A New Federal Prisons Director Has Been Named, and Union Officials and Lawmakers Are Optimistic She Will Bring Positive Reforms

The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that the director of the Oregon Department of Corrections will be the new leader of the federal prisons agency, in a move that the bureau’s union and some lawmakers are hopeful will bring meaningful reform to the agency.

The outgoing director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Michael Carvajal, announced in January he would be retiring, but said he would stay until a successor was named. His tenure was marred with scrutiny and pushback from union officials and lawmakers on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages and other issues throughout the federal prison system. Colette Peters will assume her new role on August 2; the job does not require Senate confirmation.  

“The Justice Department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe and protect civil rights depends on an effective, safe and humane correctional system,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement. “Director Peters is uniquely qualified to lead BOP in its efforts to ensure the rehabilitation, health and safety of incarcerated individuals; a safe and secure work environment for correctional staff; and transparency and accountability across federal detention facilities.”

Peters has over 30 years of experience in public safety, including serving as director of the Oregon Department of Corrections since 2012. She was the first woman to hold the position. Peters is also the chair of the National Institute of Corrections Advisory Board and a past vice president of the Association of State Correctional Administrators. 

Peters will be the 12th BOP director since the first one was named in 1930. The first woman to hold the role was Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, who served as director from 1992 to 2003 and then from 2019 to 2020.

The Council of Prison Locals, which represents BOP employees, welcomed the selection of Peters. 

“We are optimistic that we can collaboratively focus on our agency's most difficult challenges by staffing our prisons safely while balancing responsible prison reforms like the First Step Act,” said Shane Fausey, national president of the Council of Prison Locals. “We believe that the lessons learned while leading the Oregon Department of Corrections can be used to effectively improve the BOP.” Additionally, it is extremely important that officer and employee safety are prioritized in all decisions, he said. 

“I am hopeful that together we can learn from our historic past and develop a promising future,” Fausey said. “This is only possible when the Bureau of Prisons and the National Prison Council work collectively while respecting each other's mutual interests.” 

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement on Tuesday, “It’s no secret that BOP has been plagued by misconduct,” as “one investigation after another has revealed a culture of abuse, mismanagement, corruption, torture and death that reaches to the highest levels.” Durbin started calling for Carvajal’s resignation last November.

“I am hopeful that with Colette Peters, Attorney General [Merrick] Garland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco have chosen the right leader to clear out the bureaucratic rot and reform BOP,” Durbin continued. “It is a tall order, and I look forward to working with Ms. Peters to help her succeed in this new role.”

Rep. Fred Keller, R-Pa., chair of the House BOP Reform Caucus, said, “I look forward to maintaining an active and productive relationship with Director Peters in her new capacity on BOP priorities such as improving the agency’s operations, increasing correctional officer staffing levels, and ensuring the safety of staff and inmates.” He added that the caucus “has taken important steps to improve communication with the BOP and Congress since it was formed two years ago.”