To create a private right of action to hold private detention centers liable for the wrongful death of any person being held in such private detention center, and for other purposes.
The Private Detention Corporate Accountability Act of 2026 creates a legal pathway for families to sue private detention companies when someone dies in custody due to negligence or misconduct. Under this bill, families of deceased detainees can seek damages in federal court starting at a minimum of five million dollars, plus additional economic and punitive damages. The legislation makes both individual officers and the detention companies themselves legally responsible, and it specifically removes immunity protections that might otherwise shield them from lawsuits. The bill applies to private companies that hold people under federal contracts related to civil, criminal, or immigration violations, and families also retain the option to pursue cases in state courts. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the bill's text.
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