An investigation conducted by The Associated Press has found that employees within the Federal Bureau of Prisons are turning a blind eye to corruption amongst the workers.

Based on the report, since 2019, there have been more than 100 federal prison workers who have been arrested, convicted, or sentenced for crimes. Some of the violations include a warden indicted for sexual abuse, an associate warden charged with murder, several prison guards who were taking cash to smuggle drugs and weapons, and supervisors being caught stealing property such as tires and tractors.

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In recent years, about 67% of the criminal cases against Justice Department staff have involved federal prison workers, who make up less than one-third of the department’s workforce. Twenty-eight out of the 41 arrests in just this year alone were of BOP employees or contractors. In comparison, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) only had five. The (DEA) Drug Enforcement Administration and the (ATF) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives each only had two.

In a written statement to the Associated Press, the Justice Department said it “will not tolerate staff misconduct, particularly criminal misconduct.” They said it is “committed to holding accountable any employee who abuses a position of trust, which we have demonstrated through federal criminal prosecutions and other means.”

Source: Report: Investigation at Federal Prisons Unveils Workers are Committing Some of the Crimes