capsicum spray. 

‘‘(2) TRANSFERABILITY OF TRAINING.—An officer or employee 

of the Bureau of Prisons who completes a training course pursuant to paragraph (1) and subsequently transfers to employment 

at a different prison, shall not be required to complete an 

additional training course solely due such transfer. 

‘‘(3) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REGULAR EMPLOYMENT.— 

An officer or employee of the Bureau of Prisons who completes 

a training course required under paragraph (1) shall do so 

during the course of that officer or employee’s regular employment, and shall be compensated at the same rate that the 

18 USC 4049. 

18 USC 1 note. 

Eric Williams 

Correctional 

Officer Protection 

Act of 2015. 

Mar. 9, 2016 

[S. 238] 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–133—MAR. 9, 2016 130 STAT. 297 

officer or employee would be compensated for conducting the 

officer or employee’s regular duties. 

‘‘(c) USE OF OLEORESIN CAPSICUM SPRAY.—Officers and 

employees of the Bureau of Prisons issued oleoresin capsicum spray 

pursuant to subsection (a) may use such spray to reduce acts 

of violence— 

‘‘(1) committed by prisoners against themselves, other prisoners, prison visitors, and officers and employees of the Bureau 

of Prisons; and 

‘‘(2) committed by prison visitors against themselves, prisoners, other visitors, and officers and employees of the Bureau 

of Prisons.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter 

303 of part III of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 

inserting after the item relating to section 4048 the following: 

‘‘4049. Officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons authorized to carry oleoresin 

capsicum spray.’’. 

SEC. 3. GAO REPORT. 

Not later than the date that is 3 years after the date on 

which the Director of the Bureau of Prisons begins to issue oleoresin 

capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons 

pursuant to section 4049 of title 18, United States Code, as added 

by this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 

submit to Congress a report that includes the following: 

(1) An evaluation of the effectiveness of issuing oleoresin 

capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau of 

Prisons in prisons that are not minimum or low security prisons 

on— 

(A) reducing crime in such prisons; and 

(B) reducing acts of violence committed by prisoners 

against themselves, other prisoners, prison visitors, and 

officers and employees of the Bureau of Prisons in such 

prisons. 

(2) An evaluation of the advisability of issuing oleoresin 

capsicum spray to officers and employees of the Bureau of 

Prisons in prisons that are minimum or low security prisons, 

including— 

(A) the effectiveness that issuing such spray in such 

prisons would have on reducing acts of violence committed 

by prisoners against themselves, other prisoners, prison 

visitors, and officers and employees of the Bureau of 

Prisons in such prisons; and 

(B) the cost of issuing such spray in such prisons. 

Evaluation. 

Recommendations. 

18 USC 

prec. 4041. 


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130 STAT. 298 PUBLIC LAW 114–133—MAR. 9, 2016 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 238: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 161 (2015): Dec. 16, considered and passed Senate. 

Vol. 162 (2016): Feb. 24, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

(3) Recommendations to improve the safety of officers and 

employees of the Bureau of Prisons in prisons. 

Approved March 9, 2016. 


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