Erik Paulsen: “Our Nation's correctional officers risk their safety every day in order to keep prisoners, visitors, and other officers…”

“Our Nation's correctional officers risk their safety every day in order to keep prisoners, visitors, and other officers safe. In most Federal prisons, there are only one or two officers on duty in a cell block, meaning officers are guarding nearly 130 prisoners with virtually nothing to protect themselves. We have seen the reality of this situation with the death of Correctional Officer Eric Williams, who was murdered by an inmate at a Pennsylvania prison. In addition, last year more than 2,500 weapons were confiscated from inmates in Federal prisons. The Bureau of Prisons is currently operating a 1-year pilot program that allows correctional officers in some Federal prisons to carry pepper spray for protection. Mr. Speaker, this week the House passed the Eric Williams Correctional Officers Protection Act, legislation that I have supported, to expand this pilot program to medium-security prisons and require a training course before they can use this pepper spray. We need to provide our correctional officers the tools they need to protect themselves and others. ____________________”