Part ofcriminal justice →

S736FEDERALpassed_chamber

Passed

Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act (S. 736)

Original title: Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act

February 26, 2025

criminal justice prison reform contraband telecommunications federal law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently passed_chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Last action

Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2723, S2726; text: CR S2726)Jun 10, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill establishes a new maximum two-year prison sentence for individuals convicted of providing cell phones to federal inmates and requires a federal policy review of contraband management.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Federal prison staff

Staff are subject to updated safety policies and procedures regarding contraband management.

Incarcerated individuals

Inmates are subject to updated Bureau of Prisons policies regarding the possession of prohibited objects.

Individuals providing contraband

Individuals found guilty of providing cell phones to inmates face a maximum of two years in prison.

What changed

Current stage: passed_chamber.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

This bill increases the criminal penalties for providing cell phones to inmates in federal correctional facilities. It also mandates that the Bureau of Prisons review and update its policies regarding prohibited items within one year of the bill's enactment.

Key Facts

Establishes a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment for the prohibited provision of a phone in a correctional facility.
Requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to conduct a comprehensive review of policies regarding inmate possession of prohibited objects.
Mandates that the Bureau of Prisons update its policies to improve protections for staff and incarcerated individuals.
Sets a deadline of 1 year after the date of enactment for the Bureau of Prisons to complete the required policy review and updates.
Amends Section 1791(b) of title 18, United States Code, to incorporate the new penalty structure.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on February 26, 2025.

Why It Matters

The bill establishes a new maximum two-year prison sentence for individuals convicted of providing cell phones to federal inmates and requires a federal policy review of contraband management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of this bill?

The bill aims to reduce the presence of contraband, specifically cell phones, in federal prisons by increasing criminal penalties for those who provide them.

Does this bill change penalties for inmates?

The bill focuses on the 'prohibited provision' of phones, which typically applies to individuals supplying the items, rather than the possession by the inmate themselves, though it mandates a broader review of all contraband policies.

What must the Bureau of Prisons do if this bill passes?

The Bureau must review its current policies on s and update them within one year to improve safety for staff and inmates.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Mandated Policy Review

The bill moves beyond just increasing penalties by forcing a comprehensive review of all contraband policies within the Bureau of Prisons.

Bureau of Prisons

Connected Entities

personJon Ossoff“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personCory Booker“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personChuck Grassley“Lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate.”Map →

personOsvaldo Albarati“The bill is named in honor of the late Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati.”Map →

organizationBureau of Prisons“Responsible for conducting the mandated policy review.”Map →

personCindy Hyde-Smith“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools