Prisoners would face stiffer criminal penalties for assaulting a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer under legislation sponsored on Feb. 27 by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
The Safer Prisons Act of 2024, S. 3817, would double the maximum term of imprisonment for a prisoner who assaults a BOP correctional officer, while the applicable maximum fine “shall be adjusted accordingly,” according to the text of the bill.
“Federal prisons have become increasingly unsafe for the brave men and women who serve as federal corrections officers. Incidents of inmates assaulting BOP officers have been on the rise and often result in PTSD for the affected officers as they continue to do their jobs,” the senator said. “To deter these acts of violence, this bill doubles the criminal penalties for assaulting a BOP correctional officer.”
The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing held on Feb. 28, Sen. Blackburn pressed BOP Director Colette Peters on her commitment to support passage of the bill.