Announcement Will Expand Program to All Workers At Medium Security Facilities, Medical Centers / Expansion Comes As Northeastern PA Marks Three Years Since Passing of Correctional Officer Eric Williams
Washington, DC- Following a bipartisan effort by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) the Bureau of Prisons has announced that it will expand a pilot program that puts pepper spray in the hands of more correctional workers. The pilot program expansion will expand the use of pepper spray to all workers at medium security facilities in Pennsylvania like Federal Correctional Institution McKean in Lewis Run, FCI Schuylkill in Minersville, and FCI Allentown in White Deer, as well as medical centers. The announcement comes as Northeastern Pennsylvania marks three years since the passing of Correctional Officer Eric Williams who was lost his life while serving at the United States Penitentiary at Canaan.
“I’m pleased that that the Bureau of Prisons has taken this commonsense step to increase safety for workers at more correctional facilities across the nation,” Senator Casey said. “The next step is to codify these measures into law. I’m hopeful that Congress will move on bipartisan legislation this year to address the safety of correctional officers.”
“Senator Casey and I have been fighting for the past several years to ensure our correctional officers have the tools they require to better protect themselves while at work,” said Sen. Toomey. “It is because of these efforts that the BOP has decided to expand their pepper spray pilot program to include all medium security facilities. However, the job is not done and Congress can do more on behalf of our correctional officers and I remain dedicated to this cause.”
###
