Opinion ID: 787444
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Bureau of Prisons' Administrative Remedy Program

Text: 4 The MDC, where Johnson was incarcerated during the period relevant to this appeal, is a facility operated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP provides prisoners a grievance procedure applicable to confinement-related issues. The procedure is called the Administrative Remedy Program (ARP), and consists of up to four steps, depending upon the circumstances. In some cases, the inmate is required to seek informal resolution of his complaint. Then, if the matter is not resolved, he must file an Administrative Remedy Request at his facility within twenty days of the incident. If the inmate is not satisfied with the facility's reply, he may file a Regional Appeal to the BOP's Regional Director within twenty days of the warden's response. In some situations, including those involving sensitive subjects, appeals from disciplinary proceedings, and other specified matters, the inmate may begin the process with a Regional Appeal. In all cases, if the prisoner is not satisfied with the Regional Director's resolution of the matter, he may appeal to the Central Office, within thirty days. At all stages of the ARP, prison staff must inform the inmate in writing of the appropriate administrative procedure if the Request or Appeal is not acceptable under the Administrative Remedy Program. See 28 C.F.R. § 542 (1998).