Bill Summary
The "Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act" is a proposed piece of legislation aimed at enhancing penalties for the illegal provision of mobile phones within correctional facilities. It amends Section 1791(b) of Title 18 of the United States Code to include stricter consequences for violations related to the introduction of prohibited objects, specifically mobile phones, into prisons. Under the new provisions, individuals found guilty of providing a phone to an inmate could face up to two years of imprisonment.
Additionally, the Act mandates a review of existing Bureau of Prisons policies concerning inmates' interactions with prohibited objects, to be conducted within a year of the Act's enactment. This review is intended to strengthen protections for both inmates and prison staff by updating policies as necessary.
Possible Impacts
The "Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Increased Sentencing for Offenders**: With the new legislation increasing the penalties for the prohibited provision of phones in correctional facilities, individuals who attempt to smuggle phones into prisons could face harsher sentences. This could deter some from attempting to bring contraband into prisons, but for those caught, it could result in longer prison terms, affecting their families and communities.
2. **Enhanced Safety for Incarcerated Individuals and Staff**: The requirement for the Bureau of Prisons to review and update policies related to contraband could lead to improved security measures within correctional facilities. This may enhance the overall safety of both incarcerated individuals and prison staff, as the presence of contraband like phones can facilitate illegal activities, including gang communication and orchestrating crimes outside prison walls.
3. **Policy Changes in Correctional Facilities**: The mandated review of policies could result in significant changes in how correctional facilities manage inmate communications and contraband. This could impact the rights and privileges of inmates, as stricter regulations might limit their ability to communicate with the outside world, potentially affecting their rehabilitation process and relationships with family members.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 736 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 736
To increase the penalty for prohibited provision of a phone in a
correctional facility, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 26, 2025
Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Ossoff, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Booker)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase the penalty for prohibited provision of a phone in a
correctional facility, and for other purposes.
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 ``Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping
Prison Contraband Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITED PROVISION OF A PHONE.
Section 1791(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs
(5) and (6), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) in the case of a violation of subsection (a)(1),
imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both, if the object
is specified in subsection (d)(1)(F) of this section;''; and
(3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by inserting ``,
in the case of a violation of subsection (a)(2),'' before
``(d)(1)(F)''.
SEC. 3. REVIEW OF POLICIES.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall--
(1) conduct a review of the policies of the Bureau of
Prisons pertaining to inmates who make, possess, obtain, or
attempt to make or obtain a prohibited object, as defined in
section 1791(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code; and
(2) update those policies as needed to improve protections
for incarcerated individuals and staff.
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