WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Safer Prisons Act to double the maximum term of imprisonment for assaulting a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer.

“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. To deter these acts of violence, this bill doubles the criminal penalties for assaulting a BOP correctional officer,” said Senator Blackburn.

In one Pennsylvania facility, an inmate disarmed an officer of his service baton and struck him in the head, leading to lacerations, bruising, and a hematoma. 

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, Senator Blackburn pressed BOP Director Peters on her commitment to supporting this legislation’s passage.

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Click here for bill text.