WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito is one of three lawmakers who have sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Colette Peters, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director calling for action regarding allegations of serious misconduct at Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Hazleton. U.S Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), also signed the letter.
The senators called for an immediate investigation following whistleblower reports of abusive treatment of incarcerated individuals and other employee misconduct at FCC Hazelton. The allegations also include United States Penitentiary (USP) Hazelton and Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Hazelton.
“These reports, combined with public reporting on FCC Hazelton’s dire staffing shortages and proliferation of weapons contraband, paint a grim picture of the institution’s inability to ensure a safe environment for those in BOP custody and employees alike,” the senators wrote.
The letter details legally protected allegations that whistleblowers disclosed to their offices, some of the incidents were substantiated by public reporting, including:
· A group of inmates escaping from the prison camp and supervisory staff attempting to cover it up.
· Supervisory staff at FCC Hazelton falsifying documents, encouraging inmate abuse, and covering up alleged abuse and escapes of incarcerated individuals. The falsified documents include medical assessments, incident reports, duty rosters, and time and attendance sheets, along with requests to tamper with corresponding security cameras to cover up inmate escapes. The employees engaged in these practices have not been disciplined, and, in some cases, received promotions, despite open investigations into their misconduct.
· Staff members using restrictive housing punitively against incarcerated individuals in violation of BOP policy, and staff engaging in a pattern of physical abuse of inmates residing in Special Housing Units (SHU).
· Staff repeatedly directing racial slurs against minorities towards other staff members and incarcerated individuals.
· Staff urinating on prisoner property.
· Staff forcing incarcerated individuals to urinate and defecate on themselves as a condition of being released from restrictive custody.
· Staff assaulting an incarcerated person, breaking the individual’s ribs.
“If these allegations are true and accurate, they reflect a rampant culture of abuse and misconduct at FCC Hazelton. We request that you conduct a full investigation of employee misconduct at FCC Hazelton facilities, including interviews of individuals incarcerated in SHU about these allegations,” the senators continued. “We also request that you commit that no taxpayer money will be used to identify, expose the identity of, or retaliate against any whistleblowers and that the anonymity of all individuals interviewed is maintained, regardless of whether or not they corroborate any allegations of misconduct.”
The group of senators are also asking for specific information listed below to understand the scope of misconduct to be made available by October 3, 2023.
1. Copies of all charging documents, plea agreements, staff transfer orders, and judgment and commitment orders for any current or former BOP employee charged with a crime that occurred at FCC Hazelton, in connection with employment at FCC Hazelton, or in connection with an incarcerated person who resided at FCC Hazelton, since 2013.
2. The number of pending misconduct investigations regarding current or former FCC Hazleton employees, including the type of misconduct that is being investigated.
3. The number of FCC Hazleton employees who, while under investigation for abuse of inmates, continued to perform employment duties requiring contact with or supervision of inmates from 2013 to present.
4. A list of any FCC Hazleton staff members who, while under a pending investigation for abuse of inmates, have been promoted or transferred to another institution. Please list the highest-ranking title or grade the staff member held in the case of a promotion or the receiving institution in the case of a transfer.
5. A list of all sustained allegations of abuse of inmates at FCC Hazleton that have occurred since 2013 and the corrective actions taken to address each incident.