The United States Government Manual

Bureau of Prisons

320 First Street NW., Washington, DC 20534



DIRECTOR	Michael Carvajal
Deputy Director	Gene Beasley

https://www.bop.gov/about/agency/leadership.jsp

The BOP was established in 1930 to provide more progressive and humane care for Federal inmates, to professionalize the prison service, and to ensure consistent and centralized administration of the 11 Federal prisons in operation at that time. Today, the Bureau comprises more than 100 institutions and 6 regional offices. The Bureau has its headquarters, also known as Central Office, in Washington, DC. The Central Office is divided into 10 divisions, including the National Institute of Corrections.

The Correctional Programs Division (CPD) is responsible for inmate classification and programming, including psychology and religious services, substance abuse treatment, case management, and programs for special needs offenders. CPD provides policy direction and daily operational oversight of institution security, emergency preparedness, intelligence gathering, inmate discipline, inmate sentence computations, receiving and discharge, and inmate transportation, as well as coordinating international treaty transfers and overseeing the special security needs of inmates placed in the Federal Witness Protection Program. CPD administers contracts and intergovernmental agreements for the confinement of offenders in community-based programs, community corrections centers, and other facilities, including privately managed facilities. CPD staff is also involved in the Bureau's privatization efforts.

The Industries, Education, and Vocational Training Division oversees Federal Prison Industries, or UNICOR, which is a wholly owned Government corporation that provides employment and training opportunities for inmates confined in Federal correctional facilities. Additionally, it is responsible for oversight of educational, occupational, and vocational training and leisure-time programs, as well as those related to inmate release preparation.

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) provides technical assistance, training, and information to State and local corrections agencies throughout the country, as well as the Bureau. It also provides research assistance and documents through the NIC Information Center.

https://www.bop.gov/about/agency

Sources of Information

A–Z Index

An alphabetical subject index helps visitors navigate the website's content.

https://www.bop.gov/website/a_to_z_topics.jsp

Archived Records

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that BOP records have been assigned to record group 129.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/129.html

Business Opportunities

Information is available on the "Let's Do Business" web page.

http://www.bop.gov/business

Career Opportunities

Job openings are posted online. For additional career-related information, contact any regional or field office or the Central Office, 320 First Street NW., Washington, DC 20534. Phone, 202-307-3082.

http://www.bop.gov/jobs

In 2020, the BOP ranked 387th among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.

https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=DJ03

Contact Information

The BOP has a "Contact Us" web page.

https://www.bop.gov/contact

Federal Register

Significant documents and documents that the BOP recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/prisons-bureau

Find an Inmate

The Department's website features a search tool for locating Federal inmates who were incarcerated after 1981.

https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Enacted in 1966, the FOIA took effect on July 4, 1967. The law gives a right to obtain access to Federal agency records to any person, except a fugitive from the law. Some records, or portions of them, are shielded, however, from disclosure by one or more of nine statutory exemptions or by specific harm that disclosure may cause.

https://www.bop.gov/foia/index.jsp#tabs-0 | Email: ogc_efoia@bop.gov

The BOP posts records online. Before filing a formal FOIA request, an information seeker should visit the BOP's "Freedom of Information" web page and view the records section to ensure that the desired information is not already freely accessible.

https://www.bop.gov/foia/index.jsp#tabs-1

Locations

The "Our Locations" web page features a list of locations, a search tool that requires the facility's name, and location maps (national, regional, type of facility).

https://www.bop.gov/locations

Population Statistics

Federal inmate population statistics are online.

https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics/population_statistics.jsp

Reading Room

The reading room is located at the Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street NW., Washington, DC 20534. Phone, 202-307-3029.

Resources by Audience

Resources to help Bureau of Prisons staff and their families access frequently used services are online.

https://www.bop.gov/resources/employee_resources.jsp

Resources to help former inmates make the transition from incarceration to normal life within a community are online.

https://www.bop.gov/resources/former_inmate_resources.jsp

The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services provide health management guidelines for infectious disease prevention, detection, and treatment of inmates and correctional employees who are exposed to infectious diseases in correctional facilities.

https://www.bop.gov/resources/health_care_mngmt.jsp

Resources to help qualified media representatives visit institutions and gather information on programs and activities or conduct interviews are online.

https://www.bop.gov/resources/media_resources.jsp

Resources to help victims or witnesses of Federal crimes find information on complaint procedures, notifications, and payments are online.

https://www.bop.gov/resources/victim_resources.jsp