Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, DC – I am pleased to see the Department of Justice Board of Inquiry Report, released Monday, on the homicide of Correctional Officer Jose Rivera. This report has shed light on the management practices and the circumstances surrounding Officer Rivera’s death at USP Atwater in June of 2008.

I am currently reviewing this report and plan to follow up with Bureau of Prisons Director Harley Lappin in the coming weeks. I plan to discuss the findings and recommendations with him in order to determine what further actions may be taken to ensure our nation’s prisons are safe and well equipped.

Our community efforts over the past year have resulted in the appointment of a new warden, Hector Rios, Jr., in whom I have incredible confidence. Further, our efforts have brought significant federal prison policy changes, which have made our institutions safer and have provided additional safeguards for those who staff our federal penitentiaries. We will continue to pursue further actions.