Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2899) to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to address deficiencies and make necessary upgrades to the security camera and radio systems of the Bureau of Prisons to ensure the health and safety of employees and inmates.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2899

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Bureau of Prisons has 122 institutions located throughout the United States. The Bureau of Prisons employs nearly 38,000 employees and is responsible for more than 150,000 Federal inmates.

(2) Video footage from security camera systems and reliable communication over radio systems within Bureau of Prisons institutions are essential to protecting the health and safety of Bureau of Prisons employees and Federal inmates.

(3) Based on the experience of Bureau of Prisons correctional staff, the noticeable presence of functioning security cameras serves as an effective deterrent to criminal behavior and misconduct.

(4) Well-documented deficiencies of camera systems at Bureau of Prisons' facilities have hindered investigators' ability to substantiate allegations of serious misconduct by staff and inmates, including sexual and physical assaults, medical neglect, and introduction of contraband.

(5) In a 2016 report, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice determined that ``deficiencies within the BOP's security camera system have affected the OIG's ability to secure prosecutions of staff and inmates in BOP contraband introduction cases, and these same problems adversely impact the availability of critical evidence to support administrative or disciplinary action against staff and inmates''.

(6) Shortcomings in the land-mobile radio systems at Bureau of Prison facilities institutions impede the communication abilities of staff, slowing or preventing the response of correctional officers during an emergency or threat of attack, and jeopardizing the safety of both staff and Federal inmates. SEC. 3. REQUIRED PLAN FOR REFORM OF BOP SECURITY CAMERA AND RADIO COVERAGE AND CAPABILITIES.

(a) Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall--

(1) evaluate the security camera, land-mobile radio (referred to in this Act as ``LMR''), and public address (referred to in this Act as ``PA'') systems in use by the Bureau of Prisons as of the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a plan for ensuring that all Bureau of Prisons correctional facilities have the security camera, LMR, and PA system coverage and capabilities necessary to--

(A) ensure the health and safety of staff and Federal inmates; and

(B) ensure the documentation and accessibility of video evidence that may pertain to misconduct by staff or inmates, negligent or abusive treatment of inmates, or criminal activity within correctional facilities.

(b) Contents.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall--

(1) identify and include plans to address any deficiencies in the security camera system in use at Bureau of Prisons correctional facilities, including those related to--

(A) an insufficient number of cameras;

(B) inoperable or malfunctioning cameras;

(C) blind spots;

(D) poor quality video; and

(E) any other deficits in the security camera system;

(2) identify and include plans to adopt and maintain any security camera system upgrades needed to achieve the purposes described in subsection (a), including--

(A) conversion of all analog cameras to digital surveillance systems, with corresponding infrastructure and equipment upgrade requirements;

(B) upgrades to ensure the secure storage, logging, preservation, and accessibility of recordings such that the recordings are available to investigators or Courts at such time as may be reasonably required; and

(C) additional enterprise-wide camera system capabilities needed to enhance the safety and security of inmates and staff;

(3) identify and include plans to address any deficiencies in the LMR and PA systems in use at Bureau of Prisons correctional facilities, including those related to--

(A) an inadequate number of radios;

(B) inoperable, outdated, or malfunctioning LMR or PA systems;

(C) areas of Bureau of Prisons correctional facilities that lack adequate reception for radio operation;

(D) radios that lack an emergency notification feature (also known as a ``man down'' function), which automatically sends an alert and transmits the location of that radio in the event the wearer is in a prone position; and

(E) any other deficits in the LMR or PA systems;

(4) include an assessment of operational and logistical considerations in implementing the plan required under subsection (a), including--

(A) a prioritization of facilities for needed upgrades, beginning with high security institutions;

(B) the personnel and training necessary to implement the changes; and

(C) ongoing repair and maintenance requirements; and

(5) include a 3-year strategic plan and cost projection for implementing the changes and upgrades to the security camera, LMR, and PA systems identified under paragraphs (1) through (4).

(c) Implementation Deadline.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which the plan is submitted under subsection (a)(2), and subject to appropriations, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall complete implementation of the submitted plan.

(d) Annual Progress Reports.--Beginning 1 year after the date on which the plan is submitted under subsection (a)(2), and each year thereafter until the end of the 3-year period described in subsection (c), the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the implementation of the submitted plan.

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Mr. NADLER. 2899.

Mr. Speaker, S. 2899, the Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021, is bipartisan legislation that would require the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use at the BOP institutions, submit to Congress a report on any deficiencies, and implement a plan for needed improvements.

In 2016, the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General issued a report on deficiencies within BOP camera systems. The report found that camera deficiencies affected the ability to secure prosecutions of staff and incarcerated individuals in cases involving introduction of contraband in BOP facilities and adversely affected the availability of critical evidence to support administrative or disciplinary action against staff and incarcerated individuals.

Following that report, BOP took some action to improve the camera systems. However, their efforts have proved insufficient. A follow-up OIG memo in 2021 found that of the over 24,000 cameras across all BOP institutions, 86 percent, more than 20,000, are still analog or utilize old technology. Analog cameras produce poor-quality video, have limited coverage, and contribute to dangerous or unsafe areas within BOP institutions.

A fully digital camera system would produce improved video quality and coverage, enhanced search capabilities, and expand video storage periods of between 60 and 120 days. These capabilities would improve the BOP's threat assessments, monitoring, and contraband interdictions.

Improving BOP camera systems will create safer institutions for both correctional staff and incarcerated individuals.

Tragic cases of officer assaults against individuals while incarcerated often rely on camera footage as evidence, but outdated technology makes holding these officers accountable even more difficult.

This bill would require the BOP to investigate and address deficiencies in the camera and radio systems across all institutions. The BOP would also be required to implement all needed improvements within 3 years and to submit annual progress reports. The significant oversight mechanisms within this legislation will enable Congress to hold the BOP accountable and ensure that all deficiencies are addressed within the specified time period.

Security camera systems within prisons are critical for protecting the safety, well-being, and civil rights of both incarcerated people and prison employees.

This bipartisan measure would require the BOP to investigate and address these critical safety concerns and ensure that the improvements will, in fact, be made by including significant congressional oversight.

I thank Representatives Keller, McBath, and Trone, as well as Senator Ossoff, for introducing this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, the lack of adequate camera systems puts the safety of both incarcerated individuals and correctional officers and staff at risk.

The Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021 is bipartisan legislation that takes an important step toward making much-needed improvements.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, S. 2899, the ``Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021,'' is bipartisan legislation that would require the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use at BOP institutions and submit to Congress a report on any deficiencies and a plan to implement needed improvements.

Security camera systems within prisons are critical for protecting the safety, wellbeing and civil rights of both incarcerated people and prison employees, including correctional officers, medical personnel and other staff.

Documented deficiencies in the federal Bureau of Prisons' security camera systems, however, limit the effectiveness of that protection.

A 2016, DOJ Office of Inspector General report identified major deficiencies and needed upgrades within the BOP's security camera system, including blind spots, inoperable cameras and limited functionality.

In a 2021 memo, OIG reaffirmed the 2016 report stating that ``the OIG continues to see the same deficiencies in our investigations that we observed during our 2016 review. These deficiencies have negatively impacted the OIG's investigations and ability to secure prosecution of serious incidents in BOP institutions, including sexual assaults, civil rights violations, introduction of contraband, dereliction of duty, and even inmate deaths.''

Although BOP has begun upgrading these systems at some institutions, serious shortcomings remain.

This bill would require BOP to investigate and address deficiencies in the camera and radio systems across all institutions.

BOP would also be required to implement all needed improvements within three years and submit annual progress reports. The significant oversight mechanisms within this legislation will enable Congress to hold BOP accountable and ensure all deficiencies are addressed within the specified time period.

``Dead spots'' in video surveillance coverage inside FCI Dublin in California may have even contributed to the lack of accountability for the sexual abuse committed against incarcerated women in that facility.

Earlier this month, a former unit manager at FCI Dublin testified that the facility lacked sufficient security camera coverage and that many cameras are either not monitored or footage is deleted. The former warden is relying heavily on the lack of video footage in his defense against the sexual assault case.

This tragic story highlights the need to address camera deficiencies within BOP facilities as quickly as possible. The lack of adequate camera systems puts the safety of both incarcerated individuals and correctional officers and staff at risk.

This bill is a bipartisan common sense measure to require that BOP investigate and address these critical safety concerns and ensures that the improvements will be made by including adequate Congressional oversight.

I want to thank Representatives Keller, McBath, and Trone as well as Senator Ossoff for introducing this important legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill.

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