Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015
PL 114-133 (S.238), enacted 03/09/2016

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 pursu-
ant 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 employ-
ment, 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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130 STAT. 297 
PUBLIC LAW 114–133—MAR. 9, 2016 
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 pris-
oners, prison visitors, and officers and employees of the Bureau 
of Prisons; and 
‘‘(2) committed by prison visitors against themselves, pris-
oners, 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. 
Recommenda- 
tions. 
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. 
(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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