Rep. Watson Coleman, Jayapal, and Johnson Call on Bureau of Prisons to Properly Implement First Step Act, Address Other Issues

Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Task Force on Policing, Constitution, and Equality, along with Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and Judiciary Committee member Hank Johnson (GA-4) sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette S. Peters calling for more information on her plans to address ongoing issues facing the Bureau.  

Among the Members’ concerns is the Bureau’s failure thus far to properly execute the provisions of the First Step Act of 2018. Federal nonviolent inmates are eligible for early release under this legislation, but bureaucratic delays have prevented the BOP from effectively implementing it. 

The letter reads in part: 

Since its enactment into law in 2018, we’ve seen minimal movement by the BOP to fully implement the legislation as written. With the September 8th release of the time allotment rules that was being worked on before your official appointment, we feel this would be an opportunity to understand the rule and how we can ensure that it lives up to the spirit of the FSA. 

In addition to calling for information on the Bureau’s plans to implement the FSA, the letter asks Director Peters for details on her strategies for addressing infrastructure maintenance, labor management, and medical care for incarcerated Americans.  

You can read the full letter here.