On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the bipartisan Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act, a bill designed to ensure the family members of inmates are notified when a loved one experiences health complications.
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) is said to be leading a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If approved, the bipartisan bill would enforce family members are notified through issuance of central guidance to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and local and state institutions.
“Too often, the families of those incarcerated never find out about a serious illness, a life-threatening injury, or even the death of a loved one behind bars. That’s why we are introducing this bipartisan reform legislation,” Ossoff said.
Kamlager-Dove said she will continue to push the legislation in the House, citing a specific instance when a family was unaware of a loved one’s death.
“Parents, children, and siblings deserve to know about the well-being of their family members. However, our current prison system does not require correctional facilities to notify the families of incarcerated people if their loved ones are seriously ill, injured, or deceased,” Kamlager-Dove said.
She added: “In 2016, Wakiesha Wilson tragically died while incarcerated, and her family members were never directly informed about her passing. It took them 18 days to finally see her, but it was already too late. No one should have to experience the agony of the unknown, which is why this bill is so important.”
