DOJ Audit Finds Staffing Shortages, ICE Detainees Straining Berlin Federal Prison

Ongoing staffing shortages, along with an influx of ICE detainees, are straining operations inside the federal men’s prison in Berlin, according to an audit by the U.S. Department of Justice released Thursday. Investigators from the department’s Office of the Inspector General praised the prison’s leadership and employees, calling them “dedicated to maintaining a safe environment,” but said the facility struggled to regularly monitor inmates and failed to arrange medical appointments with outside providers in a timely manner. The auditors made several recommendations, including better tracking of inmate health requests and ensuring correctional officers conduct regular rounds inside the facility. The facility’s warden did not respond to a request for comment.