Senators push Garland to reform prisons after AP reporting
By MICHAEL BALSAMO and MICHAEL R. SISAK
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee are demanding Attorney General Merrick Garland take immediate action to reform the beleaguered federal Bureau of Prisons. It comes in response to Associated Press investigations that exposed widespread problems at the bureau, misconduct involving correctional officers and sexual abuse at a California women’s prison. Sens. Dick Durbin, Chuck Grassley, Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla wrote to Garland on Wednesday. The senators want the Justice Department to turn over information about employee misconduct and procedures in place to stem sexual abuse. The Justice Department hasn’t commented on the letter. The department previously said it’s working to improve issues in the Bureau of Prisons.