Toomey, Casey Bipartisan Bill Protecting Federal Correctional Officers Signed Into Law

Press Release

President Barack Obama has signed into law bipartisan legislation to protect federal correctional officers. The Eric Williams Correctional Officers Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), 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.

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.

"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. We can now 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."

"I'm pleased the president has signed this legislation into law," Sen. Casey said. "This is a victory for all corrections officers who will now have an added degree of safety. Moving forward Congress must redouble its efforts to ensure our corrections officers are safe on the job."

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

Source