We post news and comment on federal criminal justice issues, focused primarily on trial and post-conviction matters, legislative initiatives, and sentencing issues.
WHO SAYS CONGRESS CAN’T ACT QUICKLY?
People who have watched Congress let criminal justice reform measures like the EQUAL Act and marijuana reform – even the two-year trek for the First Step Act – languish for years may be surprised to see that the U.S. Senate can be quick like a bunny when it wants to.
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) spent two years getting his colleagues to pass last summer’s Federal Prison Oversight Act (S.1401), a bill that tightens Dept of Justice review of prisoner mistreatment. However, when he introduced S.5284 – a bill that makes it a felony for people to smuggle cellphones into prison or for inmates to possess cellphones inside a facility – the Senate only took two days to pass the measure.
The bill passed unanimously. After members return to Washington after the election, the House of Representatives will take up the measure in November. When the House passes the bill (and I expect the House will do so), the bill should dramatically increase prosecutions of inmates and their outside smuggling associates and make the use of cellphones inside much riskier.
Just in the past week, authorities intercept two attempted drone deliveries of contraband at federal facilities, one at FCI Pollock and the other at FCC Beaumont.
S.5284 – Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act
Press Release, Sen. Ossoff’s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Contraband & Organized Crime in Federal Prisons Passes U.S. Senate (October 10, 2024)
DOJ Inspector General, Statement by DOJ IG Michael E. Horowitz on the Senate Passing the “Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act” (October 10, 2024)
KBMT-TV, Jefferson County deputies confiscate drone used to bring contraband into United States Penitentiary (October 7, 2024)
KALB-TV, 2 arrested for flying drone full of contraband into federal prison in Grant Parish (October 10, 2024)
– Thomas L. Root