Bill Overview
Title: Prison Staffing Reform Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to (1) complete (through an external entity) a comprehensive review of staffing across the BOP, and (2) implement a plan for filling vacancies.
Sponsors: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in and impacted by the United States federal prison system
Estimated Size: 187000
- The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will be directly affected as the bill mandates changes in staffing processes.
- Prison staff members, including current employees and vacancies, will be impacted by changes in staffing policies and the process of filling vacant positions.
- Inmates in federal prisons might be indirectly impacted due to potential changes in staff numbers, which could affect prison conditions and operations.
- The families of prison staff and inmates could be indirectly affected due to changes in the work environment or conditions within prisons.
Reasoning
- The budget constraints mean that the changes will be gradual, focusing initially on the most critical staffing needs.
- The policy directly impacts BOP employees and inmates, as they experience changes in staffing levels that can affect safety, stress levels, and overall operation.
- Indirect beneficiaries include families of personnel and inmates, whose lives may be less disrupted by potential changes.
- There will be some who experience minimal impact due to their roles or distance from BOP operations.
Simulated Interviews
Correctional Officer (Terre Haute, Indiana)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this reform will finally address the understaffing issues.
- Increased staffing could reduce our stress at work and improve job safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Senior BOP Administrator (Washington D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is essential for aligning our staffing levels with operational needs.
- I will need to oversee substantial changes in our staffing procedures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Inmate (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope more staff will mean fewer lockdowns and a better environment.
- It's hard enough in here, so anything that improves our conditions is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
BOP Job Applicant (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The reform seems promising for new job opportunities.
- I look forward to being part of the system if it means better support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Correctional Officer (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This reform is long overdue.
- Staffing issues were a problem during my entire career.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Therapist (Springfield, Missouri)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect to see a reduction in stress-related cases among my clients.
- Good staffing can change the whole dynamic of a facility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
BOP Support Staff (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More staff can alleviate current operational burdens.
- I anticipate better job satisfaction if issues are addressed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Federal Prison Inmate Family Member (Houston, Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved staffing might make my husband's life a bit more bearable.
- In turn, it might ease some stress on our family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Federal Public Defender (New York, New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautiously optimistic about the policy's potential to improve prison conditions.
- There is often disconnect between policy and actual practice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Political Analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is an interesting case study in federal resource allocation.
- The results will depend on how the plan is executed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $68000000)
Year 10: $65000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $75000000)
Year 100: $65000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $75000000)
Key Considerations
- The success of this policy depends on how effectively the BOP and external entities can collaborate and implement recommended staffing changes.
- Any savings projected from improved staffing efficiencies are unsure and depend on future operational policies and economic conditions.
- This policy could face budgetary constraints given the size of the federal budget dedicated to prison management.