Skip to main content

Bureau of Prisons

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations (32 total)

Bureau of Prisons: Opportunities Exist to Better Assist Incarcerated People with Obtaining ID Documents Prior to Release

GAO-23-105302
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should ensure that BOP policy requires BOP facility staff to record complete and consistent data on whether or not incarcerated people possess each type of ID document. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In December 2022, we reported on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) efforts to assist incarcerated individuals with obtaining identification (ID) documents. We found that in 2018, BOP began recording the ID document status of incarcerated people in its case management system, but some BOP data related to ID status were not collected in a complete or consistent way. For example, BOP did not contain the ID status for 10 percent of people released from 2018 through 2021. In addition, we found that BOP may not have consistent data on what it means when it reports that a person has an ID document. Consequently, we recommended that BOP should ensure that its policy requires BOP facility staff to record complete and consistent data on whether or not incarcerated people possess each type of ID document. In response, as of September 2023 and again in January 2024, BOP officials stated they are revising its policy (Program Statement on Unit Management and Inmate Program Review), which will require employees to record relevant data. To fully address this recommendation, BOP should finalize this new policy and provide it to us for review.
Bureau of Prisons Once BOP collects complete and consistent ID data and examines its existing data fields, the Director of BOP should analyze data bureauwide to gain a better understanding of why people do not have certain ID documents and how the agency can take steps to better assist these people. (Recommendation 4)
Open
In December 2022, we reported on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) efforts to assist incarcerated individuals with obtaining identification (ID) documents. We found that in 2018, BOP began recording the ID document status of incarcerated people in its case management system. However, it had not analyzed data on the number of people released with each type of ID document or the reasons why people do not have ID documents, though some of these data were available in BOP's data system. Thus, BOP did not have a complete understanding of why people do not have certain ID documents. Consequently, we recommended that once BOP collects complete and consistent ID data and examines its existing data fields, BOP should analyze data bureauwide to gain a better understanding of why people do not have certain ID documents and how the agency can take steps to better assist these people. In response, as of September 2023, BOP officials stated they have begun taking steps to collect complete and consistent ID data and examine its existing data fields (recommendations 2 and 3), and plan to conduct a biannual analysis of its ID data to better understand and mitigate the reasons why incarcerated individuals do not have certain ID documents. In January 2024, BOP officials noted that they plan to complete an initial analysis of ID data by July 2024, to coincide with its semi-annual data review. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to implement recommendations 2 and 3 and then complete its ID data analysis.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should make changes to the Statement of Work for RRCs to ensure that in future or renegotiated contracts, the RRCs are required to collect and regularly report data to BOP on the number of people obtaining ID documents while residing at RRCs. (Recommendation 5)
Open
In December 2022, we reported on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) efforts to assist incarcerated individuals with obtaining identification (ID) documents. We found that in 2018, BOP began recording the ID document status of incarcerated people in its case management system. BOP requires residential reentry centers (RRCs) to assist residents released from BOP facilities to an RRC with obtaining ID documents and maintain data on the number who have ID documents. However, BOP does not collect ID-related data on people in their custody once they have transferred to RRCs. Consequently, we recommended BOP make changes to the Statement of Work for RRCs to ensure that in future or renegotiated contracts, the RRCs are required to collect and regularly report data to BOP on the number of people obtaining ID documents while residing at RRCs. In response, as of September 2023, BOP officials stated they are making revisions to its RRC Statement of Work that would address this recommendation. In addition, BOP officials stated that the agency has begun using Day Reporting Centers to augment the use of RRCs, and has revised the Statement of Work for these entities to require quarterly reporting of ID status for people using their services. In January 2024, BOP officials stated that the agency continues to review and revise the RRC Statement of Work, which it anticipated completing in April 2024. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to finalize the revision of its RRC Statement of Work.

Federal Prisons: Bureau of Prisons Should Improve Efforts to Implement its Risk and Needs Assessment System

GAO-23-105139
Show
1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons
Priority Rec.
The Director of BOP should collect and monitor participation data for unstructured productive activities that incarcerated people are able to participate in and earn First Step Act time credits. (Recommendation 8)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP did not collect or monitor participation data on unstructured productive activities that incarcerated people are able to participate in and earn First Step Act time credits. We recommended that BOP collect and monitor such data. BOP did not concur with this recommendation. In response to our report, BOP stated that it was not statutorily required to do so, nor would it be helpful, to monitor these activities. While the First Step Act and implementing regulations do not explicitly require BOP to monitor these activities, the Act and regulations do provide an opportunity for eligible incarcerated people to earn First Step Act time credits if they successfully participate in programs or productive activities recommended based on their risk and needs assessment. In February 2024, BOP officials stated that unstructured productive activities do not have an impact on opt-in status, and that opt-in status is how BOP defines "successful participation" for the purposes of First Step Act time credits. BOP revised its First Step Act Approved Programs Guide in September 2023 to clarify this point. However, this is not consistent with BOP's program statement that states eligible incarcerated people who successfully participate in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities, including unstructured productive activities, may earn time credits. It further states that successful participation requires a determination by BOP staff that an eligible person has participated in the evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities that BOP has recommended based on the person's risk and needs assessment and the person has complied with the requirements of each program or productive activity. BOP officials stated they are aware of the inaccuracies in the program statement and are in the process of revising it, with a goal to complete internal development in 2024. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need take these actions or update its policy to reflect these changes.

Bureau of Prisons: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Restrictive Housing Practices

GAO-24-105737
Show
4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should develop and execute an approach to fully implement all the 2014 and 2016 restrictive housing reports recommendations. For each recommendation that has not yet been implemented, the approach should include assigning implementation responsibility to appropriate officials, establishing a time frame for completion, and monitoring progress. In instances where BOP does not concur with a 2014 recommendation or deems it impractical, it should document its rationale and the alternative steps, if any, it plans to take. (Recommendation 1)
Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should enhance oversight by developing and implementing a process to verify and document that facilities have implemented corrective actions that fully address all deficiencies. (Recommendation 2)
Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should develop and implement a mechanism to identify causes of common deficiencies that recur across multiple facilities and take steps to address those causes. (Recommendation 3)
Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should conduct an evaluation of previous SMU placements to determine and address the cause of disproportionate representation of individuals in certain racial groups in the SMU population. (Recommendation 4)
Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Federal Prisons: Bureau of Prisons Should Improve Efforts to Implement its Risk and Needs Assessment System

GAO-23-105139
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should collect and maintain complete and accurate data in a readily-available format on First Step Act risk and needs assessments, including the actual dates when First Step Act risk and needs assessments and reassessments are conducted. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP does not have readily-available, complete, and accurate data to determine if risk and needs assessments were conducted within the First Step Act required and BOP established timeframes. We recommended that BOP collect and maintain such data and BOP concurred. In response, in September 2023, BOP officials stated that they planned to enhance its auto-calculation time credits application to integrate risk, needs, and time credits assessments into a single, monthly automated process. According to BOP, the auto-calculation application will ensure that BOP is able to collect and maintain complete and accurate data in a readily-available format, including the actual dates when First Step Act risk and needs assessments and reassessments are conducted. In February 2024, BOP officials stated they anticipated enhancements to be completed in September 2024. Further, officials stated that they had resolved the data issues we identified in our report by developing a code to prevent incorrect dates from being recorded. We have requested more documentation of this resolution. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to finalize these efforts and provide documentation on how this application addressed issues related to data completeness and accuracy, such as ensuring dates assigned to each assessment represent the accurate date the assessment was completed.

Law Enforcement: Federal Agencies Should Improve Reporting and Review of Less-Lethal Force

GAO-22-104470
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should update BOP's use of force policy to address the use of force during demonstrations occurring near and far from federal institutions. (Recommendation 1)
Open
Department of Justice officials stated that the Bureau of Prisons is updating its use of force policy to address the use of force during demonstrations occurring near and far from federal institutions. As of March 2024, the department did not provide an estimated timeframe from when the Bureau of Prisons policy will be updated, but officials previously noted that the policy was in a post-union and management review period. The officials noted that this is the final step in the formal review process prior to the Executive Team's final review and the Director's signature. We will continue to request updates from the department as it takes actions to address our recommendation.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages