The federal Bureau of Prisons has taken steps to address staffing shortages at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The agency has increased staffing levels by about 20%, bringing the total number of employees to 469, although there are still 157 vacant positions.
MDC Brooklyn has been plagued by issues such as dangerous conditions, violence, and multiple deaths, prompting judges to refuse to send people to the facility. Combs' lawyers are advocating for his transfer to a New Jersey jail, citing concerns about the conditions at MDC Brooklyn.
The Bureau of Prisons has formed an Urgent Action Team to address the problems at the jail, focusing on staffing levels and facility maintenance. The team has made repeated visits to MDC Brooklyn and is working to bring the facility back to adequate staffing levels.
In addition to hiring more staff, the Bureau of Prisons has been addressing a maintenance backlog at the jail, completing over 800 work orders for repairs and improvements. The agency has also increased retention bonuses to retain experienced staff at the Brooklyn facility.
Despite these efforts, MDC Brooklyn continues to face challenges, including allegations of staff misconduct and complaints from inmates about conditions such as violence, staffing shortages, and contraband smuggling. The agency has been under increased scrutiny from Congress, leading to a new law overhauling oversight of the federal prison system.
President Joe Biden signed a law in July establishing a new oversight paradigm for the Bureau of Prisons, including the appointment of an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints and risk-based inspections of all federal prison facilities.
