Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Jamie Raskin

Democrat on Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act 2026-08-31

685 words · 32 sentences · 41 clauses

Statement grade

Average 93 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Procedure 4%Claims 84%Thanks 1%The ask 5%Positioning 1%Promise 5%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 wordsI yield myself such time as I may consume.Procedure Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 11 wordsI rise in support of the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, ProcedureClaims · 124 wordswhich would require DOJ to improve the safety of Bureau of Prisons facilities across America.¹ More specifically, S. 307 would make improvements to how BOP assesses and responds to sexual harassment and assault by inmates of staff members.² Federal prison staff go to work every day to protect the public safety, to prepare people for successful reentry into our communities, and to keep our communities safe. Yet, they often face threats of sexual harassment and sexual assault by inmates. A 2023 report from DOJ’s inspector general found that 40 percent of more than 7,000 surveyed BOP staff reported that they themselves had been sexually harassed by an inmate.³ The report found that reports of sexual harassment were even more prevalent among female staff members. Mr. Speaker, Claims · 231 words69 percent of female BOP staff said they had been sexually harassed by an inmate on the job.⁴ This harassment included whistling, catcalling, genitalia exposure, sexual remarks, and sexual gestures. The inspector general also found the true scope of the problem is not really known because BOP has not adequately or consistently collected data on the problem.⁵ This has prevented BOP from taking effective action. That is why the act would require BOP to fully implement recommendations made in the 2023 IG report or explain why it cannot do so.⁶ It would also require BOP to provide updated data to the inspector general on the number and prevalence of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault episodes, require the IG to analyze the sufficiency of the data, and make any necessary recommendations to Congress and the Attorney General on how the Bureau of Prisons can reduce the pervasiveness of these incidents. Lastly, it would require the Attorney General to adopt nationwide standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and assault committed by incarcerated individuals against BOP employees.⁷ By requiring BOP to fully implement the recommendations of the IG report, this act would improve BOP’s data collection, training, and policies on both sexual harassment and assault. It would also require BOP to conduct regular risk assessments within individual facilities and across BOP, with an emphasis on the risks for female staff.⁸ Thanks · 10 wordsI applaud Senator Ossoff for his work on this legislation.Thanks Claims · 89 wordsHe has worked to improve the conditions and safety of our Federal prisons for both the staff and inmates. I was proud to support passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that he led with my colleague, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Congresswoman McBath.⁹ That bill was signed into law in 2024 and established new independent oversight of BOP.¹⁰ It received broad support from civil rights groups, prison employees, and criminal justice groups, but its full potential is yet to be realized.Off point The ask · 27 wordsCongress should fully fund the Federal Prison Oversight Act so it can be fully implemented and add to the safety improvements in the bill before us today. Claims · 64 wordsWe know from past failures in oversight that we must do more to make our prisons safer for inmates and staff alike. Such failures include years of systemic sexual assault of incarcerated women and whistleblower retaliation at one of the Federal woman’s prisons in Dublin, California, that led to closure of the facility and criminal convictions of nine BOP officers, including the warden himself.¹¹ Positioning · 5 wordsThis never should have happened.Positioning Promise · 31 wordsI hope we can continue to work together to make sure our prisons are safe for everybody who enters them, whether involuntarily as an inmate or voluntarily as a staff person.Vague promise Claims · 68 wordsOur prisons are some of the most challenging and difficult work environments in America. BOP has faced longstanding staffing challenges, from poor morale to ever-declining recruitment and retention rates. By working to reduce the intolerable sexual harassment and assault of staff members, this legislation would take an important step toward improving safety across BOP facilities and the ability of staff to carry out their crucial public safety mission. Mr. Speaker, The ask · 8 wordsI urge my colleagues to support S. 307, Procedure · 8 wordsand I reserve the balance of my time.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for
Reasons givenThis statement drew 3 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 92

5 of 11 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I yield myself such time as I may consume.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I rise in support of the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I applaud Senator Ossoff for his work on this legislation.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “This never should have happened.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “and I reserve the balance of my time.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 87

5 of 11 deductions are Relevance

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I was proud to support passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that he led with my colleague, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Congresswoman McBath.”Discusses a different bill, the Federal Prison Oversight Act, rather than the legislation before the House.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “That bill was signed into law in 2024 and established new independent oversight of BOP.”Describes the enactment and content of the Federal Prison Oversight Act, not the bill under debate.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “It received broad support from civil rights groups, prison employees,”Details support for the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a separate measure.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “and criminal justice groups,”Continues describing support for the other bill rather than the one being debated.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “but its full potential is yet to be realized.”Comments on the unrealized potential of the Federal Prison Oversight Act, not this bill.

Reasoning · 100

0 of 11 deductions are Reasoning

Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.

Nothing lost points.

Conclusions found · 3

Conclusion“Congress should fully fund the Federal Prison Oversight Act so it can be fully implemented and add to the safety improvements in the bill before us today.”

Because“That bill was signed into law in 2024 and established new independent oversight of BOP.”

“but its full potential is yet to be realized.”

Reason given
Conclusion“We know from past failures in oversight that we must do more to make our prisons safer for inmates and staff alike.”

Because“Such failures include years of systemic sexual assault of incarcerated women and whistleblower retaliation at one of the Federal woman’s prisons in Dublin, California, that led to closure of the facility and criminal convictions of nine BOP officers, including the warden himself.”

“BOP has faced longstanding staffing challenges, from poor morale to ever-declining recruitment and retention rates.”

Reason given
Conclusion“I urge my colleagues to support S.”

Because“A 2023 report from DOJ’s inspector general found that 40 percent of more than 7,000 surveyed BOP staff reported that they themselves had been sexually harassed by an inmate.”

“The inspector general also found the true scope of the problem is not really known because BOP has not adequately or consistently collected data on the problem.”

“That is why the act would require BOP to fully implement recommendations made in the 2023 IG report or explain why it cannot do so.”

“By requiring BOP to fully implement the recommendations of the IG report, this act would improve BOP’s data collection, training,”

“It would also require BOP to conduct regular risk assessments within individual facilities and across BOP, with an emphasis on the risks for female staff.”

Reason given

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Clarity · 94

1 of 11 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “I hope we can continue to work together”A hope with no named actor, date, measure, or success condition for making prisons safe.

Claims · 11

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“require DOJ to improve the safety of Bureau of Prisons facilities across America”The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act would require the Department of Justice to improve safety at Bureau of Prisons facilities.search
2“make improvements to how BOP assesses and responds to sexual harassment and assault by inmates of staff members”S. 307 changes how the Bureau of Prisons assesses and responds to sexual harassment and assault by inmates against staff members.search
3“40 percent of more than 7,000 surveyed BOP staff reported that they themselves had been sexually harassed by an inmate”A 2023 DOJ Inspector General report found that 40 percent of more than 7,000 surveyed Bureau of Prisons staff reported being sexually harassed by an inmate.search
4“69 percent of female BOP staff said they had been sexually harassed by an inmate on the job”The 2023 DOJ Inspector General report found that 69 percent of female Bureau of Prisons staff said they had been sexually harassed by an inmate on the job.search
5“the true scope of the problem is not really known because BOP has not adequately or consistently collected data on the problem”The DOJ Inspector General found the Bureau of Prisons has not adequately or consistently collected data on inmate sexual harassment of staff.search
6“require BOP to fully implement recommendations made in the 2023 IG report or explain why it cannot do so”The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to fully implement the recommendations of the 2023 Inspector General report or explain why it cannot.search
7“punishment of sexual harassment and assault committed by incarcerated individuals against BOP employees”The bill requires the Attorney General to adopt nationwide standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and assault by incarcerated individuals against BOP employees.search
8“require BOP to conduct regular risk assessments within individual facilities and across BOP, with an emphasis on the risks for female staff”The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to conduct regular risk assessments within individual facilities and across BOP, with emphasis on risks for female staff.search
9“the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that he led with my colleague, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Congresswoman McBath”The Federal Prison Oversight Act was led by Senator Ossoff with Congresswoman McBath and was bipartisan and bicameral.search
10“That bill was signed into law in 2024 and established new independent oversight of BOP”The Federal Prison Oversight Act was signed into law in 2024 and established new independent oversight of the Bureau of Prisons.search
11“years of systemic sexual assault of incarcerated women and whistleblower retaliation at one of the Federal woman’s prisons in Dublin, California, that led to closure of the facility and criminal convictions of nine BOP officers, including the warden himself”Systemic sexual assault and whistleblower retaliation at the federal women’s prison in Dublin, California led to the facility’s closure and criminal convictions of nine Bureau of Prisons officers, including the warden.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15