Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced the introduction of legislation to make permanent the ability of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Correctional Officers and any correctional worker who could respond to conflicts – including all Correctional Officers, unit staff, and cafeteria or administrative workers in housing units – to carry pepper spray.  Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey, and Pat Toomey.

During his visit to USP Canaan in April 2014, officers from the Council of Prison Locals, a part of the American Federal Government Employees Union that represents federal prison employees approached Cartwright about legislation to make permanent the current pepper spray pilot program.

“Since the tragic death of Officer Eric Williams, I have been committed to finding ways to provide a safer work place environment for these men and women,” said Rep. Cartwright.  “Correctional Officers and prison employees put their lives on the line every day to meet inmates’ needs and keep our communities safe.  This legislation is a great first step, but more needs to be done to address severe underfunding and a lack of adequate staffing to safeguard prison workers.”

In February 2013, Cartwright wrote to the BOP to immediately expedite the pepper spray pilot program to include all USPs after USP Canaan Correctional Officer, Eric Williams, was murdered in the line of duty by an inmate.

Subsequently, in March 2013, the current pepper spray pilot program was extended to all 20 high-security prisons in the U.S., including USP Canaan.  And, in April 2014, the BOP expanded the pepper spray pilot program from Correctional Officers in certain posts to unit staff as well, including case managers and counselors who work directly with inmates.

During the 113^th Congress, Cartwright convened Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, as well as Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), to continue working on proposed legislation to make the pepper spray pilot program law.  As a result, the four lawmakers introduced The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2014.

In November of last year U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels announced the expansion of the Pepper Spray Pilot Program to include staff who work in recreation, food service, and receiving and discharge.  Additionally, the Bureau is providing pepper spray to staff in all of the designated positions at six medium security institutions.

“I welcome the expansion, but there is still more work to be done.  This legislation would make the pepper spray program permanent, as well as expand pepper spray availability to medium and higher security facilities,” said Rep. Cartwright.

The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015 would also permanently extend availability to all correctional workers, not just certain correctional officers and unit staff, and require workers to complete a BOP-directed training before carrying pepper spray.

“Prison officers face a unique kind of danger and it is imperative we provide them with every tool and authorization necessary to protect their lives and well-being. That is mission number one. Unfortunately we have lost too many good officers and the tragic loss of Eric Williams still weighs heavy on our hearts. That is why we must make the FBP pepper spray pilot program a permanent one because it has provided positive results and protected countless officers from danger prison populations," said co-sponsor and U.S. Rep. Tom Marino.

The bill is supported by the National Association of Police Organizations, the Council of Local Prisons, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and was found by the Congressional Budget Office to have no cost to the taxpayers.