WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has joined Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) to introduce the Bureau of Prisons Security Check and Action against Narcotics in Mail Act (BOP SCAN Mail Act), a bipartisan initiative aimed at preventing the smuggling of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into federal prisons. This legislation seeks to expand a successful pilot program that digitally scans mail to intercept drugs before they reach inmates.
“We have a responsibility to protect our federal correctional officers, prison support staff, and inmates, and we need to stop fentanyl and other deadly drugs from putting their lives at risk,” said Senator Fetterman. “I’m proud to work with Senator Justice to introduce the BOP SCAN Mail Act to expand on the success we’ve seen at USP Canaan in Pennsylvania.”
The federal prison system has faced a dramatic 600% increase in overdose-induced deaths among inmates over the last two decades. Synthetic drugs smuggled through inmate mail have also resulted in hospitalizations for dozens of correctional officers and one reported fatality in the past year. The BOP SCAN Mail Act builds on a program at USP Canaan in Pennsylvania and FCI Beckley in West Virginia, where mail is scanned at an off-site facility and distributed digitally within 24 hours. This method has been proven 100% effective in blocking synthetic drugs, with original copies delivered later if deemed safe.
Co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced a companion bill in the House.
The act is endorsed by a wide range of law enforcement, correctional, and community organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees Council of Prisons Locals 33 (AFGE CPL-33), the National Fraternal Order of Police, and Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse. Brandy Moore White, National President of AFGE CPL-33, praised the legislation as a “smart, measured, and much-needed step forward” that prioritizes safety for federal prison staff and inmates.
“Protecting police officers and prison support staff from deadly fentanyl is not a partisan issue,” said Senator Justice. “This bill will keep dangerous drugs out of our prisons.”
The BOP SCAN Mail Act reflects growing concern over the critical need to address drug-related dangers in federal detention facilities. If passed, the legislation could set a new standard for safety procedures nationwide, mitigating the rising threat posed by drug trafficking through prison mail systems.
By championing this issue, Senator Fetterman has reinforced his commitment to strengthening protections for federal prison staff and inmates. Forward-looking advocates emphasize that implementing digital mail screening policies could pave the way for safer correctional environments across the country.
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