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INSPECTOR GENERAL TO PROBE USP THOMSON
Last Thursday, the Dept. of Justice Inspector General launched an investigation into USP Thomson, based on a demand letter from Sens Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and Rep Cheri Bustos, all of whom are Illinois Democrats.
The demand letter had noted news accounts about Thomson that alleged Bureau of Prisons staff stoked tensions between cellmates to cause inmate-on-inmate attacks, encouraged assaults against sex offenders and informants, employed abusive shackling of inmates, and the highest use of pepper spray in the agency.
The letter said, “If these reports prove accurate, they describe conduct that would almost certainly contravene numerous BOP policies, as well as infringing the civil rights of individuals in BOP custody and possibly violating federal criminal statutes.”
Thomson’s AFGE Local 4070 President Jon Zumkehr said in a released statement, “We fully support the investigation into the allegations into USP Thomson and we have also invited Sen. Durbin and Sen. Duckworth to visit USP Thomson.” Two years ago, the union complained that a staff shortage at Thomson was resulting in unsafe working conditions as the BOP used augmentation – assigning non-custody workers like nurses, psychologists and cooks to fill in as correctional officers – to address the problem.
In a speech on the Senate floor last Thursday, Durbin promised a Judiciary Committee hearing in the next few weeks on BOP oversight, including the continued overuse of solitary confinement and restricted housing. “We need answers from the Biden Administration on the failure to reduce the use of restricted housing,” Durbin said, “and we will discuss what BOP must do to address the staffing crisis that has contributed to this disastrous situation.”
Durbin also renewed his call for the immediate replacement of BOP Director Michael Carvajal, who announced his retirement months ago but is staying on until a replacement is named. Former Ohio Dept of Rehabilitation and Corrections chief Gary Mohr was rumored several weeks ago to be in line for the top BOP spot, but he denied it at the time. Nothing more has been said since then.
WQAD-TV, Justice Department Inspector General launches investigation into USP Thomson (June 9, 2022)
Press Release, Durbin Slams BOP Mismanagement, Allegations Of Abuse At USP Thomson (June 9, 2022)
– Thomas L. Root