charles samuel testifies that the system does not practice solitary confinement. one former inmate, hyper kerman, author of "orange is the new black," tells a different story. senator johnson: good morning. this hearing will come to order. let me just say, i am really looking forward to this one. i was telling the witnesses, i have read all of the testimony, and i generally do that to the best of my ability, sometimes the testimony provided before this committee can be a little dry and as i'm reading late at night will put me to sleep. not so in this case whatsoever. i think the testimony was fascinating, partly because i am somewhat new to this issue. somewhat new to this issue. i will keep my opening statement somewhat brief, because i know senator booker would like to make an opening statement. i am happy to have him do so because he has been involved in this issue longer than i have. i just want to make a couple of brief remarks. being a business guy i am pretty data driven. the data, the statistics, on this particular problem -- the severe prison sentence wit

the testimony by charles samuels, the current director, is also powerful and lays out a little bit of the problem in terms of the dual mission of the bureau of prisons. let me read from the testimony. the dual fold mission is to protect society by confining prisoners in a safe and cost effective and secure facility. and second, to make sure that the prisoners are actively participating in programs to make them better law-abiding citizens when they return to society. that is a tough task. i wish i could say i could look at the statistics and say we were really nailing it, we have the problem solved. we are a long way from it. the testimony in the federal system, we have only a 41% recidivism rate. in state and local it is a little over 60% . we may be doing better in state and local, but that is a long way from a successful result. i'm sure you will agree with me. i will not steal the thunder from mrs. kerman's testimony, but i want you to pay attention to the quote she provides from thomas mott osborne. it will lay out the issue and ask the question we should be asking as a civilized

charles e. samuels junior. director of the federal bureau of prisons and was appointed on december 21st 2011. he's a career administrator previously serving as the assistant director of the correctional program's division where he oversaw all inmate management and functions. mr. samuels. >> good morning chairman and members of the committee. i thank you for your time and focus on the issue of federal corrections. i'm pleased to discuss the operations of the federal bureau of prisons. i'm also pleased to speak on behalf of the 39,000 dedicated correctional workers across the country who are on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support the bureau's public safety mission. we protect society by confining the standards and facilities that are safe cost effective, and appropriately secure. we provide programs to help them become law-abiding citizens. simply stated we protect society and reduce crime. but we face significant challenges. the bureau does not control the number of offenders who enter our syste

i especially want to thank charles samuels who met with me personally.ave had great conversations with. his tenure is actually coming to an end. but he is a dedicated public servant. >> thanks. we all want to thank the witnesses and welcome them. it is is the tradition to swearing witnesses. if you all rise and will raise your right hand. do you swear the testimony you will give before this committee will be the truth, the whole treating and nothing but the truth so help you god. >> i do. >> thank you. please be seated. our first welcome is ms. piper-kermin, author of orange is the new black. she is a board member of the women's prison association. >> mr. chairman, ranking member, and members of the committee, i appreciate you inviting me here today. in my memoir i account in detail the 13 months i spent incarcerated in the federal prison sentence with most of my time served at the federal institution in danbury, connecticut. i have worked with many women and men who are returned citizens like me. and we all want to get back on our feet, to reclaim our r

charles samuel junior. 21,as appointed on december 2011. he oversaw all inmate management and program functions. he was also responsible for initiating reentry initiatives. samuels:: i thank you for your time. i am pleased to discuss the operations of the federal bureau .rison . i am also pleased to speak on behalf of of the employees. by applyingociety standards of facilities that are safe, humane, and secure. we provide programs to help them become law-abiding citizens. simply stated, we protect society and reduce crime. we face challenges. the bureau does not control the number of people that come into the system or the length of stay. we are required to maintain safety, security, and effective reentry programs. we house people convicted of a variety of offenses. many have extensive histories of violence. drug offenders make up almost half of our population. house many, we offenders guilty -- convicted of international terrorism. the bureau is the largest agency in the country with 122 federal prisons, 178 community-based facilities. the

. >>> the witnesses will include inspector general michael horowitz and charles samuels. that's live at 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. here on c-span 3 we'll have a hearing that looks at foster care issues with state government officials. that's being held by the senate finance committee. live coverage beginning at 10:00 a.m. eastern. >>> next a look at the social needs of children in military families and the current resources available to them. this was part of an event hosted by the military child education coalition. it's 35 minutes. >> well, good morning. hey, look, don't you love those defining moments? i mean they're really, really awesome. well, welcome to the family program town hall. i'd like toinlt deuce our panelists we have up here. first we have lieutenant general david albertson who is commander of the army assistant chief of staff for insti lags management, we have the air force deputy chief of staff for manpower and services. vice admiral dixon r. smith, naval command. and the honorable danny g.i.pummel, the principal deputy under veterans administration a

justice department inspector general michael horowicz and federal bureau of prisons director charles samuels. that's live at 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. and here on c-span3, we'll have a hearing that looks at foster care issues with advocates and state government officials. that's being held by the senate finance committee. live coverage beginning at 10:00 a.m. eastern. next, a look at how medicare is working 50 years after being signed into law by president lyndon johnson. this is from washington journal. it's an hour. >> in july medicare marked its 50th anniversary. here to discuss that, gale wolinski. served from 1990 to 1992. and dr. robert barrenson. served from 2000 to 2001. thank you both for being here. i want to show viewers and you what the president lyndon johnson had to say 5 years ago when he signed this legislation into law. take a look. >> there are more than 18 million americans over age of 65. most of them have low income. most of them are threatened by illness and medical expenses that they cannot afford. until this new law, mr. president, every citizen will be able in hi

samuel of the daily news. >>> wnba at the garden. that's becky ham mond now an assistnt for the spurs. the former liberty guard inducked in to the team's ring of honor. meanwhile tina charles delivers against the storm. 29 points and eight boards. the liberty improve to 13-6. 78-62 the time there. >>> july was certainly a month to remember in new york sports. some athletes clearly as we saw made big mistakes. some hit big milestones. one special group is celebrating with a trip down the canyon of heroes. a look at new york sports from july. >> we didn't come here to take second place. >> i haven't slept a wink yet. >> the world cup was a dream come true. having this parade in new york city is one of my best moments of my entire life. >> thank you guys so much. we love you new york city. >> three-run walk-off home run! oh, what a weekend. >> concerns tonight about a key player with the new york giants, seriously injured in a fireworks accident. >> jason pierre paul-hand expected. today. >> the question comes in to play, can he play with nine fingers? >> next time you see deron williams at the barclays center, he won't be wearing a brooklyn uniform. >> from the new york yank

charles samuels of the federal theau of prisons testifies system does not practice solitary confinement, while p kerman totally a different story. this is three hours. not so in this case whatsoever. i think the testimony was fascinating, partly because i am somewhat new to this issue. i will keep my opening statement somewhat brief, because i know senator booker would like to make an opening statement. i am happy to have him do so because he has been involved in this issue longer than i have. i just want to make a couple of brief remarks. being a business guy i am pretty data driven. the data, the statistics, on this particular problem -- the severe prison sentence with a high level incarceration rates -- are pretty stark. in 1980, there were 25,000 people in the federal prison systems. today there are 29000, a 736% increase as our population has only increased 40%. in total, there were 500,000 people in prison in 1980, today there are 2.3 million. america has the highest level of incarceration in the world. in 2013, 716 people per 100,000 in the population. the next closest country wa