For years, families have complained of cruelty from the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) when their incarcerated loved ones become seriously ill or die. Now, legislation in Congress is attempting to put a stop to what it calls inhumane treatment.
Sens. Jon Ossoff (D–Ga.) and John Kennedy (R–La.) introduced legislation Wednesday—the Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act—that would require the Justice Department to issue guidance to the BOP for promptly notifying families of individuals in custody who become seriously ill, suffer life-threatening injuries, or die. The Justice Department would also distribute those policies as a model for state and local lockups to follow.
"Too often, the families of those incarcerated never find out about a serious illness, a life-threatening injury, or even the death of a loved one behind bars," Ossoff said in a press release.
