Over the past decade and before, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has conducted extensive oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). This compilation of non-investigative OIG reports, Management Advisory Memoranda (MAM), survey results, and data dashboards references the oversight the OIG has conducted of the BOP, organized around four topical themes: (1) Safety and Security of BOP Institutions, (2) Health and Welfare of Inmates, (3) Inmate Management Programs and Staffing, and (4) Cost Management.
The BOP generally has been responsive to findings and recommendations in our prior oversight products, with about 80 percent of the recommendations from reports and MAMs closed as of January 2022. Nonetheless, numerous important recommendations remain open, and as these reports, MAMs and our 2021 Top Management and Performance Challenges Report reflect, the BOP continues to face significant and serious issues in each of these areas that require the consistent and substantial attention of BOP and Department of Justice leadership.
The OIG’s investigative summaries of administrative misconduct by BOP officials can be found here.
To download a PDF of this compendium, click here.
Safety and Security of BOP Institutions
Ensuring the safety and security of BOP inmates and staff is among the BOP’s highest priorities. Critical threats to their safety include the introduction of contraband into BOP facilities, such as cell phones or illegal drugs, inadequate monitoring of high-risk inmates, including terrorist inmates, and sexual misconduct or abuse.
The OIG has conducted significant reviews of issues related to the BOP’s security camera system, staff search policy, and protection against unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and identified its impacts on the contraband threat.
- Management Advisory Memorandum: Notification of Needed Upgrades to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Security Camera System- October 2021
- Management Advisory Memorandum: Notification of Urgent Security Concerns Involving Staff Entering BOP Facilities- August 2021
- Management Advisory Memorandum: Notification of Security Concerns at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Camp Locations- June 2021
- Audit of the Department of Justice’s Efforts to Protect Federal Bureau of Prisons Facilities Against Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems- September 2020
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Contraband Interdiction Efforts- June 2016
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Drug Interdiction Activities- January 2003
The OIG has reviewed the BOP’s efforts, especially in the post-9/11 environment, to prevent radicalization of the inmate population.
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management and Oversight of its Chaplaincy Services Program- July 2021
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Monitoring of Inmate Communications to Prevent Radicalization- March 2020
- Management Advisory Memorandum of Concerns Identified with the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Compliance with Department of Justice Requirements on the Use and Monitoring of Computers, Cybersecurity, and Records Retention- March 2020
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Monitoring of Mail for High-Risk Inmates- September 2006
- A Review of the Bureau of Prisons’ Selection of Muslim Religious Service Providers- April 2004
The OIG has evaluated the BOP's procedures for reporting, handling, and deterring staff and inmate misconduct and has investigated such allegations. The OIG has also evaluated the BOP's implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), which directs prison officials to make the prevention of sexual abuse in prisons a top management priority. In addition to the reports and Management Advisory Memoranda compiled here, investigative summaries of administrative misconduct by BOP officials can be found here.
- Findings of Misconduct by a Bureau of Prisons Warden for Failing to Address a Lack of Heat in Housing Units, Failing to Maintain a Functioning Camera System Throughout the Facility, and Lack of Candor- August 2021
- Management Advisory Memorandum of Concerns Identified in the Federal Bureau of Prisons Time-Sensitive Reporting Process- February 2020
- Management of the Special Programs Unit at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York- September 2015
- Progress Report on the Department of Justice’s Implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act- October 2014
- Enhanced Screening of BOP Correctional Officer Candidates Could Reduce Likelihood of Misconduct- September 2011
- The Department of Justice’s Efforts to Prevent Staff Sexual Abuse of Federal Inmates- September 2009
- Deterring Staff Sexual Abuse of Federal Inmates- April 2005
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Disciplinary System- September 2004
Health and Welfare of Inmates
The BOP is responsible for providing its inmate population adequate medical care and humane living conditions. The OIG has reviewed various BOP programs, facilities, and services intended to meet this important need.
The OIG has conducted extensive work to monitor the BOP’s efforts to provide essential physical and emotional healthcare to inmates at its facilities:
- Management Advisory Memorandum of Concerns Identified with the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Procurement of Food Products, Investigations Division (Reissued)- June 2020
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Pharmaceutical Drug Costs and Procurement- February 2020
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Use of Restrictive Housing for Inmates with Mental Illness- July 2017
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Monitoring of Contract Prisons- August 2016
- Review of the Impact of an Aging Inmate Population on the Federal Bureau of Prisons- May 2015
- Follow-Up Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Manage Inmate Health Care- July 2010
- The Federal Bureau of Prison’s Efforts to Manage Inmate Health Care- February 2008
Maintaining its facilities in operationally sound condition and in compliance with security, safety, and environmental requirements; ensuring the accuracy of inmates’ incarceration terms; and providing programs to prepare inmates to reenter society as productive and law-abiding citizens are critical components of the BOP’s mission. The OIG has reviewed all of these areas:
- The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) collection of interactive dashboards relating to COVID-19 within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
- Staff Perceptions of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Follow-Up Survey of BOP Staff- September 2021
- Remote Inspection of Metropolitan Correctional Center Chicago- March 2021
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Complex Butner- January 2021
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Institution Milan- January 2021
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island- January 2021
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Complex Coleman- January 2021
- Remote Inspection of Federal Medical Center Fort Worth- December 2020
- Remote Inspection of the CORE Services Group, Inc.’s Brooklyn House Residential Reentry Center, Brooklyn, New York- November 2020
- Remote Inspection of the GEO Group, Inc.’s Toler House Residential Reentry Center, Newark, New Jersey- November 2020
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Complexes Oakdale and Pollock- November 2020
- Remote Inspection of Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn- November 2020
- Remote Inspection of Federal Bureau of Prisons Contract Correctional Institution Giles W. Dalby, Operated by Management & Training Corporation- August 2020
- Remote Inspection of Federal Bureau of Prisons Contract Correctional Institution Moshannon Valley, Operated by the GEO Group, Inc.- August 2020
- Remote Inspection of Federal Bureau of Prisons Contract Correctional Institution McRae, Operated by CoreCivic- August 2020
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Complex Tucson- July 2020
- Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Complex Lompoc- July 2020
- Review and Inspection of Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn Facilities Issues and Related Impacts on Inmates- September 2019
- Review of the Department of Justice’s Implementation of the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013- December 2018
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management of Its Female Inmate Population- September 2018
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management of Inmate Placements in Residential Reentry Centers and Home Confinement- November 2016
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Release Preparation Program- August 2016
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Monitoring of Contract Prisons- August 2016
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Untimely Releases of Inmates- May 2016
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Armory Munitions and Equipment- March 2016
- Audit of the Management of Federal Prison Industries And Efforts To Create Work Opportunities For Federal Inmates- September 2013
Inmate Management Programs and Staffing
The BOP’s mission includes proactively managing its offender population to ensure safe and secure operations and providing staff who are ethical, professional, well-trained, and diverse.
The OIG has monitored the effectiveness of the BOP’s implementation of various inmate management programs:
- Management Advisory Memorandum: Impact of the Failure to Conduct Formal Policy Negotiations on the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Implementation of the First Step Act and Closure of OIG Recommendations- November 2021
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management of Its Female Inmate Population- September 2018
- Status Review on the Department’s International Prisoner Transfer Program- August 2015
- Review of the Impact of an Aging Inmate Population on the Federal Bureau of Prisons- May 2015
- Audit of the Management of Federal Prison Industries and Efforts to Create Work Opportunities for Federal Inmates- September 2013
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Compassionate Release Program- May 2013
- Review of the Department of Justice’s International Prisoner Transfer Program- December 2011
- Audit of the Department of Justice Processing of Clemency Petitions- September 2011
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Furlough Program- September 2010
The OIG has conducted multiple reviews of the BOP's staffing level, hiring procedures, and the effects of staffing levels on BOP operations:
- Management Advisory: Analysis of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Fiscal Year 2019 Overtime Hours and Costs- December 2020
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Use of Restrictive Housing for Inmates with Mental Illness- July 2017
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contract No. DJBP0616BPA12004 Awarded to Spectrum Services, Inc., Victorville, California- March 2017
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contract with CoreCivic, Inc. to Operate the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Mississippi- December 2016
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Medical Staffing Challenges- March 2016
- Review of the Impact of an Aging Inmate Population on the Federal Bureau of Prisons- May 2015
Cost Management
Maintaining cost-efficient facilities and being a good steward of public funds are essential to the BOP’s mission. In FY 2021, the BOP’s enacted budget was approximately $8.1 billion, representing over 23 percent of the DOJ’s overall budget that year.The BOP is the largest DOJ component, with 122 institutions, 6 regional offices, a headquarters, 2 staff training centers, and 22 residential reentry management offices nationwide. The BOP manages almost 154,000 inmates and almost 37,000 staff as of January 2022. The OIG conducts reviews, evaluations, and audits of the BOP’s budget management and expenditures to ensure that the BOP is utilizing its funds and managing its operations efficiently and effectively.
The OIG has conducted numerous audits examining the effectiveness of the BOP’s oversight of its contracts and cost management:
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Perimeter Security Strategy and Efforts Related to the Contract Awarded to DeTekion Security Systems, Incorporated, to Update the Lethal/Non-Lethal Fence at Nine United States Penitentiaries- September 2020
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contract Awarded to Correct Care Solutions, LLC for the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida- September 2019
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Perimeter Security Upgrade Contract for Administrative U.S. Penitentiary Thomson Awarded to the DeTekion Security Systems, Incorporated- March 2019
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Residential Reentry Center Contracts Awarded to Reynolds & Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.- September 2018
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contracts Awarded to Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates, Inc., San Diego, California- September 2018
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contract Awarded to Sealaska Constructors, LLC, to Build Facilities at Federal Correctional Institution Danbury, in Danbury, Connecticut- September 2018
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Residential Reentry Center Contracts Awarded to Reynolds & Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.- September 2018
- Audit of Contract No. DJBP0616BPA12004 Awarded to Spectrum Services, Inc. for Dental Services, Victorville, California- March 2017
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Contract No. DJB1PC007 Awarded to Reeves County, Texas to Operate the Reeves County Detention Center I/II- April 2015
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contracting For and Management of Residential Reentry Centers- March 2012
The OIG has found that the BOP needs to better manage the cost of providing medical care to its inmate population:
- Management Advisory Memorandum: Notification of Concerns Identified in Connection with the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Procurement of Air Ambulance Services- April 2021
- Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Pharmaceutical Drug Costs and Procurement- February 2020
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Reimbursement Rates for Outside Medical Care- June 2016
- Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Improve Acquisition Through Strategic Sourcing- March 2014