Arnold Ventures Welcomes House Passage of the Bipartisan Prison Oversight Act

WASHINGTON D.C. (May 21, 2024) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Federal Prison Oversight Act (H.R. 3019) , which establishes an inspections process for the Bureau of Prisons and establishes an ombudsman to conduct targeted investigations. Kevin Ring, vice president of criminal justice advocacy at Arnold Ventures, issued this statement:

“We are excited to see this bill pass with such overwhelming bipartisan support. Our nation’s prisons and jails are in crisis, due largely to understaffing and unnecessary incarceration. This crisis harms corrections staff and incarcerated people alike, and it undermines public safety. The situation has become so dire that organizations representing correctional officers and families with incarcerated loved ones have come together to push for greater transparency and safety for those who live and work in our federal and state prisons. 

“Measures like the Federal Prison Oversight Act would bring much needed light to some of the darkest places in our country. We urge the Senate to consider the bill as soon as possible, and we stand ready to work with the Inspector General, Bureau of Prisons, and Congress to make sure this bill is implemented fully.”

For more information on the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign, see our statement here.

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Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. Since Laura and John Arnold launched their foundation in 2008, the philanthropy has expanded, and Arnold Ventures’ focus areas include education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change. As signatories of the Giving Pledge, the Arnolds have committed to giving away most of their wealth during their lives.

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