WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is significantly enhancing its efforts to tackle the alarming rates of suicide and other systemic challenges faced in federal prisons and jails. This initiative was announced recently, highlighting extensive reforms aimed at transforming the delivery of mental health care within these facilities.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco detailed these measures in a memo and accompanying report, instructing the Bureau of Prisons to revise its suicide prevention strategies, enhance mental health evaluations for inmates, and implement data-focused methods to decrease the number of fatalities in custody. These reforms will also extend to facilities managed by the U.S. Marshals Service, marking a more comprehensive attempt to rectify ongoing issues within the federal detention framework.

The 14-page report emphasizes that these new measures “will bolster the Department’s capacity to mitigate the risk of suicide among adults in federal custody and promote a culture of safety throughout its institutions.” The initiative responds to growing scrutiny of the federal prison system, especially following a critical report from the Justice Department’s inspector general earlier this year. This report identified critical failures—similar to those that permitted financier Jeffrey Epstein’s death in 2019—that have led to numerous fatalities among federal inmates throughout the years.

An ongoing investigation has unveiled significant problems within the Bureau of Prisons, including widespread misconduct, staff sexual abuse, multiple escapes, ongoing violence, and staffing shortages that hinder employees’ ability to manage emergencies effectively.

Monaco, who has focused on prison reform during her time in office, has been urging agency leaders to address these pressing issues. She has organized regular meetings aimed at effecting change in one of the most problematic areas of the federal government.

In her memo, which has been made available, Monaco asserted that the Justice Department must work diligently to “prevent every avoidable death of an individual under its care.” She emphasized that those in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service or the Federal Bureau of Prisons should undergo prompt mental health evaluations and have timely access to essential mental health services that could potentially save lives.

The Justice Department aims to adopt a “multi-faceted approach to lowering the risk of suicide and self-harm” for both detainees and staff members, as articulated in the memo.

“The Department of Justice is dedicated to safeguarding the health and safety of every person in our care,” Monaco remarked in a statement. “The reforms announced today—developed by experts across the Department’s various divisions—will significantly reduce the risk of suicide in federal facilities. In essence, these measures have the potential to save lives.”