SB 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, would amend federal criminal law to increase the penalty for providing a phone to an incarcerated person in a correctional facility. Specifically, it adds a new penalty tier under 18 U.S.C. § 1791 for violations involving a prohibited object that is a phone, allowing imprisonment of up to 2 years, a fine, or both, for certain prohibited provision offenses. The bill also makes conforming changes to the existing penalty structure for contraband offenses involving phones.
In addition to the criminal penalty change, the bill directs the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to review BOP policies within one year of enactment regarding inmates who make, possess, obtain, or attempt to make or obtain prohibited objects, and to update those policies as needed to better protect incarcerated individuals and staff. The measure is framed as a prison contraband and institutional safety bill, with a focus on phones as a security risk in correctional settings.
Impact
The bill would amend title 18 of the U.S. Code, section 1791, which governs providing or possessing contraband in prison, by creating a specific enhanced penalty for phone-related contraband offenses. It would affect people who supply phones to inmates, as well as incarcerated individuals involved in making, possessing, or obtaining prohibited objects, and it would require the Bureau of Prisons to reassess and potentially revise internal contraband-related policies. The bill does not appear to change state law directly, but it would strengthen federal enforcement and institutional policy regarding contraband phones in federal correctional facilities.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally supportive sentiment, as reflected by the bill’s passage in the Senate. The measure appears to have been treated as a public-safety and prison-security bill, with the title and structure emphasizing deterrence and institutional protection. No committee transcript or recorded vote details were provided, so there is no evidence in the supplied materials of organized opposition or a divided debate.
Contention
The main policy issue is the balance between tougher punishment for contraband phone provision and broader concerns about prison conditions and enforcement. Supporters are likely to view the bill as necessary to deter smuggling and improve safety for staff and incarcerated people, while any potential critics would likely focus on whether increasing penalties is the best approach or whether BOP policy changes should emphasize prevention, rehabilitation, or due process. Because no committee discussion or vote breakdown is included, specific points of contention or named opponents are not available from the record provided.