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Subcommittee questions BOP on drones, illicit phones and a slow camera rollout
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Summary
Members pressed the Bureau of Prisons about drone deliveries of drugs and phones, inconsistent drone detection coverage, camera upgrades and data retention, and the bureau's efforts to ensure assaults on officers are investigated and prosecuted.
Members of the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Activities Subcommittee asked Associate Deputy Director Kathleen Toomey about contraband pathways, drone detection, camera installation and prosecution of assaults on corrections officers.
What BOP said about contraband: Toomey enumerated several common pathways for contraband — drones, items thrown over fences, visitors, mail and staff — and said the bureau has taken technological steps to address the problem. "We have drone detection software at 69, I think, of our facilities and that allows us to identify drones, know when they're, attempting to drop contraband," she said. Later in the hearing Toomey gave an updated figure, saying drone detection software was deployed at 64 facilities; committee members noted the numerical discrepancy and requested written confirmation of current coverage and costs.
Cameras and storage: Toomey described a multi‑year camera upgrade program tied to fiber installation. She said fiber optic installation is complete at about 90% of facilities, four facilities have both fiber and cameras completed, about 80 facilities have camera installation ongoing, and 37 facilities await fiber or camera equipment. "So we are about 40% of the way to where we need to be," she said. Committee members asked how long video evidence is retained; Toomey said she would follow up with details on storage retention and capacity for prosecutorial needs.
Prosecution of assaults and evidence needs: On violent incidents and assaults against officers, Toomey said BOP works closely with the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Offices and that many incidents are investigated and prosecuted. "When there are attacks on corrections officers, we work very closely with the FBI, the Department of Justice, US Attorneys Offices to ensure that violence of that type is prosecuted," she said. Members pressed whether camera coverage and longer video retention were sufficient to support prosecutions and asked for additional detail on storage capacity and retention policy.
Other tools: Toomey said BOP is exploring technologies to detect illicit cell phones and to transcribe or analyze phone calls more efficiently; she told the committee the phone system records calls and those are monitored by intelligence staff. Members asked about transcription and translation capability for non‑English calls; Toomey said those tools are under consideration but she could not provide specifics at the hearing.
Ending: The committee requested follow‑up on current drone detection coverage, the timetable and cost to complete camera installations, the length of video retention for evidentiary purposes and the bureau's plan to scale phone‑analysis tools to meet prosecutorial and intelligence needs.
