Bill · H.R. 2879· House(119-HR-2879)
Prison Staffing Reform Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 4/10/2025
- Last activity
- 4/10/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Jay Obernolte
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is known as the Prison Staffing Reform Act of 2025. It directs the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to conduct a comprehensive review of understaffing across the Bureau. Within 180 days of enactment, the Director must complete an external review and submit a recruitment and staffing plan to specific congressional committees and the Council of Prison Locals C-33. The review will address the effects of understaffing on medical care, programs, security, and staff conditions. The Director must fully implement the submitted plan within 3 years, subject to appropriations. Additionally, the Director must provide annual progress reports on the implementation of the plan.
Yes· 3 of 13
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+5
The bill specifically targets improvements in mental health and substance use disorder programming in prisons.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill seeks to ensure better availability of medical care for incarcerated individuals.
Would union members be better off under this?+5
The bill aims to improve working conditions, reduce mandated overtime, and consult with union-affiliated organizations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Under Section 3, the bill requires an external review of staffing and a plan for recruiting job applicants, filling vacancies, and reducing mandated overtime. This could benefit employees by addressing stressful work environments, mental and physical health concerns, and unacceptably long work shifts as noted in Section 2.
-
Under Section 3(c)(1), the review must identify and address the effects of understaffing on the availability of medical care, substance use disorder treatment programs, mental health programs, and maternal health programs for individuals in custody. This could improve health outcomes for inmates.
-
Under Section 3(c)(1)(E), the review must address adequate protections for staff and individuals in custody against violence, neglect, and sexual misconduct, which could increase safety within the institutions.
-
Under Section 3(c)(1)(H) and Section 3(c)(1)(I), the review must look into the efficient installation of security cameras and the conversion of analog radio systems to digital radios equipped with the man-down feature, potentially improving prison security and staff safety.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5Improves Mental Health Access+5Improves Opioid Crisis Response+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Union Workers+5Good For Students+3Good For Women+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Union Protections+4Increases Job Creation+3Improves Fiscal Responsibility+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Improves Due Process+2Increases Federal Power+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform+2
- 3/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/10/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Daniel MeuserRepublican · Pennsylvania
Christopher SmithRepublican · New Jersey
Eric SorensenDemocrat · Illinois
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas