Toomey, Casey Bipartisan Bill Protecting Federal Correctional Officers Sent to President

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congress sends to the president bipartisan legislation to protect federal correctional officers, with the House of Representatives passing the Eric Williams Correctional Officers Protection Act. The Senate previously passed this legislation unanimously on December 16, 2015.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), was inspired by the tragic death of Officer Eric Williams, a correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary Canaan in Waymart, Pa. Under Bureau of Prisons policy, guards are sometimes placed on duty alone, with no defensive gear. Thirty-four year old Eric Williams paid the price for this policy. In February 2013, Eric was working alone in a housing unit of 125 inmates, carrying only a radio, handcuffs, and keys. A gang member, who was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, ambushed and murdered Officer Williams-beating him savagely enough to crush his skull and stabbing him with a prison-made weapon 129 times.

Sens. Toomey and Casey worked with Eric's parents, Don and Jean Williams, to introduce legislation to help protect other officers from Eric's fate. The Eric Williams Correctional Officers Protection Act provides that the Bureau of Prisons must issue non-lethal pepper spray to guards in medium- and high-security prisons, so they have some means of self-defense.

The Senate passed this bipartisan legislation in December. Today, the House followed suit. Once the bill is signed by President Obama, it will be law.

"Every day, America's law enforcement officers place their own lives at risk to defend the rest of us. For this, they deserve our gratitude and our support. Today, Congress acted to ensure that our correctional officers have a basic tool to defend themselves-non-lethal pepper spray," said Sen. Toomey. "This bipartisan effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Eric Williams' parents, Don and Jean Williams, who turned their family tragedy into a national effort to protect other officers."

"We have an obligation to keep safe the men and women who serve in our correctional facilities," said Sen. Casey. "The tragic murder of Eric Williams illustrates the risks they take every day just by going to work. It's a service to the memory of C.O. Williams and a tribute to the dedicated advocacy of his family that the House acted today to ensure that staff in the most dangerous prisons will now have access to a non-lethal means of self-protection."

Pennsylvania is home to seven federally operated prison facilities and thousands of federal correctional officers.

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