A Federal Bureau of Prisons employee has died after being exposed to an unidentified substance in the mailroom of the U.S. penitentiary in Atwater, California, according to a bureau spokesperson.
Sources informed media that the Bureau of Prisons is investigating whether the substance involved was fentanyl.
On Friday, the employee began feeling unwell after coming into contact with the substance and was immediately taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Another employee who was also exposed to the substance was treated at the hospital and has since been released.
“Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of our fallen Bureau employee,” a spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy and the grief of our Bureau community, we have no further details to share at this time.”
The Council of Prison Locals, the largest union representing BOP employees, has been advocating for increased safety measures in mailrooms, according to Council President Brandy Moore-White.
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In December 2023, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) introduced a bill that would require the Bureau of Prisons to electronically scan all mail entering its facilities. The bill is currently stalled in the Judiciary Committee, and it is unclear what the current mail handling procedures are.
