Report Number I-2003-002
January 2003
APPENDIX III
CATEGORIES OF INMATE DRUG TESTS
BOP Program Statement 6060.08, Urine Surveillance and Narcotic Identification, authorizes the following inmate drug tests:
- Random - Each institution is required to perform a specific percentage of random inmate drug tests each month. The required percentage varies according to the security level of the institution. Effective November 1999, each high security level institution is required to randomly test 10 percent (up from 7 percent) of its total inmate population. Each medium, low, and administrative security level institution is required to perform random testing on 5 percent of its total population. Each minimum security level institution is required to perform random testing on 3 percent (down from 5 percent) of its total population. The Administrative Maximum Security Penitentiary Florence, Colorado, and the USP Marion, Illinois, are required to conduct 5 percent random testing monthly of the total population.
- Prior Act - Inmates sanctioned administratively for specific drug-related charges are tested monthly for 24 continuous months.
- Suspected - Inmates identified through intelligence (e.g., telephone monitoring, mail monitoring, or following a specific incident or act of violence) can be required to submit to monthly testing over consecutive months, usually a minimum of three consecutive months. If an inmate tests positive, the inmate is placed on the Prior Act list for 24 months of consecutive testing. If an inmate on the Suspected test list does not test positive during the initial three consecutive month testing period, the inmate is typically removed from the list. However, an institution may continue testing an inmate until BOP determines that the inmate no longer represents a threat to the institution.
- Disruptive Groups - Inmates identified and monitored because of gang affiliations are tested. Specifically, inmates identified as members of one of five monitored gangs are assigned "Disruptive Group" status. Every disruptive group member undergoes monthly testing indefinitely. In addition, inmates with known affiliations to other identified gangs are assigned "Security Threat Group" status and are tested monthly.
- Saturation - The warden and staff may target specific large groups of inmates for testing, such as an inmate work group or selected housing units.
- Community Activities - At least 50 percent of inmates involved in community activities are tested, including all inmates with a history of drug use.