Rep. Deutch Demands Investigation of Prisoner Abuse, Deaths during Transport

 Following allegations of inhumane treatment, abuse, and even the death of prisoners being transported by the private company Prisoner Transportation Services (PTS), Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) sent a letter to Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC), Chairman of the Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) urging for a hearing on the Justice Department's failure to enforce "Jeanna's Act."

Last week, Congressman Deutch and Congressman Denny Heck (WA-10) wrote to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fully and swiftly investigate the allegations against PTS.

According to reports by the New York Times and the Marshall Project, during a recent prison transport, a man facing a nine-year old shoplifting charge complained on numerous occasions of pain; he was ignored by the guards and died. On the same prisoner transport vehicle, there was reportedly a rape; mentally ill-and diabetic individuals were transported without their medications; and prisoners were vomiting and defecating on the floor of the transport vehicle. For some of the people transported in this vehicle, the trip lasted for two weeks.

“If the reports of the deplorable and inhumane conditions are true, it is an affront to our core Americans values,” said Congressman Deutch. “We’re talking about human beings; we’re talking about American citizens. This is not who we are, this is not how we treat people – including those accused of crimes, no matter the allegations – and we must put a stop to it at once. The Attorney General must follow Congress’ order to enforce Jeanna’s Act by fully investigating these allegations and holding companies accountable.” 

These allegations follow a Marshall Project report published July 2016 which outlined many other egregious cases of prisoner abuse and death during transit. Congressman Deutch asked then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch about the Department’s failure to oversee these prisoner transport companies and whether the Department would be investigating the reports. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) joined Congressman Deutch in requesting more information about the Department’s actions.

In 2000 Congress passed the “Interstate Transportation of Dangerous Criminals Act” or “Jeanna’s Act” (Pub. L. No. 106-560), which set minimum standards for private transportation companies and authorized the Department of Justice to investigate and pursue legal action against possible violations of the law.