Contraband Elimination and Safety Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2092 | Sponsor: Rep. Horsford, Steven (D-NV)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Contraband Elimination and Safety Act of 2021
This bill directs the Bureau of Prisons to establish a pilot program to screen mail and packages for contraband at an offsite secure facility before the mail and packages arrive at a federal prison facility.

To direct the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to implement a pilot 
  program to reduce the amount of contraband that enters correctional 
                  facilities, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Contraband Elimination and Safety 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Mail service is one of the oldest and most commonly 
        used methods to introduce contraband into correction 
        facilities, creating an expensive and often lethal problem for 
        both inmates and employees of the Federal prison facility.
            (2) Processing mail in-house puts staff members in danger 
        of substance exposure and increases risk of contraband items 
        entering the facility.
            (3) Studies have consistently found that prisoners who 
        maintain close contact with their family members while 
        incarcerated have better post-release outcomes and lower 
        recidivism rates.
            (4) Effective offsite mail processing ensures that 
        prisoners' right to receive mail is protected and gives prison 
        officials a safe, defensible alternative to mail restrictions 
        that are unreasonable and arbitrary.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM TO REDUCE CONTRABAND.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall 
establish a pilot program to--
            (1) permit a Federal prison facility to screen mail and 
        packages for contraband at an offsite secure facility before 
        such mail and packages arrive at the Federal prison facility 
        pursuant to subsection (c);
            (2) protect employees of the Federal prison facility and 
        individuals incarcerated at such facilities from contraband; 
        and
            (3) ensure effective, ongoing communication for individuals 
        who are incarcerated.
    (b) Requirements.--The pilot program under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) screen, digitize, and reprint--
                    (A) hand-written postal mail in a secure facility; 
                and
                    (B) digital mail, including photos and 
                correspondence, from a web-based application developed 
                to provide individuals the opportunity to communicate 
                with individuals who are incarcerated;
            (2) permit employees of a Federal prison facility to review 
        mail digitized pursuant to paragraph (1) on a web-based 
        application, in advance of its arrival at the facility; and
            (3) permit employees of a Federal prison facility to 
        electronically verify the authenticity of legal mail prior or 
        upon its arrival at a Federal prison facility, without 
        violating attorney-client privilege.
    (c) No Additional Equipment.--The pilot program under subsection 
(a) shall not require additional equipment or infrastructure to be 
developed or obtained by the Bureau of Prisons. The Director may enter 
into a contract with an entity to meet the requirements of the pilot 
program under subsection (a).
    (d) Population.--The pilot program under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) operate for no less than two years; and
            (2) shall represent not less than 10 percent of individuals 
        incarcerated at Federal prison facilities.
    (e) Reporting.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and not later than one year after the pilot 
program under subsection (a) ends, the Director shall submit a report 
to the Committees on the Judiciary and the Subcommittees on Commerce, 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, 
including--
            (1) whether the pilot program under subsection (a) has 
        reduced the presence of contraband in Federal prison 
        facilities;
            (2) the impact of such pilot program on the safety of 
        employees and inmates of the Federal prison facilities; and
            (3) recommendations for implementing a sustainable solution 
        to reducing the amount of contraband that enters a Federal 
        prison facility.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the pilot program under this section such 
sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2022 to 2023.
                                 <all>