II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5062 

To address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff 

in prisons, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 

Mrs. BLACKBURN (for herself and Mr. OSSOFF) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau 

of Prisons staff in prisons, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prison Staff Safety 

5 Enhancement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ADDRESSING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL 

7 ASSAULT OF BUREAU OF PRISONS STAFF. 

8 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) CORRECTIONAL OFFICER.—The term ‘‘cor2 rectional officer’’ has the meaning given the term in 

3 section 4051 of title 18, United States Code. 

4 (2) INSPECTOR GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Inspec5 tor General’’ means the Inspector General of the De6 partment of Justice. 

7 (3) INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL.—The term 

8 ‘‘incarcerated individual’’ has the meaning given the 

9 term ‘‘prisoner’’ in section 4051 of title 18, United 

10 States Code. 

11 (4) SEXUAL ASSAULT.—The term ‘‘sexual as12 sault’’ means an act described in subsection (b), (c), 

13 or (d) of section 920 of title 10, United States Code. 

14 (5) SEXUAL HARASSMENT.—The term ‘‘sexual 

15 harassment’’ means unwelcome sexual advances, re16 quests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical 

17 conduct of a sexual nature that explicitly or implic18 itly affect an individual’s employment, unreasonably 

19 interfere with an individual’s work performance, or 

20 create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work en21 vironment. 

22 (b) REVIEW AND ANALYSIS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector 

25 General shall carry out a comprehensive statistical 


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1 review and analysis of the incidence and effects of 

2 sexual harassment and sexual assault perpetrated by 

3 incarcerated individuals against a correctional officer 

4 or other employee of the Bureau of Prisons. 

5 (2) ANALYSIS.—The review and analysis re6 quired under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis 

7 of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual as8 sault as of the date of enactment of this Act in fa9 cilities controlled by the Bureau of Prisons, includ10 ing data on the use of such punishments during the 

11 5-year period preceding the date of enactment of 

12 this Act. 

13 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after com14 pleting the review and analysis under subsection (b)(1), 

15 the Inspector General shall submit to the Attorney Gen16 eral and to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 

17 and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep18 resentatives a report that summarizes the findings of the 

19 review and analysis. 

20 (d) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 1 year after re21 ceiving the report under subsection (c), the Attorney Gen22 eral shall promulgate a rule adopting national standards 

23 for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual har24 assment and sexual assault perpetrated by an incarcerated 


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1 individual against a correctional officer or other employee 

2 of the Bureau of Prisons. 

Æ 


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