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                    Recent Reports
    Restrictive Housing: Actions Needed to Enhance BOP and ICE Management and OversightGAO-24-107494
      
	Published:  Apr 16, 2024


	Publicly Released: Apr 16, 2024
          Bureau of Prisons: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Restrictive Housing PracticesGAO-24-105737
      
	Published:  Feb 06, 2024


	Publicly Released: Feb 06, 2024
          Bureau of Prisons: Assessment of Health Care Reentry Policies and Procedures NeededGAO-23-105610
      
	Published:  Feb 27, 2023


	Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2023
          Bureau of Prisons: Opportunities Exist to Better Assist Incarcerated People with Obtaining ID Documents Prior to ReleaseGAO-23-105302
      
	Published:  Dec 07, 2022


	Publicly Released: Dec 07, 2022
          Drug Policy: Preliminary Observations on the 2022 National Drug Control StrategyGAO-22-106087
      
	Published:  Jun 15, 2022


	Publicly Released: Jun 15, 2022
          Bureau of Prisons: Enhanced Data Capabilities, Analysis, Sharing, and Risk Assessments Needed for Disaster PreparednessGAO-22-104289
      
	Published:  Feb 02, 2022


	Publicly Released: Feb 02, 2022
    
    

  
  View More Reports

Open Recommendations (32 total)
  Bureau of Prisons: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Restrictive Housing Practices
GAO-24-105737
        Feb 6, 2024

  Show
    7Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusBureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should develop and implement a mechanism to identify causes of common deficiencies that recur across multiple facilities and take steps to address those causes. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should develop and implement a process to address any identified patterns of noncompliance related to restrictive housing policies and other areas of program weaknesses. (Recommendation 8)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should develop and execute an approach to fully implement all the 2014 and 2016 restrictive housing reports recommendations. For each recommendation that has not yet been implemented, the approach should include assigning implementation responsibility to appropriate officials, establishing a time frame for completion, and monitoring progress. In instances where BOP does not concur with a 2014 recommendation or deems it impractical, it should document its rationale and the alternative steps, if any, it plans to take. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should develop and implement a mechanism for routinely evaluating SMU review documentation to ensure that incarcerated individuals progress through the SMU program levels in accordance with SMU policy should BOP reinstate the SMU program. (Recommendation 6)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should conduct an evaluation of previous SMU placements to determine and address the cause of disproportionate representation of individuals in certain racial groups in the SMU population. (Recommendation 4)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should enhance oversight by developing and implementing a process to verify and document that facilities have implemented corrective actions that fully address all deficiencies. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should develop and implement a mechanism for routinely monitoring the extent to which facilities are applying the SMU placement criteria consistently and equitably across all BOP facilities should BOP reinstate the SMU program. (Recommendation 5)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Bureau of Prisons: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Restrictive Housing Practices
GAO-24-105737
        Feb 6, 2024

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusBureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should develop and implement a process to routinely analyze administrative remedy program data. (Recommendation 7)
                                                                                                      Open
BOP concurred with this recommendation and said it would take steps to implement it. When we confirm what actions BOP has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.Federal Prisons: Bureau of Prisons Should Improve Efforts to Implement its Risk and Needs Assessment System
GAO-23-105139
        Mar 20, 2023

  Show
    1Open Recommendations

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusBureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      The Director of BOP should collect and maintain complete and accurate data in a readily-available format on First Step Act risk and needs assessments, including the actual dates when First Step Act risk and needs assessments and reassessments are conducted. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                                      Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP does not have readily-available, complete, and accurate data to determine if risk and needs assessments were conducted within the First Step Act required and BOP established timeframes. We recommended that BOP collect and maintain such data and BOP concurred. In response, in September 2023, BOP officials stated that they planned to enhance its auto-calculation time credits application to integrate risk, needs, and time credits assessments into a single, monthly automated process. According to BOP, the auto-calculation application will ensure that BOP is able to collect and maintain complete and accurate data in a readily-available format, including the actual dates when First Step Act risk and needs assessments and reassessments are conducted. In February 2024, BOP officials stated they anticipated enhancements to be completed in September 2024. Further, officials stated that they had resolved the data issues we identified in our report by developing a code to prevent incorrect dates from being recorded. We have requested more documentation of this resolution. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to finalize these efforts and provide documentation on how this application addressed issues related to data completeness and accuracy, such as ensuring dates assigned to each assessment represent the accurate date the assessment was completed.Federal Prisons: Bureau of Prisons Should Improve Efforts to Implement its Risk and Needs Assessment System
GAO-23-105139
        Mar 20, 2023

  Show
    1Open Recommendations
          1Priority

  Agency Affected
                                                          Recommendation
                                                          StatusBureau of Prisons
                                                                                                      Priority Rec.The Director of BOP should develop a mechanism to monitor, on an ongoing basis, if it is offering a sufficient amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to meet the needs of its incarcerated population. (Recommendation 6)
                                                                                                      Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP does not have a mechanism to monitor, on an ongoing basis, if it is offering a sufficient amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to meet the needs of the incarcerated population at each facility. To help address this issue, we recommended that BOP develop such a mechanism and BOP concurred. In September 2023, BOP officials stated they were in the process of developing a First Step Act Dashboard, which would display the level of needs and the amount of programming available to meet those needs at each facility. According to these officials, the First Step Act Dashboard would allow BOP to monitor trends, increase areas of emphasis, and shift focus and resources. In February 2024, BOP officials stated the initial construction of the dashboard was completed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, and they are working with the contractor to troubleshoot data access limitations. Upon resolution of the limitations, officials stated the dashboard will then be customized to meet the needs for executive-level purposes. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to fully implement a mechanism that it can use to monitor if it is offering a sufficient amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to meet the needs of its incarcerated population at each facility.View More RecommendationsRelated Pages
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          RelatedFederal Prison System
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