The U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) has released findings from an inspection of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) Federal Detention Center (FDC) SeaTac in Seattle, Washington. This facility houses both male and female inmates under administrative security.
The inspection, conducted from December 9 to December 12, 2024, is part of the DOJ OIG's ongoing program for unannounced on-site inspections at BOP facilities. The review identified significant issues related to healthcare quality, staffing shortages, and contraband control at FDC SeaTac.
According to the report, "substantial shortages of healthcare employees and Correctional Officers" are affecting operations at FDC SeaTac. At the time of inspection, only 69% of positions in the Correctional Services Department were filled, while the Health Services Department was staffed at just 50%. The Clinical Director position had been vacant for over 18 months, with only three out of nine nursing positions filled and one out of two pharmacist roles occupied.
Leadership within FDC SeaTac’s Health Services described the situation as a "crisis," prioritizing emergency care due to these shortages. This has led to delays in treating inmate health conditions and backlogs in laboratory orders. Additionally, there were unsafe medication practices and unsanitary conditions noted within the Health Services areas.
Security concerns were also highlighted. Correctional Officers did not consistently complete required inmate-monitoring rounds, increasing risks related to inmate self-harm or violence. Moreover, random pat searches were not conducted across all shifts for employees, and visiting attorneys were exempted from such searches despite BOP policy requirements.
In response to these findings, the OIG made 11 recommendations aimed at improving operations and ensuring safe confinement conditions at FDC SeaTac. These recommendations align with provisions in the recently enacted Federal Prison Oversight Act. The BOP has agreed with all proposed recommendations.
Information from this article can be found here.
