Prison Oversight Becomes Law, Peters Testifies to Congress & More

"Last year alone, we paid more than $128 million in incentives and more than $345 million in overtime."
 
Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters testified in front of Congress for the first time since the passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act, which President Biden signed into law this week. Appearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee, Peters said there is an urgent need for 3,000 more correctional officers and medical staff to address critical shortages. Peters said she welcomed the new oversight law, which establishes an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints and regularly conduct inspections of all 122 federal prison facilities, noting that persistent staffing shortages have led to unsafe conditions, overcrowding, poor mental health outcomes for corrections officers, and a budget crisis.

“I hope the study will also encourage a deeper understanding of the value of diversion programs, and increase trust between the people who are coming into contact with the law enforcement agencies and their ability to access the kinds of services and assistance they need.”
 
The state of Maryland has awarded $400,000 to two University of Maryland centers to assess the effectiveness of jail diversion programs in six counties. The project will gather data and conduct interviews to provide insights and best practices, aiming to prioritize care over incarceration and enhance community trust. By focusing on innovative solutions like Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), the initiative seeks to transform the approach to the opioid epidemic and improve the relationship between law enforcement and vulnerable communities.

“It’s another double-digit decline that suggests the pandemic-era violence spike is coming to an end.”
 
Homicides in the United States have dropped by 13% in 2024, according to new analysis from the Council on Criminal Justice, signaling a return to pre-pandemic levels of safety. Cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore are leading the decline, with 37% reductions. Other crimes reviewed by the CCJ are also declining, while shoplifting is on the rise.

“People are not willing to stay in the public defender’s office for too little money, [l]aw school is expensive, and they can get much more money in private practice and even in the prosecutor’s office.”
 
The Caddo Correctional Center is facing a severe overcrowding crisis, with nearly 1,500 incarcerated individuals crammed into a facility designed for just 1,070. One reason for the overcrowding, according to a new report: 85% of pretrial detainees in the jail cannot afford private defense, and the public defender's office doesn't have the capacity to take on all of their cases. Public defenders in Louisiana handle over 150 cases each and earn $15,000 less than comparable positions in the District Attorney's Office, exacerbating attorney turnover and case delays. 

"We wanted to focus on, 'OK, we know these things are the problem, but what can we do to try to make that better?’”
 
More than 170 people have died in prisons in Georgia so far this year. Some of those are being investigated as homicides, prompting state lawmakers to form task forces to address prison violence, but elected officials aren't the only people hoping to find solutions to the issues plaguing prisons. The Georgia Southern University's Inside-Out Program is bringing students and incarcerated individuals together to recommend solutions such as better pay for officers, improved food quality, and expanded mental health services.