The Bureau Of Prisons Security Check and Action against Narcotics in Mail Act (BOP SCAN Mail Act) would require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to develop and implement a plan to interdict fentanyl and other synthetic drugs coming into federal correctional facilities through the mail. The bill tasks the BOP with evaluating current interdiction technology within 180 days, then submitting a strategy within 90 days after the evaluation to achieve 100% mail scanning across facilities. Key operational provisions include providing inmates a digital copy of mail within 24 hours of receipt, delivering the original mail within 30 days if it does not contain synthetic drugs or opioids, and maintaining a process for legal mail that preserves attorney-client privilege. The plan must identify necessary technology, budget requests for 2025-2027, and mechanisms to oversee contractors. Implementation would take up to three years following strategy submission, with annual progress reports starting one year after submission that track efficiency and quantities of detected synthetic drugs and opioids.
Key Points
- 1Requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy to interdict fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in mail at federal facilities.
- 2Mandates an evaluation within 180 days of enactment of current interdiction equipment/technology and potential adoption of other agencies’ or jurisdictions’ methods.
- 3Requires a strategy within 90 days after evaluation, to ensure: staff/inmate protection from mail-borne drugs; digital copies of mail to inmates within 24 hours; original mail delivery within 30 days if clean; documentation of delivery.
- 4Establishes a process for processing legal mail that verifies sender and preserves attorney-client privilege as required by law.
- 5Aims for 100% scanning capacity of mail at all federal correctional facilities and requires reporting on IT and equipment needs, facility prioritization, staffing/training, maintenance, and upgrades.
- 6Requires a budget proposal for 2025–2027 to fully implement the strategy and oversight plans for contractors providing scanning services.
- 7Implementation deadline set at up to three years after strategy submission, subject to appropriations.
- 8Annual progress reports beginning one year after strategy submission, detailing efficiency and total quantities of detected synthetic drugs and opioids.