ALLENTOWN, PA - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following statement regarding a recent Bureau of Prisons (BOP) decision to allow certain staff who work with inmates to carry pepper spray in high security institutions.
"Pennsylvania is home to seven BOP-operated facilities and thousands of federal corrections officers. Since joining the Senate, my staff and I have worked extensively with these corrections officers in an effort to lessen the inherent risk of their work environment. With this in mind, I am pleased that the BOP has decided to allow additional personnel to carry pepper spray in high security facilities.
"Unfortunately, this step does nothing to enhance safety measures for corrections officers stationed at medium or low security facilities-- both of which house dangerous offenders. To that end, I will continue to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, to expand the availability of pepper spray and other safety measures for federal corrections officers."
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