A major federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, which processes 27,000 inmates annually, is grappling with critical problems, including inadequate healthcare, deteriorating facilities, and staff harassment by other employees, according to a report from the Justice Department’s inspector general released on Thursday.
The issues at the medium-security prison are similar to those seen across facilities managed by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). However, the scale of dysfunction at Lewisburg surprised investigators from the inspector general’s office, which has been conducting surprise inspections to expose funding, staffing, and management deficiencies.
Among the most troubling findings was the prison’s medical director’s decision to stop antidepressant medication for 15 inmates without consultation or medical examination, violating bureau protocols and putting inmates at risk for depression and self-harm.
The report also highlighted the medical staff’s failure to provide essential care, including cancer screenings and diabetes tests.
Investigators found inappropriate behavior among corrections staff, including the display of inmate-made Nazi-themed artwork in staff-only areas and the use of sexual slurs directed at fellow employees. Michael E. Horowitz, the inspector general, expressed deep concern, stating that the findings were unexpected.
“The sheer number of inmates passing through Lewisburg creates overwhelming challenges for its leadership, compounded by severe understaffing,” Horowitz said. “This impacts everything from safety to healthcare.”
A key issue is the BOP’s flawed staffing system, which is supposed to determine staffing needs at federal prisons. This system, part of an effort by BOP director Colette S. Peters to improve employee recruitment and retention, underestimated the staff required to maintain basic operations at Lewisburg, which serves as a transit hub for inmates from the Northeast.
During the inspection, only 191 of the 245 budgeted correctional security positions were filled, meaning the existing staff had to work extensive overtime shifts. Prison leaders told investigators they needed 265 employees to handle the workload, while the BOP’s staffing tool estimated the need at 197, close to the actual staffing level at the time.
In response to the report, Peters acknowledged the challenges and stated that the BOP was working to address discrepancies in staffing estimates. She also suggested that Lewisburg’s shift in mission, from a traditional prison to a transport hub where inmates are housed for short periods, may have contributed to some of the issues highlighted.
Peters commended the prison’s staff for managing the evolving demands but emphasized that many problems stemmed from staff behavior, not just staffing shortages.
One significant concern was the medical director’s decision to stop antidepressants for 15 inmates over concerns about drug interactions. Investigators noted that the director did not meet with the inmates and relied solely on their medical records, violating the standard practice of gradually reducing medication to prevent severe depression.
Prison staff also reported verbal abuse towards inmates and colleagues, as well as ongoing harassment over the years. Investigators confirmed these claims, finding sexually explicit graffiti targeting certain employees in restricted areas.
Additionally, staff displayed inmate-drawn art featuring Nazi symbols and gang-related imagery in an office accessible only to staff, which investigators said contributed to a hostile work environment and undermined employee morale.
The Bureau of Prisons has launched an investigation into these findings, according to Peters.
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