42 U.S.C. § 15607 (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE)
§ 15607. Adoption and effect of national standards
(a) Publication of proposed standards
(1) Final rule
Not later than 1 year after receiving the report specified in section 15606(d)(3) of this title, the Attorney General shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison rape.
(2) Independent judgment
The standards referred to in paragraph (1) shall be based upon the independent judgment of the Attorney General, after giving due consideration to the recommended national standards provided by the Commission under section 15606(e) of this title, and being informed by such data, opinions, and proposals that the Attorney General determines to be appropriate to consider.
(3) Limitation
The Attorney General shall not establish a national standard under this section that would impose substantial additional costs compared to the costs presently expended by Federal, State, and local prison authorities. The Attorney General may, however, provide a list of improvements for consideration by correctional facilities.
(4) Transmission to States
Within 90 days of publishing the final rule under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall transmit the national standards adopted under such paragraph to the chief executive of each State, the head of the department of corrections of each State, and to the appropriate authorities in those units of local government who oversee operations in one or more prisons.
(b) Applicability to Federal Bureau of Prisons
The national standards referred to in subsection (a) shall apply to the Federal Bureau of Prisons immediately upon adoption of the final rule under subsection (a)(4).
(c) Applicability to detention facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after March 7, 2013, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of rape and sexual assault in facilities that maintain custody of aliens detained for a violation of the immigrations laws of the United States.
(2) Applicability
The standards adopted under paragraph (1) shall apply to detention facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security and to detention facilities operated under contract with the Department.
(3) Compliance
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(A) assess compliance with the standards adopted under paragraph (1) on a regular basis; and
(B) include the results of the assessments in performance evaluations of facilities completed by the Department of Homeland Security.
(4) Considerations
In adopting standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall give due consideration to the recommended national standards provided by the Commission under section 15606(e) of this title.
(5) Definition
As used in this section, the term “detention facilities operated under contract with the Department” includes, but is not limited to contract detention facilities and detention facilities operated through an intergovernmental service agreement with the Department of Homeland Security.
(d) Applicability to custodial facilities operated by the Department of Health and Human Services
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after March 7, 2013, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish a final rule adopting national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of rape and sexual assault in facilities that maintain custody of unaccompanied alien children (as defined in section 279(g) of title 6).
(2) Applicability
The standards adopted under paragraph (1) shall apply to facilities operated by the Department of Health and Human Services and to facilities operated under contract with the Department.
(3) Compliance
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
(A) assess compliance with the standards adopted under paragraph (1) on a regular basis; and
(B) include the results of the assessments in performance evaluations of facilities completed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
(4) Considerations
In adopting standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall give due consideration to the recommended national standards provided by the Commission under section 15606(e) of this title.
(e) Eligibility for Federal funds
(1) Covered programs
(A) In general
For purposes of this subsection, a grant program is covered by this subsection if, and only if—
(i) the program is carried out by or under the authority of the Attorney General;
(ii) the program may provide amounts to States for prison purposes; and
(iii) the program is not administered by the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice.
(B) List
For each fiscal year, the Attorney General shall prepare a list identifying each program that meets the criteria of subparagraph (A) and provide that list to each State.
(2) Adoption of national standards
(A) In general
For each fiscal year, any amount that a State would otherwise receive for prison purposes for that fiscal year under a grant program covered by this subsection shall be reduced by 5 percent, unless the chief executive officer of the State submits to the Attorney General proof of compliance with this chapter through—
(i) a certification that the State has adopted, and is in full compliance with, the national standards described in subsection (a); or
(ii) an assurance that the State intends to adopt and achieve full compliance with those national standards so as to ensure that a certification under clause (i) may be submitted in future years, which includes—
(I) a commitment that not less than 5 percent of such amount shall be used for this purpose; or
(II) a request that the Attorney General hold 5 percent of such amount in abeyance pursuant to the requirements of subparagraph (E).
(B) Rules for certification
(i) In general
A chief executive officer of a State who submits a certification under this paragraph shall also provide the Attorney General with—
(I) a list of the prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of the State;
(II) a list of the prisons listed under subclause (I) that were audited during the most recently concluded audit year;
(III) all final audit reports for prisons listed under subclause (I) that were completed during the most recently concluded audit year; and
(IV) a proposed schedule for completing an audit of all the prisons listed under subclause (I) during the following 3 audit years.
(ii) Audit appeal exception
Beginning on the date that is 3 years after December 16, 2016, a chief executive officer of a State may submit a certification that the State is in full compliance pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) even if a prison under the operational control of the executive branch of the State has an audit appeal pending.
(C) Rules for assurances
(i) In general
A chief executive officer of a State who submits an assurance under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall also provide the Attorney General with—
(I) a list of the prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of the State;
(II) a list of the prisons listed under subclause (I) that were audited during the most recently concluded audit year;
(III) an explanation of any barriers the State faces to completing required audits;
(IV) all final audit reports for prisons listed under subclause (I) that were completed during the most recently concluded audit year;
(V) a proposed schedule for completing an audit of all prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of the State during the following 3 audit years; and
(VI) an explanation of the State’s current degree of implementation of the national standards.
(ii) Additional requirement
A chief executive officer of a State who submits an assurance under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) shall, before receiving the applicable funds described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I), also provide the Attorney General with a proposed plan for the expenditure of the funds during the applicable grant period.
(iii) Accounting of funds
A chief executive officer of a State who submits an assurance under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) shall, in a manner consistent with the applicable grant reporting requirements, submit to the Attorney General a detailed accounting of how the funds described in subparagraph (A) were used.
(D) Sunset of assurance option
(i) In general
On the date that is 3 years after December 16, 2016, subclause (II) of subparagraph (A)(ii) shall cease to have effect.
(ii) Additional sunset
On the date that is 6 years after December 16, 2016, clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall cease to have effect.
(iii) Emergency assurances
(I) Request
Notwithstanding clause (ii), during the 2-year period beginning 6 years after December 16, 2016, a chief executive officer of a State who certifies that the State has audited not less than 90 percent of prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of the State may request that the Attorney General allow the chief executive officer to submit an emergency assurance in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii) as in effect on the day before the date on which that subparagraph ceased to have effect under clause (ii) of this subparagraph.
(II) Grant of request
The Attorney General shall grant a request submitted under subclause (I) within 60 days upon a showing of good cause.
(E) Disposition of funds held in abeyance
(i) In general
If the chief executive officer of a State who has submitted an assurance under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) subsequently submits a certification under subparagraph (A)(i) during the 3-year period beginning on December 16, 2016, the Attorney General will release all funds held in abeyance under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) to be used by the State in accordance with the conditions of the grant program for which the funds were provided.
(ii) Release of funds
If the chief executive officer of a State who has submitted an assurance under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) is unable to submit a certification during the 3-year period beginning on December 16, 2016, but does assure the Attorney General that ⅔ of prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of the State have been audited at least once, the Attorney General shall release all of the funds of the State held in abeyance to be used in adopting and achieving full compliance with the national standards, if the State agrees to comply with the applicable requirements in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (C).
(iii) Redistribution of funds
If the chief executive officer of a State who has submitted an assurance under subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) is unable to submit a certification during the 3-year period beginning on December 16, 2016, and does not assure the Attorney General that ⅔ of prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of the State have been audited at least once, the Attorney General shall redistribute the funds of the State held in abeyance to other States to be used in accordance with the conditions of the grant program for which the funds were provided.
(F) Publication of audit results
Not later than 1 year after December 16, 2016, the Attorney General shall request from each State, and make available on an appropriate Internet website, all final audit reports completed to date for prisons under the operational control of the executive branch of each State. The Attorney General shall update such website annually with reports received from States under subparagraphs (B)(i) and (C)(i).
(G) Report on implementation of national standards
Not later than 2 years after December 16, 2016, the Attorney General shall issue a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on the status of implementation of the national standards and the steps the Department, in conjunction with the States and other key stakeholders, is taking to address any unresolved implementation issues.
(3) Report on noncompliance
Not later than September 30 of each year, the Attorney General shall publish a report listing each grantee that is not in compliance with the national standards adopted pursuant to subsection (a).
(4) Cooperation with survey
For each fiscal year, any amount that a State receives for that fiscal year under a grant program covered by this subsection shall not be used for prison purposes (and shall be returned to the grant program if no other authorized use is available), unless the chief executive of the State submits to the Attorney General a certification that neither the State, nor any political subdivision or unit of local government within the State, is listed in a report issued by the Attorney General pursuant to section 15603(c)(2)(C) of this title.
(5) Redistribution of amounts
Amounts under a grant program not granted by reason of a reduction under paragraph (2), or returned by reason of the prohibition in paragraph (4), shall be granted to one or more entities not subject to such reduction or such prohibition, subject to the other laws governing that program.
(6) Implementation
The Attorney General shall establish procedures to implement this subsection, including procedures for effectively applying this subsection to discretionary grant programs.
(7) Effective date
(A) Requirement of adoption of standards
The first grants to which paragraph (2) applies are grants for the second fiscal year beginning after the date on which the national standards under subsection (a) are finalized.
(B) Requirement for cooperation
The first grants to which paragraph (4) applies are grants for the fiscal year beginning after September 4, 2003.
(8) Background checks for auditors
An individual seeking certification by the Department of Justice to serve as an auditor of prison compliance with the national standards described in subsection (a) shall, upon request, submit fingerprints in the manner determined by the Attorney General for criminal history record checks of the applicable State and Federal Bureau of Investigation repositories.
(Pub. L. 108–79, § 8, Sept. 4, 2003, 117 Stat. 985; Pub. L. 113–4, title XI, § 1101(c), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 134; Pub. L. 114–324, §§ 5, 7(2), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1950, 1951.)
heading: Amendments
text: 2016—Subsec. (e)(1)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 114–324, § 5, added cl. (iii).
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 114–324, § 7(2)(A), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “For each fiscal year, any amount that a State would otherwise receive for prison purposes for that fiscal year under a grant program covered by this subsection shall be reduced by 5 percent, unless the chief executive of the State submits to the Attorney General—
“(A) a certification that the State has adopted, and is in full compliance with, the national standards described in subsection (a); or
“(B) an assurance that not less than 5 percent of such amount shall be used only for the purpose of enabling the State to adopt, and achieve full compliance with, those national standards, so as to ensure that a certification under subparagraph (A) may be submitted in future years.”
Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 114–324, § 7(2)(B), added par. (8).
2013—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 113–4 added subsecs. (c) and (d) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (e).