Congressman Cohen Questions Witness at an Oversight Hearing on the Federal Bureau of Prisons

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance and the Subcommittee on Oversight entitled “Federal Corrections in Focus: Oversight of the Bureau of Prisons.”

In his questions to witnesses, Congressman Cohen asked about the implementation of the First Step Act which is intended to decrease the federal prison population and reduce recidivism. He also asked about the prevalence of religious faith conversions in the prison setting and about the problem of attacks on prison guards. 

He also joked that Alcatraz will soon be known as Mar-a-Lago West.

See his line of questioning here.

Witnesses at today’s hearing were:

• Cody Wilde, Senior Vice President of Correctional Programs, Prison Fellowship;
• Andy Potter, Founder and Executive Director, One Voice United;
• Patrick Purtill, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Unify.US; and
• Kandia Milton, Director Government Affairs, Dream.Org 

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