The Safer Prisons Act of 2026 increases criminal penalties for assaulting Bureau of Prisons correctional officers by doubling the maximum prison sentences currently allowed under federal law for such assaults. The bill modifies existing federal statute to apply these enhanced penalties specifically to attacks on correctional staff employed by the Bureau of Prisons, while corresponding fines would also be adjusted proportionally. The legislation affects incarcerated individuals who commit assaults against federal prison staff and aims to deter violence in federal correctional facilities. The bill does not specify new funding requirements or implementation timelines beyond the statutory amendment itself. Senators Blackburn and Cotton introduced the bill in April 2026, and it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
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