We believe that all correctional facilities should be safe and humane, and individuals who are incarcerated should remain close to their homes in order to maintain important family bonds. FAMM supports policies that provide individuals with rehabilitative programs and meaningful work and education opportunities, as well as substance abuse and mental health treatment.
Further, we believe that every prison system should be subject to oversight by an independent body that has authority to monitor and inspect facilities, address prisoner grievances, and provide recommendations for improving correctional departments.
View FAMM’s list of current prison oversight legislation (updated frequently).
Take Action: The Need for Independent Oversight
Each day, more disturbing stories of life in prison emerge. Reports of violence, inhumane living conditions, abuse and neglect from staff, and lack of accountability from leadership have become too common. Understaffed and overcrowded prisons that lack transparency and accountability are inhumane, lead to expensive lawsuits, limit rehabilitation for people in prison, and endanger prisoners and corrections staff alike.
FAMM’s Principles for Independent Prison Oversight
FAMM believes that all prison systems should be subject to oversight by a body that is:
- Independent;
- Able to access and inspect prisons upon demand;
- Able to obtain documents and data upon demand;
- Able to speak confidentially with prisoners and staff;
- Responsive to incarcerated people and their families;
- Responsive to policymakers and the public;
- Fully staffed; and
- Fully funded.
Prison Oversight Across the Country
States with independent prison oversight
Washington State
The Office of Corrections Ombuds was created in 2018 with the passage of HB 1889. The Office investigates complaints, communicates with families and their incarcerated loved ones, identifies systemic problems within the Department of Corrections, and produces public reports. To learn more, visit their website here.
New Jersey
New Jersey passed sweeping legislation (A3979/S2540) in 2019 that increases the scope and powers of the existing Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson, including the power to inspect prison facilities and have confidential communication with prisoners. To learn more about the office, visit their website here.
Statewide Body with Mandatory Prison Inspection Duties
Statewide Body with Discretionary Prison Monitoring Authority
Citizen Advisory Board
Resources
- FAMM’s model legislation: Prison Ombudsman
- “Independent Correctional Oversight Mechanisms Across the United States: A 50-State Inventory” by Michele Deitch
- The ABA standards for Prison Accountability and Oversight
Contact Molly Gill at mgill@famm.org if you are a policymaker interested in establishing an independent prison oversight body in your jurisdiction.