Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/09/21/00-24261/inmate-drug-testing-programs
Timestamp: 2018-03-23 04:26:18
Document Index: 105080834

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 550', 'art 550', 'art 550', 'art 541', 'art 550', 'art 550', '§\u2009550', 'art 541', 'art 541']

Federal Register :: Inmate Drug Testing Programs
Inmate Drug Testing Programs
A Proposed Rule by the Prisons Bureau on 09/21/2000
Comments due by November 20, 2000.
65 FR 57126
BOP-1099-P
1120-AA95
00-24261
Subpart D—Inmate Drug Testing Programs
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-24261 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-24261
In this document, the Bureau of Prisons is proposing to revise and consolidate its regulations on inmate alcohol testing and urine surveillance. This revision is intended to eliminate unnecessary regulations and to provide for greater flexibility in the use of drug testing technology.
Sarah Qureshi, Office of General Counsel, Bureau of Prisons, phone (202) 514-6655.
The Bureau of Prisons is proposing to consolidate its regulations on alcohol testing (28 CFR part 550, subpart A) and urine surveillance (28 CFR part 550, subpart D). Current regulations on alcohol testing were published in the Federal Register on May 20, 1980 (45 FR 33940); current regulations on urine surveillance were published in the Federal Register on August 26, 1997 (62 FR 45292).
The existence of separate regulations governing alcohol testing and urinalysis testing reflects, in part, the different test methods traditionally available for detecting alcohol and other drug usage. While breathalyzer devices were commonly used in alcohol testing, urinalysis was the preferred method for detecting other drug usage. Advances in drug testing technology have increased the number of test methods suitable for use. The Bureau's regulations on urine surveillance need to be adjusted accordingly.
The Bureau is therefore revising its regulations on alcohol testing and urine surveillance as one consolidated regulation on drug testing programs. Consolidating these regulations is appropriate not only for the sake of eliminating unnecessary regulations but also for the sake of consistency with the treatment of alcohol abuse in the Bureau's regulations on drug abuse treatment programs (28 CFR part 550, subpart F).
Rather than specify the particular testing methods to be used, the revised regulations state that the Warden is to be responsible for selecting the method or methods of drug testing from the list of approved drug test methods compiled by the Bureau's Central Office. Having a compiled list of approved drug test methods provides for flexibility in the choice of methods. Documentation as to the validity of the tests and instructions for their use are to be maintained by the Bureau's Central Office as a matter of internal administrative management.
The current regulations defining refusal to participate are keyed solely to urinalysis procedures and are unnecessarily prescriptive, citing two hours as to the length of time given to produce the urine sample or specifying that staff shall offer the inmate eight ounces of water at the start of the two-hour period.
These provisions are revised to specify that staff supervising the drug test are to be the same gender as the inmate being tested if supervising the drug test involves an observation of intimate body parts or bodily functions (for example, the production of a urine sample). Inmates will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the provisions governing inmate discipline (28 CFR part 541, subpart B) if they refuse to participate or test positive for prohibited drug use. Refusal to participate can be demonstrated verbally or by actions. For example, if an inmate states that he or she will not take the test, staff may charge the inmate with Prohibited Act Code 110, refusing to provide a urine sample or to take part in other drug-abuse testing. Examples of an inmate refusing to participate by action include an inmate who tampers with a drug test or who fails to provide a urine sample despite being given a reasonable opportunity to do so. The Bureau's internal guidance on defining “reasonable opportunity” retains instructions formerly cited in the regulations as to the availability of water (at least eight ounces) and the length of time (at least two hours) given to produce a urine sample. Staff are to document the circumstances pertaining to the inmate's refusal to participate.
Interested persons may participate in this proposed rulemaking by submitting data, views, or arguments in writing to Start Printed Page 57127the Rules Unit, Office of General Counsel, Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., HOLC Room 754, Washington, DC 20534. Comments received during the comment period will be considered before final action is taken. Comments received after the expiration of the comment period will be considered to the extent practicable. All comments received remain on file for public inspection at the above address. The proposed rule may be changed in light of the comments received. No oral hearings are contemplated.
We try to write clearly. If you can suggest how to improve the clarity of these regulations, call or write Sarah Qureshi at the address listed above.
Accordingly, pursuant to the rulemaking authority vested in the Attorney General in 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and delegated to the Director, Bureau of Prisons in 28 CFR 0.96(o), we propose to amend part 550 in subchapter C of 28 CFR, chapter V as set forth below.
1. The authority citation for 28 CFR part 550 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3521-3528, 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4046, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 21 U.S.C. 848; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; Title V, Pub. L. 91-452, 84 Stat. 933 (18 U.S.C. Chapter 223); 28 CFR 0.95-0.99.
2. Subpart B, consisting of § 550.10, is removed and reserved.
3. Subpart D is revised to read as follows:
The Bureau of Prisons maintains a comprehensive surveillance program to detect the use of drugs, including alcohol, by inmates. This surveillance program includes random sample monitoring, testing of individual inmates suspected of using drugs, and testing of individual inmates or groups of inmates who are considered to be at risk for using drugs.
(a) Test methods. The Warden is responsible for selecting the method or methods of drug testing from the list of approved drug test methods compiled by the Bureau's Central Office.
(b) Test supervision. Staff are responsible for directly supervising the drug test. If supervision of the drug test involves observation of intimate body parts or bodily functions (for example, the production of a urine sample), staff supervising the test must be the same gender as the inmate being tested.
(c) Refusal to participate. An inmate who refuses to participate in a drug test is subject to disciplinary action in accordance with 28 CFR part 541, subpart B. Refusal to participate can be demonstrated verbally or by actions. For example, an inmate who states that he or she will not take the test is refusing to participate. Examples of an inmate refusing to participate by actions include an inmate who tampers with his or her drug test or an inmate who fails to provide a urine sample despite being given a reasonable opportunity to do so. Staff are to document the circumstances pertaining to the inmate's refusal to participate.
(d) Test results. An inmate testing positive for prohibited drug use is subject to disciplinary action in accordance with 28 CFR part 541, subpart B.
[FR Doc. 00-24261 Filed 9-20-00; 8:45 am]