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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 2:57 am
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Results for federal inmates
6 results foundAuthor: James, Nathan Title: The Federal Prison Population Buildup: Overview, Policy Changes, Issues, and Options Summary: Since the early 1980s, there has been a historically unprecedented increase in the federal prison population. Some of the growth is attributable to changes in federal criminal justice policy during the previous three decades. An issue before Congress is whether policymakers consider the rate of growth in the federal prison population sustainable, and if not, what changes could be made to federal criminal justice policy to reduce the prison population while maintaining public safety. This report explores the issues related to the growing federal prison population. The number of inmates under the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) jurisdiction has increased from approximately 25,000 in FY1980 to nearly 219,000 in FY2012. Since FY1980, the federal prison population has increased, on average, by approximately 6,100 inmates each year. Data show that a growing proportion of inmates are being incarcerated for immigration- and weapons-related offenses, but the largest portion of newly admitted inmates are being incarcerated for drug offenses. Data also show that approximately 7 in 10 inmates are sentenced for five years or less. Changes in federal sentencing and correctional policy since the early 1980s have contributed to the rapid growth in the federal prison population. These changes include increasing the number of federal offenses subject to mandatory minimum sentences; changes to the federal criminal code that have made more crimes federal offenses; and eliminating parole. There are several issues related to the growing federal prison population that might be of interest to policymakers: The increasing number of federal inmates, combined with the rising per capita cost of incarceration, has made it increasingly more expensive to operate and maintain the federal prison system. The per capita cost of incarceration for all inmates increased from $19,571 in FY2000 to $26,094 in FY2011. During this same period of time, appropriations for the BOP increased from $3.668 billion to $6.381 billion. The federal prison system is increasingly overcrowded. Overall, the federal prison system was 39% over its rated capacity in FY2011, but high- and mediumsecurity male facilities were operating at 51% and 55%, respectively, over rated capacity. At issue is whether overcrowding might lead to more inmate misconduct. The results of research on this topic have been mixed. One study found that overcrowding does not affect inmate misconduct; but the BOP, based on its own research, concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between the two. The inmate-to-staff ratio has increased from 4.1 inmates per staff member in FY2000 to 4.9 inmates per staff member in FY2011. Likewise, the inmate to correctional officer ratio increased from 9.8 inmates per correctional officer in FY2000 to 10.2 inmates per correctional officer in FY2011, but this is down from a high of 10.9 inmates per correctional officer in FY2005. The growing prison population is taking a toll on the infrastructure of the federal prison system. The BOP reports that it has a backlog of 154 modernization and repair projects with an approximate cost of $349 million for FY2012. Past appropriations left the BOP in a position where it could expand bedspace to manage overcrowding but not reduce it. However, reductions in funding since FY2010 mean that the BOP will lack the funding to begin new prison construction in the near future. At the same time, it has become more expensive to expand the BOP's capacity. Should Congress choose to consider policy options to address the issues resulting from the growth in the federal prison population, policymakers could choose options such as increasing the capacity of the federal prison system by building more prisons, investing in rehabilitative programming, or placing more inmates in private prisons. Policymakers might also consider whether they want to revise some of the policy changes that have been made over the past three decades that have contributed to the steadily increasing number of offenders being incarcerated. For example, Congress could consider options such as (1) modifying mandatory minimum penalties, (2) expanding the use of Residential Reentry Centers, (3) placing more offenders on probation, (4) reinstating parole for federal inmates, (5) expanding the amount of good time credit an inmate can earn, and (6) repealing federal criminal statutes for some offenses. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report R42937: Accessed January 29, 2013 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42937.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42937.pdf Shelf Number: 127433 Keywords: Federal InmatesFederal Prison PopulationFederal PrisonersFederal Prisons (U.S.) |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections Division Title: The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Compassionate Release Program Summary: In the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, Congress authorized the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to request that a federal judge reduce an inmate’s sentence for “extraordinary and compelling” circumstances. Under the statute, the request can be based on either medical or non-medical conditions that could not reasonably have been foreseen by the judge at the time of sentencing. The BOP has issued regulations and a Program Statement entitled “compassionate release” to implement this authority. This review assessed the BOP’s compassionate release program, including whether it provides cost savings or other benefits to the BOP. RESULTS IN BRIEF The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that an effectively managed compassionate release program would result in cost savings for the BOP, as well as assist the BOP in managing its continually growing inmate population and the significant capacity challenges it is facing. However, we found that the existing BOP compassionate release program has been poorly managed and implemented inconsistently, likely resulting in eligible inmates not being considered for release and in terminally ill inmates dying before their requests were decided. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2013. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2013/e1306.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2013/e1306.pdf Shelf Number: 128609 Keywords: Compassionate Prisoner ReleaseFederal InmatesU.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (U.S.) |
Author: McGinnis, Kenneth Title: Federal Bureau of Prisons: Special Housing Unit Review and Assessment Summary: This report provides an independent, comprehensive review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' operation of restrictive housing and identifies potential operational and policy improvements. Specifically, it provides a comprehensive, detailed evaluation of the Bureau's use of restrictive housing, including the following key areas: national trends and best practices in the management of restrictive housing units; profile of the Bureau's segregation population; Bureau policies and procedures governing the management of restrictive housing; unit operations and conditions of confinement; mental health assessment and treatment within restrictive housing units; application of inmate due-process rights; reentry programming; and the impact of the use of restrictive housing on system safety and security. The report also evaluates the impact of the restrictive housing program on the federal prison system and places the Bureau's use of segregation in context with professional standards and best practices found in other correctional systems. The findings and recommendations contained in this report are based on the information and data collected while conducting site visits to the Bureau's restrictive housing units and facilities from November 2013 through May 2014. Any operational changes or new written policies implemented by the Bureau after completion of the site visits regarding their use of restrictive housing are not reflected in this report. Some such changes were in process or were scheduled for implementation after the completion of the site visits. Details: Arlington, VA: CNA Analysis & Solutions, 2014. 262p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2015 at: http://www.bop.gov/resources/news/pdfs/CNA-SHUReportFinal_123014_2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.bop.gov/resources/news/pdfs/CNA-SHUReportFinal_123014_2.pdf Shelf Number: 134770 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationFederal InmatesFederal Prisons Restrictive Housing Solitary ConfinementU.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons |
Author: Ring, Kevin Title: Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism Summary: Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) today released the findings of the first-ever independent survey of federal prisoners, which focused on the type and quality of educational and vocational training programs, as well as substance abuse and mental health treatment, currently available in America's federal prisons. "Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism" offers unique insights from inside federal prisons and includes 13 recommendations for reform. "Roughly 94 percent of federal prisoners are going to go home one day. If they leave smarter, sober, and job-ready, they will be much more likely to thrive - and our country will be safer and more prosperous," said FAMM President Kevin Ring. "Unfortunately, our survey found that the federal government is failing to make recidivism-reducing programming available to all prisoners who need it. President Trump's new budget proposal, which slashes the Bureau of Prisons' staff and corrections officers, will only make the problem worse." Key findings from the report include: Access to quality education is scarce. Most classes lack rigor and substance and are taught by other prisoners. Inmates reported taking classes such as crocheting and one based on the TV show Jeopardy. Attaining a college degree is difficult, if not impossible, for most prisoners. Most jobs afforded to inmates are "make work" jobs to service the prisons, such as cleaning bathrooms and living spaces or dining hall services. Vocational training is popular and coveted, but is limited and only offered to prisoners who are close to their release dates. Not all inmates who need substance abuse or mental health services are getting help. Two-thirds of respondents said they entered prison with a drug or alcohol addiction. In addition, more than two-thirds said they had not received mental or behavioral health treatment in prison. These types of programs should be expanded to help all prisoners in need of treatment, no matter the length or duration of their sentence. Most prisoners are housed too far away from their families to maintain connections. Family connections have been proven to reduce recidivism, yet most prisoners are housed more than 500 air miles away from home. The report also provides 13 recommendations for policymakers to improve prisoners' chances of success once they reintegrate into society. Details: Washington, DC: Families Against Mandatory Minimums , 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Prison-Report_May-31_Final.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Prison-Report_May-31_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 145922 Keywords: Correctional Treatment ProgramsFederal InmatesOffender RehabilitationPrisonersRecidivismVocational Education and Training |
Author: United States Sentencing Commission Title: An Analysis of the implementation of the 2014 Clemency Initiative Summary: On April 23, 2014, the Department of Justice announced an initiative to encourage qualified federal inmates to petition to have their sentences commuted by President Barack Obama. The stated intent of the initiative was to lower sentences for non-violent offenders who "likely would have received substantially lower sentences if convicted of the same offense" under the law then in effect. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced six criteria that would entitle offenders to be prioritized for consideration for clemency. Over 24,000 offenders petitioned for clemency under the initiative, and the President commuted the sentences of 1,696 of those offenders. This report analyzes the sentence commutations granted under the initiative. It provides data concerning the offenders who received a sentence commutation under the initiative and the offenses for which they were incarcerated. It examines the extent of the sentence reductions resulting from the commutations and the conditions that the President placed on his commutations. It also provides an analysis of the extent to which these offenders appear to have met the announced criteria for the initiative. Finally, it provides an analysis of the number of offenders incarcerated at the time the initiative was announced who appear to have met the eligibility criteria for the initiative and the number of those offenders who received a sentence commutation. Details: Washington, DC: USSC, 2017. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2018 at: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20170901_clemency.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20170901_clemency.pdf Shelf Number: 149141 Keywords: Clemency Federal InmatesPardon Sentence Commutation Sentencing |
Author: Canada. Office of the Correctional Investigator Title: Missed Opportunities: The Experience of Young Adults Incarcerated in Federal Penitentiaries Summary: Young adult offenders are defined in this investigation as individuals eighteen to twenty-one years of age1 who are in federal custody serving a sentence of two years or more. This age group comprised 2.7% (or 396) of the total federal inmate population (14,643) in 2015-16. While this age cohort is small, it comes with significant implications. Individuals 18-21 years of age are considered to be "emerging adults" , in terms of overall development and maturity. They have distinct needs and limited life experiences and it is only because they have reached the age of majority that they are serving a federal sentence in an adult institution. This timeframe is a critical period in their life as they transition to adulthood and it can be an important point in which to positively intervene to potentially stop the cycle of criminal offending and movement into and out of the criminal justice system. If the cycle can be disrupted early, these young people have an opportunity to become law-abiding citizens, thereby substantially reducing the social costs associated with offending. The issue of young adult offenders in federal penitentiaries is not unique to Canada. Countries in the European Union and United Kingdom have identified problems and challenges housing youthful offenders with older, more seasoned inmates. Some countries use separate institutions to house the young adult population, even those serving an adult sentence. The Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) has highlighted in previous Annual Reports (2005-06 and 2013-14) that the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) does not provide adapted housing accommodations, programming, services or interventions specific or responsive to young people despite the fact that they are often vulnerable to segregation placements, subject to abuse and intimidation by other inmates, pressured into or recruited by gangs in prison and have poorer overall outcomes. In 2013-14, the OCI recommended that CSC implement a National Strategy for young adult offenders to provide programs, interventions and services tailored to meet the needs of this population. In 2013, the Coroner' jury examining the death of Ashley Smith made a number of recommendations for CSC regarding young adults, including among others, establishing separate and distinct programs and services as well as training for staff to recognize and respond to the specific issues faced by this age group in federal custody. The Service's response to these recommendations over the years has been disappointing. CSC continues to maintain that programming can be adapted to meet the needs of all offenders and that each correctional plan is developed on an individual basis and therefore addresses distinct or unique needs. Given this intransigence and overall lack of progress in this area of corrections, the OCI, in partnership with the Ontario Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, conducted a national-level investigation between November 2016 and March 2017 focused on the following objectives: 1. Provide an overall profile and outcomes for young adults aged 18-21 in federal custody. 2. Gather information about a young person's experiences and vulnerabilities in federal penitentiaries. 3. Provide young incarcerated adults an opportunity to voice their concerns and identify programs and services that would be most helpful to them. 4. Examine the trajectories and experiences of those transferred or who "graduated" to the adult system from the youth system. 5. Assess and review policy, practice and actions taken by CSC to respond to the needs of this segment of the prison population. 6. Benchmark CSC policy and practices with that of other countries. Details: Ottawa: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2017. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2018 at: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20170831-eng.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Canada URL: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20170831-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 149286 Keywords: Federal InmatesFederal Prisons Prisons Youth Adult Offenders Youthful Offenders |