Staffing Shortages and Operational Failures Lead to Epstein’s Death, BOP Scrutiny
A recent report by the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General indicated that negligence, misconduct, and systematic problems at the Federal Bureau of Prisons contributed to the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein during his 2019 detainment in a federal correctional facility. Epstein died by suicide while under BOP’s custody at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center before he could stand trial for sex trafficking charges.
According to the OIG report, Epstein was supposed to be under special watch due to previous suicide attempts. Severe staffing shortages, failures at managing inmates at risk for suicide, issues with maintaining working security cameras and a “widespread disregard of BOP policies and procedures” were seen in the Epstein case.
Two BOP officers were charged for failing to check on Epstein and then fabricating records to hide their mistake. Two other BOP employees, who went unnamed in the report, were referred for criminal charges due to falsely certifying inmate counts and rounds on the day before and after Epstein's death. Prosecution was ultimately declined for those staffers.
DOJ OIG has issued a number of reviews involving BOP with similar conclusions—the reports have identified longstanding challenges that lead to failures on several levels, according to the report. Staffing shortages, operational failures, and overall mismanagement can lead to incidents and allegations that lead to agency investigations. If an allegation is made against you, it is a necessity, not luxury, to have knowledgeable and effective counsel advocating on your behalf. Your agency attorney is not your attorney. It is the job of the agency attorney to defend the agency – not you. As a federal law enforcement officer, you need to have counsel that has specific federal experience representing you, with your professional vulnerabilities. As the professional liability insurance (PLI) provider endorsed by the leading federal law enforcement employee associations, FEDS Protection can help.
FEDS Protection offers federal employee PLI policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs. Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290, which is less than it would typically cost to hire a federal employment lawyer for an hour. Additionally, federal managers and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Federal law enforcement officers can protect themselves against investigations with a FEDS Protection PLI policy. FEDS Protection offers policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity for actions taken within the scope of your employment. Our policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs arising out of actions taken within the scope of your employment. Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290, which is less than it would typically cost to hire a federal employment lawyer for an hour. LEOSA coverage for off-duty incidents is also available for qualified law enforcement officers. Additionally, federal law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% of the cost of their PLI policy through their agency.
To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.