Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self-Protection Act of 2017

Bill 115 HR 613, also known as the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self-Protection Act of 2017, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The bill aims to enhance the safety and security of correctional officers working in federal prisons by allowing them to carry pepper spray as a means of self-protection.

The bill is named after Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati, a correctional officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty in 2013. The legislation seeks to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future by providing correctional officers with an additional tool to defend themselves against violent inmates.

Under the provisions of the bill, correctional officers would be authorized to carry and use pepper spray while on duty. This non-lethal form of self-defense is intended to provide officers with a means of protecting themselves in dangerous situations without resorting to deadly force. Supporters of the bill argue that allowing correctional officers to carry pepper spray will help to deter violence and improve overall safety within federal prisons. They believe that providing officers with this additional tool will help to reduce the risk of injury or death while on the job. Opponents of the bill, however, have raised concerns about the potential misuse of pepper spray by correctional officers. They worry that officers may use the spray inappropriately or excessively, leading to harm or injury to inmates. Overall, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self-Protection Act of 2017 is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to address the safety concerns of correctional officers working in federal prisons. The bill is currently under consideration in Congress, where it will be debated and potentially amended before a final vote is taken.