October 1, 2002–March 31, 2003
Office of the Inspector General

THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS

The BOP operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate and detain inmates who have been imprisoned for federal crimes or are awaiting trial or sentencing in federal court. The BOP consists of approximately 36,000 employees, 102 institutions, 6 regional offices, 2 staff training centers, and 29 community corrections offices. The BOP is responsible for the custody and care of approximately 163,000 federal offenders, 137,500 of whom are confined in BOP-operated correctional institutions and detention centers. The remainder are confined in detention centers, privately operated prisons, community corrections centers, juvenile facilities, and facilities operated by state or local governments.

REPORTS ISSUED

THE BOP'S DRUG INTERDICTION ACTIVITIES

In this review, the OIG evaluated whether the BOP has been effective in reducing or eliminating drugs in BOP institutions. We found that drugs are widespread in BOP institutions even though the BOP implements interdiction activities at most entry points in its institutions. Inmates' positive drug tests, misconduct charges, and overdoses show drug use and drug smuggling occur in almost every BOP institution. The OIG identified inmate visitors, staff, and mail as the three primary ways drugs enter BOP institutions. The OIG found that the BOP fails to search visitors adequately and that most of the BOP institutions the OIG visited have insufficient cameras, monitors, and staff to adequately supervise inmate-visiting sessions.

The OIG also determined that the BOP imposes no restrictions on the personal property staff can bring into its institutions, does not search staff or their property when they enter for duty, and does not conduct random drug testing of staff; such activities are common in many state correctional systems. At each BOP institution the OIG visited, staff brought in duffle bags, briefcases, satchels, and large and small coolers. Institution managers, intelligence officers, and correctional officers interviewed by the OIG expressed serious doubt about the effectiveness of the BOP's efforts to eliminate drugs from its institutions when it imposes no control over the property its staff brings inside. In addition, the OIG found that the BOP does not conduct random drug tests of its staff despite having won a federal court case in 1993 to permit such testing and despite a written BOP policy that requires drug testing. The majority of BOP staff interviewed by the OIG supported random drug testing of staff.

The review also examined the BOP's efforts to reduce inmates' demand for drugs. The OIG found that an insufficient number of BOP inmates receive drug treatment, partly because the BOP underestimates and inadequately tracks inmates' treatment needs. The BOP has estimated that 34 percent of all federal inmates need drug treatment. However, the OIG concluded that this figure is outdated and under-represents the number of BOP inmates who need drug treatment. In addition, the OIG concluded that the BOP does not provide adequate nonresidential drug treatment in BOP facilities because of insufficient staffing, lack of policy guidance, and lack of incentives for inmates to seek drug treatment. Even though the BOP states that nonresidential treatment is a major component of its strategy to reduce inmates' demand for drugs, nonresidential treatment was limited or not available at five of the institutions the OIG visited.

The OIG made 15 recommendations to improve the BOP's drug interdiction efforts.

INVESTIGATIONS

During this reporting period, the OIG received 2,435 complaints involving the BOP. The most common allegations made against BOP employees included job performance failure, official misconduct, off-duty misconduct, use of unnecessary force, and denial of rights. The vast majority of complaints dealt with less serious issues, and the OIG referred these allegations to the BOP Office of Internal Affairs.

At the close of the reporting period, the OIG had 216 open cases of alleged misconduct against BOP employees. The criminal investigations cover a wide range of allegations, including introduction of contraband (e.g., drugs), bribery of a public official, and sexual abuse of inmates. The administrative investigations include serious allegations of misconduct, including allegations against high-level employees. Following are some of the cases investigated during this reporting period.

• A BOP correctional officer assigned to the U.S. Penitentiary (USP) in Florence, Colorado, was arrested and pled guilty in the District of Colorado to charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, bribery of a public official, and providing contraband in prison. During an investigation conducted by the Colorado Springs Area Office, FBI, and USP Florence, the correctional officer met with an undercover OIG agent and accepted two ounces of heroin and $1,000 for the purpose of introducing the drugs into the USP. Following his arrest, the correctional officer admitted that he had introduced narcotics into the USP in exchange for money on two prior occasions. The BOP terminated the correctional officer as a result of our investigation. Sentencing is pending.

• Two BOP correctional officers assigned to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Forrest City, Arkansas, were arrested on Arkansas state charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. A joint investigation by the Washington Field Office; BOP; Forrest City, Arkansas, Police Department; and Little Rock, Arkansas, Postal Inspection Service revealed a scheme in which the two BOP correctional officers conspired with an inmate and his wife to introduce drugs into the FCI. The inmate's wife received packages from other inmates' family members that contained drugs and then provided these packages to the BOP correctional officers for distribution in the FCI. The officers received $50 to $100 for each item they introduced. Judicial proceedings continue.

• A former BOP correctional officer, previously assigned to the Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, was arrested and pled guilty in the Northern District of Texas to making false statements. An investigation by the Dallas Area Office revealed that the correctional officer had been involved in a sexual relationship with a female inmate. During his initial interview with the OIG, the correctional officer admitted his guilt but claimed that the relationship was an isolated incident. However, additional investigation revealed that the correctional officer previously had sexual relations with five other inmates. During a second interview with the OIG, the correctional officer confessed to the additional sexual misconduct and also acknowledged that his initial statements were false. Judicial proceedings continue.

• A BOP correctional officer assigned to the FCI in Miami, Florida, was arrested and pled guilty in the Southern District of Florida to charges of bribery of a public official and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A joint investigation by the Miami Field Office and the FBI disclosed that the correctional officer agreed to introduce narcotics into the FCI in return for cash payments. During an undercover meeting, the correctional officer accepted $2,500 for distributing approximately two grams of cocaine to an inmate inside the FCI. Sentencing is pending.

• A BOP correctional officer assigned to the USP in Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested pursuant to a criminal complaint filed in the Northern District of Georgia charging him with bribery of a public official and introduction of contraband into a federal prison. An investigation by the Atlanta Area Office and the FBI revealed that the correctional officer provided marijuana laced with cocaine to an inmate incarcerated at the USP. The correctional officer received $3,500 from the inmate's mother for his services. Judicial proceedings continue.

ONGOING WORK

THE BOP INMATE RELEASE PREPARATION AND TRANSITIONAL REENTRY PROGRAMS

The OIG is auditing the BOP's Inmate Release Preparation and Transitional Reentry Programs to evaluate whether (1) inmate release planning is adequate and continuous from the inmate's initial classification through final release, (2) institutional and unit Release Preparation Programs provide consistent quality of services among facilities, and (3) management and oversight of contract transitional programs at Community Corrections Centers are adequate.