For decades, inmates in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) had access to microwaves—standard heavy-duty units similar to those found in convenience stores. Then, following a violent incident in a Florida state prison where an inmate used a microwaved bowl of Vaseline as a weapon, the BOP reacted by phasing out microwaves nationwide. While this may seem like a common-sense safety measure, it highlights a recurring problem in BOP policy: reactionary decision-making with little foresight.

Read More