What a difference a year can make, at least for for the Senate Judiciary Committee in its hearing last month for Federal Bureau of Prisons oversite.
In his prepared statement, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told the committee during its Sept. 29 hearing that it hasn't had an oversight hearing with the Federal Bureau of Prisons since April 2021. That hearing was with then Prison Bureau Director Michael Carvajal, who retired last summer.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters.
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"He told us at that time that the bureau was on track to meet its obligations under the First Step Act and to resolve staffing shortages," Grassley said. "But we were misled because these remain areas of serious concern today. Staffing at federal prisons is a crisis.
"Without enough staff, you can't have the security to stop criminal activity inside prisons," he said. "Without enough staff, you can't implement First Step Act programming to rehabilitate those who want to reform themselves. Without enough staff, you can't keep inmates and staff safe."
Colette Peters was sworn in as director in August, taking on responsibility for the bureau's 122 prison facilities, six regional offices, two contract facilities, two staff training centers, 22 residential reentry management offices, about 35,000 staff and 157,700 federal inmates, according to her bio on the bureau's website. Peters previously was director of the Oregon Department of Corrections with 30 years of experience in public safety.
Grassley congratulated the bureau's new director on her appointment but lamented the committee couldn't meet her sooner.
"I'd like to emphasis that this hearing gives us a chance to ask questions of Director Peters under oath but I think it makes a lot of sense if this committee had had the chance to do so before she became director," Grassley said.
Grassley is co-sponsor of the Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation that would make the Federal Bureau of Prisons director subject to Senate confirmation. In his opening statement, Grassley referred to sharp criticism faced by the bureau about inefficiency, poor management, staffing issues, prisoner abuse, crimes committed by prisoners and failure to implement prison programming.
Grassley also told Peters that he has found her unresponsive in her time as director and "that this committee has become aware of what appears to be disturbing examples of mismanagement and corruption."
"Director Peters, on Aug. 1 of this year, I sent you a letter on those issues that you've yet to respond to," Grassley continued. "I know you only took the position on Aug. 2, but I'd still like to see a response to that as soon as possible.
"The letter is about whether commissaries create a conflict of interest for the BOP's efforts to ensure inmates are satisfying their financial obligations," the senator added. "Many inmates have outstanding obligations such as victim restitution and child support."
In her own comments, Peters said she means to head up a bureau that is different from that of her predecessor.
"I am committed to ensuring that bureau employees are guided by the values of respect, integrity, courage and correctional excellence, and that we intend to carry out our mission with the highest levels of competency as we serve our stakeholders," she said. "Our mission is to ensure safe prisons, humane correctional practices, and rehabilitation opportunities so that people reenter society as good neighbors.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to help bring greater reform, oversight, accountability, and further innovation to the bureau," she added. "While ensuring operation of safe and secure institutions is key to the bureau’s mission, it is also important to focus on employee wellness and ensure we treat those in our care with humanity."
