House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today delivered the following remarks during the Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on "Oversight of the Bureau of Prisons and the United States Marshals Service."
Chairman Goodlatte: Welcome, Acting Director Kane and Acting Director Harlow. I thank you for your service, and I'm happy you are here with us today. I also want to thank Chairman Gowdy for holding this third in a series of hearings examining the various components of the Department of Justice.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is tasked with protecting society by confining offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens. It is the duty of BOP to not just warehouse Federal inmates, but to assist those inmates in becoming law-abiding citizens. We all have an interest in that, since as we all know, the vast majority of Federal inmates will someday be released. It is for this reason that I am deeply concerned about the precipitous drop in the number of inmates employed in proven reentry programs, such as the Federal Prison Industries program.
Last year, FPI only employed 10,896 inmates. This reflects a reduction of more than two-thirds in the percentage of eligible inmates working in the FPI program -- from 25% in 2000 to less than 8% in 2016. The steep decline in this program has a deleterious impact on both prison operations and inmate recidivism. First, correctional worker representatives cite this decline as a significant contributor to the increase in inmate-on-officer assaults the BOP has experienced in recent years. Second, inmates who work in FPI are 24% less likely to re-offend upon release from prison than non-FPI inmates, and 14% more likely to be gainfully employed post-incarceration. We must ensure that participation in FPI is maximized to the fullest extent possible, to protect the hardworking men and women of the BOP. I look forward to working with you, Acting Director Kane, to ensure this happens.
I also am pleased to welcome Acting Director Harlow to discuss the United States Marshals Service, the oldest law enforcement agency in the United States. Since its creation in the Judiciary Act of 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service has been tasked with protecting the Federal judiciary. Today, it continues this mission and has taken on a variety of other duties, including fugitive operations, witness security, and tactical operations.
The Marshals Service provides critical assistance to State and local law enforcement agencies in apprehending dangerous fugitives. In 2016 alone, the U.S. Marshals arrested over 80,000 fugitives who were evading justice in both state and federal judicial systems. Each day, deputy U.S. marshals voluntarily expose themselves to great danger in pursuing violent criminals, often with little recognition. I'd like to assure the men and women of the Marshals Service that their work is critical and appreciated.
Executing the assorted duties assumed by the Marshals Service requires a great deal of manpower, coordination, training, and proper equipment and facilities. Today we will discuss areas where the Marshals Service is experiencing challenges. I know the agency is looking for changes in its hiring capabilities and I would like to hear the problems you presently encounter with the current framework.
With Congress's oversight responsibilities, we also must address times when agencies have not been able to meet all expectations placed upon them so we can assure such mistakes are not repeated. Yesterday, the DOJ Inspector General released a report finding the Marshals Service had not provided sufficient oversight of a contracted company that operated Leavenworth Detention Center. This led to problems such as triple-bunking of prisoners and understaffing of the prison. I'd like to hear what protocols the Marshals Service has in assuring proper oversight of the contracted companies and what, if any, steps the Marshals Service has taken to avoid such problems in the future.
Acting Director Kane and Acting Director Harlow, I thank you again for being here and for your continued service. I look forward to your testimony regarding the challenges facing BOP and the Marshals Service today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time.