Bill · S. 1295· Senate(119-S-1295)
BOP SCAN Mail Act
- Introduced
- 4/3/2025
- Last activity
- 4/3/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2181)
- Sponsored by
- James Justice
- Cosponsors
- - 8 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "BOP SCAN Mail Act," requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to create and carry out a plan to stop fentanyl and other synthetic drugs from entering federal correctional facilities through the mail. The Director must first evaluate available interdiction equipment and technologies used by other agencies or facilities. Following this evaluation, a strategy must be submitted to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to provide all federal facilities with the tools to protect staff and inmates. The plan must include a system where inmates receive a digital copy of their mail within 24 hours and the physical copy within 30 days, provided it is safe. Finally, the Director must implement this plan within three years, subject to available funding.
Yes
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+7
The bill targets the interdiction of fentanyl and synthetic drugs to mitigate the opioid crisis in prisons.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?+5
The bill aims to provide budgetary relief by removing mail processing duties from prison staff.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Health and Safety: The strategy aims to protect Bureau of Prisons employees and inmates from exposure to synthetic drugs and opioids introduced through the mail (Section 4(b)(1)).
-
Improved Mail Delivery Speed: Inmates would receive a digital copy of their mail within 24 hours of it being received at a facility or offsite location (Section 4(b)(2)(A)).
-
Staffing and Budget Relief: Removing mail processing from federal prisons and relieving employees of mail sorting duties is expected to provide extensive budgetary relief and help decrease staffing shortages (Section 2(10)).
-
Security of Legal Communication: The strategy must include a process for legal mail that verifies the sender while maintaining attorney-client privilege (Section 4(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Delayed Physical Mail: Inmates may have to wait up to 30 days after receiving a digital copy before they receive their original physical mail (Section 4(b)(2)(B)).
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 Opioid Crisis Response+7
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending+5
- 7/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2181)
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Ted CruzRepublican · Texas
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
James RischRepublican · Idaho