Fixing the BOP

Compassionate Release Is Quietly Dying in Federal Court

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The United States Sentencing Commission published its preliminary compassionate release numbers for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 on September 9. In April, May and June the federal courts decided 497 motions under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) and granted 63 of them. For the fiscal year through June 30, the Commission counted 1,432 motions decided and 195 grants.

The Bureau of Prisons held 152,844 people on September 12. That works out to about 22 grants a month, one for roughly every 7,000 people in custody. In the same three months of 2023, the courts decided 940 motions. Volume is down by half in three years, and the grant rate sat between 10 and 18 percent in every month of 2026.

Fixing the BOP: What Reform Has and Hasn't Delivered

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Fixing the BOP is the whole brief, not a slogan. The Federal Bureau of Prisons holds roughly 160,000 people and employs about 40,000, and a good deal of the rulebook it runs on was written before either group was born. This site treats that as a fixable system rather than a permanent disgrace, and it reports from the two vantage points that can tell the difference: officers who work the job and people who live inside it.

Two Forrest City Officers Get Thirty Months for the Contraband Economy

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Two former correctional officers from the Federal Correctional Complex in Forrest City, Arkansas each got 30 months in federal prison on Wednesday, August 19. U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas announced the sentences two days later. The two cases were unrelated investigations at the same complex, and together they add up to $150,563 paid to officers to walk contraband through a federal prison’s front door.

BOP Suspends Its mindSHFT Pouch Deal

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Last month we wrote that the BOP had started selling nicotine pouches on commissary and picked an unknown supplier to do it (Nicotine Is Back in the BOP). That supplier is now on pause.

A September 3 internal memo, first reported by CBS News, ordered all BOP institutions to stop procuring mindSHFT pouches until further notice. The Bureau confirmed the pause: “BOP has suspended all additional purchasing of these products until further notice while under review.”

BOP Expands First Step Act Time Credits After Courts Told It To

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

For years, the Bureau of Prisons told federal inmates they could not start earning First Step Act time credits until the day they arrived at the prison where they would serve their sentence. Courts kept ruling that the law says no such thing. On August 31, the BOP gave in.

The Bureau published an interim final rule rewriting two sections of its time credits regulation. It takes effect September 30, and public comments are due the same day.

One Company, Many Names: Inside the ContactMeASAP and GorillaText Operation

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Federal inmates get one official way to message the outside: TRULINCS, the Bureau’s email system, reached through the free CorrLinks portal. Every inmate who wants to message has to use it, because it is the only channel the Bureau allows. That leaves room for companies to sell a convenience layer on top: texting from a family’s own phone, a dedicated number for the inmate, photo prints. In a companion piece we profiled the one company that actually built that layer. This piece is about the other kind. ContactMeASAP and GorillaText charge families $20 to $30 a month for the layer, and in case after case they take the payment and never deliver the service. When families never sign up at all, the same operation calls them anyway.

One Real Technology Company in a Fly-by-Night Industry

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Federal inmates get exactly one official way to send a message out: TRULINCS, the Bureau’s email system, accessed through the CorrLinks portal. It is text only. It is monitored. There is no web, no news, no texting. That is the entire federal communications stack, and it has been the entire stack for years.

A company called Open Efforts Corporation¹ decided that primitive was enough to build on. Open Efforts is a Wyoming corporation that has been serving federal inmates since 2015. It started as a paralegal service for a small base of high-net-worth clients, then added a full-time software development team and grew into what it sells today: CorBot, a virtual assistant that lives on top of CorrLinks.

Josh Smith Is Gone. His BOP Reforms Are Still Standing.

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Josh Smith resigned as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on August 25, with no stated reason. Director William Marshall announced it in a short note to staff the next morning, thanked him, and named no successor. Smith’s own farewell was longer and more personal. “Three decades ago, I walked through the gates of a federal prison as an inmate,” he wrote. Years later, pardoned by President Trump in 2021, he walked back in as the number two.

The Albarati Act Won't Stop Contraband Phones. It Will Just Clog the Courts.

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, is sitting in the House. The Senate passed it by voice vote on June 10. It doubles the maximum sentence for smuggling a cell phone into a federal prison, from one year to two, and turns the offense into a felony. Helen Andujar Albarati, the widow of the lieutenant it’s named for, wrote to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on August 3 asking the Justice Department to push it through.

BOP Hands the Tablet Contract to Securus

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Federal Bureau of Prisons awarded its inmate tablet contract to Securus Technologies on July 8, 2026. The award notice names Securus Technologies, LLC of Plano, Texas, under identifier 15BPCC26D00000029. That is the replacement for the ATG/Keefe tablets that have been in the system since around 2022.

Those older devices were the Score 7c and Score 7T. Inmates bought them at commissary for about $118 to $120. What they got was paid music, a thin movie rental catalog, and not much else. Messaging, phone, and video were mostly off, or never turned on, even when the marketing said otherwise. ATG is a Keefe Group subsidiary. The same family of companies also sat on pieces of TRULINCS, the MP3 players, and a large share of commissary supply.

Nicotine Is Back in the BOP

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has started selling nicotine pouches.

That is new. The old commissary had cigarettes and chewing tobacco. It never had pouches. In the early 2000s the BOP pulled those tobacco products off the shelf. Official policy still bans tobacco. What the policy does not ban is nicotine. Contraband tobacco has been a pipeline for harder drugs and other banned items. Apparently somebody finally treated that as a reason to change the menu. Pouches are on it now.

Six Federal Prisons Are Closing. La Tuna Could Become a Migrant Detention Center.

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On July 1 the Bureau of Prisons said it would permanently close six facilities, blaming extreme understaffing and what it calls decades of deferred maintenance. About 5,416 people in custody and 500 staff are directly affected.

The six are Beaumont FCI Low, Big Spring FCI and its satellite camp, and La Tuna FCI and its satellite camp, all in Texas; Lexington FMC and its satellite camp in Kentucky; Petersburg FCI Low in Virginia; and Taft FCI in California, which was already emptied but still kept a small staff. A non-operational building on the La Tuna complex closes too.

Thirteen Men Freed Under the First Step Act Face Going Back to Prison

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Matthew Charles knows what it is like to walk out of prison and then be ordered back in.

Charles served 22 years for crack cocaine offenses, under mandatory minimums that no longer exist. In 2018 he became the first person released under the First Step Act, the bipartisan law President Donald Trump signed that December. He went back to prison once anyway, after a court reversed that first release, and then got out again. He later joined Trump at the State of the Union as a guest.

BOP Begins Transition to CICLOPS: A Long-Overdue Modernization of Its Core Inmate Management System

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BOP Begins Transition to CICLOPS: A Long-Overdue Modernization of Its Core Inmate Management System

Category: BOP History & Decline / Rehabilitation Programs: Lost Opportunities

Published: August 2026

For decades, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has relied on SENTRY — an aging, COBOL-and-Assembler-based inmate case management system that has become a symbol of the agency’s technological stagnation. That era is finally beginning to end. The BOP has begun the transition to its long-promised replacement: CICLOPS, the Centralized Inmate Case Logistics Operations and Planning System.

The Cycle of Despair: How Mismanagement in U.S. Federal Prisons Fuels Drug Epidemics and Endangers Staff

Sat, 10 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) faces an escalating crisis driven by illicit drugs infiltrating its facilities, creating a self-sustaining cycle of despair and hopelessness that impacts inmates and correctional staff alike. Historically, drugs entering prisons were smuggled primarily by corrupt staff or visitors, but today, amid a deadly fentanyl epidemic, officers themselves are becoming unintended victims, sometimes fatally, through accidental exposure to potent substances, according to multiple BOP inmate and staff reports.

The Silent Crisis in Federal Prisons: When Healthcare Becomes a Life Sentence

Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

According to official Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policy, incarcerated individuals are entitled to the same standard of medical care available in the surrounding community. On paper, this sounds equitable. In practice, however, BOP inmates have reported that access to that care is obstructed by chronic understaffing, poor resource allocation, and a system where medical professionals are frequently reassigned to non-medical roles, such as security and custody duties.

The issue is not simply a lack of medical infrastructure—facilities often exist and doctors are on staff—but a matter of ineffective management and restricted access. This systemic dysfunction results in preventable suffering, untreated illnesses, and ultimately, premature death.

The Rat Park Problem: How the Bureau of Prisons Engineered a Drug Epidemic

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the late 1970s, psychologist Bruce K. Alexander conducted a groundbreaking experiment that redefined how addiction is understood. Known as the Rat Park study, the experiment demonstrated that addiction is not simply about chemical dependency, but about environment, connection, and mental health. Rats isolated in cramped cages consistently consumed morphine-laced water, while those housed in an enriched, social, and stimulating space—"Rat Park"—mostly avoided it. The implication was clear: addiction flourishes in environments of despair and isolation.

Contact Us

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Inmates

We welcome reports from any BOP facility. Please note that our primary focus is on systemic issues within the Bureau of Prisons, not individual facilities. Our goal is to consolidate this information on our site and eventually provide it to a law firm to initiate litigation aimed at meaningful reform. We’ve received generous funding to support this mission and continue to expand our resources toward that end.

Any photographs you share will not be published on the site without your explicit permission. We strongly advise against submitting photos taken using contraband cell phones unless you are no longer in BOP custody. All submitted materials will be protected as legal "work product" by attorneys and used solely for litigation, unless you grant us permission to publish them.

The Real Catalyst of Prison Suicide Rates: Misguided Policy and Ignored Evidence

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the early 2020s, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) began to address a disturbing trend: an increase in inmate suicides. Internal data indicated that suicides occurred more frequently among inmates housed alone. In response, the BOP implemented broad policies aimed at doubling up inmates in cells—framing the change as a suicide prevention strategy.

At face value, this appeared to be a proactive, data-driven measure. But as with many institutional reforms, the reality is more complicated—and deeply flawed. The overwhelming majority of suicides do not take place in general population units, but in Special Housing Units (SHUs), often referred to as “the Hole.” These units are designed for disciplinary or administrative segregation and impose extreme isolation, far beyond the conditions of a standard one-man cell.

In the Bureau of Prisons, Every Clown Runs His Own Circus

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Opinion: In the Bureau of Prisons, Every Clown Runs His Own Circus

At the national level, it is the Department of Justice’s stated goal that all federal correctional facilities under the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) operate in compliance with standardized policy. In practice, however, that vision is often lost in translation. What exists instead is a fragmented system, where local administrators exercise inconsistent — and at times dangerous — levels of autonomy. The phrase “every clown has his own circus” may seem crass, but for many BOP institutions, it captures the absurdity of decentralized mismanagement all too well.

The Bureau of Prisons Must Embrace Technology to Reduce Recidivism

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Every day, hundreds of individuals are released from U.S. federal prisons and reenter a society that has undergone a massive technological transformation. From mobile banking and rideshare apps to online job searches and telehealth, daily life in 2025 is powered by digital literacy. Yet many of these returning citizens are emerging from decades-long incarcerations without even the most basic knowledge of how to navigate a smartphone, let alone a computer.

The Urgent Need for Transparent Communication Between BOP Staff and Inmates

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most overlooked yet critical issues plaguing the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is its failure to establish consistent, transparent communication between staff and inmates. This communication gap is more than a bureaucratic oversight—it fuels misinformation, erodes morale, and undermines institutional stability. Without a reliable flow of information, inmates are left to interpret silence, rumors thrive, and tensions escalate. As a result, the BOP's reliance on outdated and often counterproductive practices like collective punishment continues unchecked, largely because inmates are rarely given a clear understanding of what is happening around them and why.

Reforming the Bureau of Prisons' Approach to Drug Abuse

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The proliferation of drug use within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has reached epidemic levels. Yet, while much attention is given to the presence of drugs, the secondary effects—corruption, violence, and recidivism—are often overlooked. The BOP’s response remains a blunt instrument: sweeping prohibitions and punitive measures that fail to address the root causes of substance abuse. The current system is ineffective, and worse, it perpetuates the very cycle it aims to break.

Reforming the Inmate Disciplinary System: A Call for Fairness and Justice

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most significant factors contributing to prolonged incarceration in the federal prison system is the loss of Good Conduct Time (GCT). This penalty is supposed to be reserved for the most serious infractions, such as drug possession, weapons violations, or failed drug tests. However, it is often applied even for minor infractions like possession of a cell phone. The underlying issue lies in the deeply flawed standard of evidence used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

The Federal Prison Commissary: A Failing Business Model That Harms Inmates and Wastes Resources

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Few aspects of federal prison life impact inmates as significantly as the commissary. This small store inside each facility is more than just a place to buy snacks—it’s the financial engine that funds all inmate amenities. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) commissary system generates hundreds of thousands of dollars per month per facility, fueling the Inmate Trust Fund. This fund covers everything from recreational programs and hygiene products to clothing and even the salaries of inmates and staff who run laundry and commissary services. Taxpayers do not contribute a single dollar to these inmate amenities.

The BOP’s Backward Ban on Fitness: A Policy That Harms More Than It Helps

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the past, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) recognized the importance of physical fitness, providing inmates with access to exercise equipment, including free weights. The rationale was simple: healthier inmates equate to reduced healthcare costs, which, in turn, lessens the financial burden on taxpayers. However, at some point, the policy shifted based on an unfounded fear—that inmates were using strength training to become more physically threatening to staff.

The reality, however, contradicts this narrative. Violence against correctional officers has always been relatively rare, and today’s officers are far better equipped than in previous decades. Stab-resistant vests and pepper spray, which were unavailable when the BOP first removed weights, provide substantial protection. Yet, despite these advancements, the BOP still enforces policies that actively discourage upper-body exercises, a restriction that may even conflict with federal law.

Broken Windows Policing in Federal Prisons: A Policy Failure Ignoring the Real Issues

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A Misguided Approach to Prison Management

In the broader criminal justice system, the theory of "Broken Windows Policing"—which emphasizes cracking down on minor infractions to prevent larger crimes—has faced mounting criticism. While initially hailed as a success in cities like New York, deeper analysis has revealed its flaws, including crime displacement and increased violence in surrounding areas. Unfortunately, it appears that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has not received the memo.

Our Mission

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The mission of FixBOP.org is not to simply expose the many serious problems within the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). With 40,000 employees and 160,000 incarcerated individuals, these issues are already well known to those within the system—their friends, families, human rights organizations, and even many senators and congressmen. The real challenge isn’t awareness; it’s finding solutions.

At FixBOP.org, we bring together decades of firsthand experience from both former and current correctional officers, as well as inmates. The reality is that no one who hasn’t spent years locked inside a federal prison can fully grasp an inmate’s perspective. Likewise, no one who hasn’t worked within the BOP for years can truly understand the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that correctional officers experience in the workplace.

Our Sources

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

At FixingBOP.org, our mission is to advocate for meaningful reform within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) by highlighting systemic national issues rather than isolated incidents. While we recognize that individual facilities may face significant challenges, our focus remains on identifying patterns, policies, and deficiencies that impact the BOP as a whole.

To be clear, we do not seek to function as a "WikiLeaks" of BOP affairs. Our goal is not to publish every piece of information we receive but rather to ensure that what we report is verifiable and representative of larger, structural problems. The BOP itself does not intend for every clown to run his own circus—meaning that while variations in local practices may occur, the agency does not officially endorse rogue policies at individual facilities. As one Regional Director succinctly put it, "There is no such thing as local policy." This principle underscores our approach: we focus on systemic concerns rather than facility-specific grievances.

Privacy Policy

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

At FixingBOP.org, we take privacy and confidentiality seriously. We are committed to protecting our sources and ensuring that any information shared with us remains secure.

Protection of Sources

We understand the sensitive nature of the information we receive. All communications with our team are handled with the utmost discretion. We do not disclose the identities of our sources unless explicitly requested by them and only in cases where it serves their interests.

Analyzing U.S. Federal Prison Recidivism: The Need for Evidence-Based Reform

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The United States has long grappled with high rates of incarceration and recidivism, posing significant challenges for the criminal justice system and society at large. While state prison recidivism rates have been extensively studied, the recidivism trends within the federal prison system remain less frequently analyzed. However, emerging data suggest that targeted reforms and evidence-based policies could significantly improve post-release outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Understanding Recidivism in the Federal System

Recidivism rates vary widely based on the population studied, definitions used (rearrest, reconviction, or reincarceration), and the length of the follow-up period. For federal offenders, these numbers tend to be lower than those for state prisoners, largely due to differences in offense types, sentencing structures, and supervision upon release.

Fixing the Federal Bureau of Prisons: A Necessary Step for Public Safety

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The criminal justice system in the United States impacts every aspect of society, but no branch has a more far-reaching effect than the federal system. Federal laws apply to every citizen, and violations often lead to long-term incarceration in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Today, more than 168,000 individuals are held within the BOP’s facilities.

How these inmates are treated during their incarceration plays a critical role in determining their path after release. Unfortunately, the U.S. holds the worst recidivism rate in the world. The data is clear: the current approach is failing. Instead of fostering rehabilitation, the system is designed to ensure former inmates remain trapped in the cycle of crime and imprisonment.

Global Incarceration: A Data-Driven Call for Reform

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As societies worldwide grapple with the complexities of criminal justice, new data on global incarceration rates underscore the urgent need for evidence-based reforms. While much focus has been placed on incarceration rates per capita, an examination of absolute prison populations presents an even starker picture of mass incarceration.

Top 10 Countries by Total Prison Population

Rank	Country	Total Prison Population	Incarceration Rate (per 100,000)
1	United States	1,800,000	531
2	China	1,690,000	119
3	Brazil	811,707	320
4	India	478,600	41
5	Russia	471,490	320
6	Thailand	309,282	445
7	Turkey	291,198	355
8	Indonesia	266,259	96
9	Mexico	220,866	174
10	Iran	189,000	228

The United States Leads in Incarceration

With an estimated 1.8 million individuals behind bars, the United States remains the global leader in absolute incarceration numbers. Despite housing only 4% of the world’s population, the U.S. imprisons over 20% of the world’s incarcerated individuals. This stark disparity raises pressing questions about the effectiveness of punitive justice policies and their impact on recidivism.

Prison Conditions & Safety

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Crisis in Federal Prisons: A System in Decline

More than a decade ago, synthetic marijuana was developed to mimic the effects of cannabis while avoiding detection in standard drug tests. In response, new testing protocols were introduced, and the manufacturers adapted by altering the chemical composition. This cat-and-mouse game has continued, and today’s versions—known as K2, Spice, Toochi, or Deuce—are barely recognizable from their original formulations.

Modern synthetic drugs are designed with one goal: to maximize intoxication while evading detection. They are engineered to be as addictive as possible, with little to no regard for human health. The result is a substance that turns users into incoherent, hallucinating shells of their former selves. It is particularly rampant in federal prisons, where it is smuggled in by being sprayed onto paper and then smoked.

Punishment Without Purpose: Why the Bureau of Prisons’ Disciplinary Approach Fails

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. That adage perfectly encapsulates the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) approach to inmate management—punishment as the universal solution. "The beatings will continue until morale improves" is not just a cynical joke; it’s an accurate depiction of the BOP's disciplinary philosophy. But before delving into why this strategy is fundamentally flawed, it’s worth understanding why the BOP leans so heavily on it.

The reality is that the BOP doesn’t know what else to do. No one has provided them with modern psychological research, no one has systematically studied the challenges within federal prisons, and no one in the agency is applying data science to optimize correctional outcomes. The result? Staff members walk into work each day, quickly become disillusioned, and simply try to get through their shifts with minimal incident. Meaningful reform and proactive problem-solving are rarely on the agenda.

Reevaluating BOP’s Harsh Stance on Mobile Phones: A Call for Sensible Reform

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Why Mobile Phone Possession Should Be Reclassified as a Moderate Severity Offense

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) currently categorizes inmate possession of mobile phones as a "Greatest Severity" offense under Incident Code 108, placing it alongside truly dangerous contraband like weapons and escape tools. This classification comes with severe penalties, including a 10-year mark on an inmate’s record, restrictions on rehabilitative programs, and potentially prolonged incarceration. However, as technology evolves and prison policies around the world adapt to new realities, it’s clear that the BOP’s rigid stance on mobile phones is outdated, counterproductive, and in urgent need of revision. Rather than treating phone possession as a major security breach, BOP should adopt a more nuanced approach, reclassifying it as a "Moderate Severity" offense—akin to circumvention of monitoring policies—so that penalties are proportionate to the actual risks involved.

Reforming the Federal Prison System: A Call for Rehabilitation Over Punishment

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was once a system that, at least at its Minimum and Low-security levels, emphasized rehabilitation over mere incapacitation. Inmates had access to recreational activities like tennis courts and putting greens, the food was tolerable, and individuals were treated with a level of dignity. However, a sensationalized segment on the news program 20/20 altered public perception, portraying an exaggerated version of prison conditions that was far from representative of the entire system.

Systemic Impact: Prisons & Society

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Urgent Need for Reform in Federal Prisons

It's a critical yet often overlooked truth: the vast majority of individuals incarcerated in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will eventually return to their communities. Despite long sentences and substandard access to healthcare—which in some cases may amount to a de facto life sentence—most inmates will one day walk free. The question is, what kind of person will be coming back?

The Bureau of Prisons: Sabotaging Its Own Reform Efforts

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The First Step Act (FSA) was the most significant attempt at reforming the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in recent history. Passed with bipartisan support, its intent was clear: to incentivize rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. However, the BOP’s resistance to these changes has been evident from the start. Rather than embracing the reform, the agency has viewed it as an administrative burden, reinforcing its long-standing practice of treating the prison population as a monolith rather than recognizing individual efforts at rehabilitation.

The Bureau of Prisons’ Tablet Debacle: A Case Study in Missed Opportunities

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has finally followed the lead of county jails and state prisons by introducing tablets for inmates. To secure approval, BOP promised educational applications, including full access to Khan Academy and other basic learning tools. Many county jails even provide streaming media services, with variations of Netflix and Spotify, and access to thousands of eBooks through subscription models. But BOP’s implementation has been nothing short of a disappointment.

The Contraband Crisis

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How Corruption Undermines Federal Prisons

The politics of contraband within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is a complex and deeply entrenched issue. The problem isn't just about illicit goods finding their way into facilities—it’s about systemic corruption, mismanagement, and a workforce that, in many cases, has little incentive to operate with integrity.

A Staffing Crisis with Dangerous Consequences

In 2018, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the BOP attempted to mandate vaccines for its staff while enforcing strict lockdowns on inmates. This move exacerbated already dire working conditions, forcing officers into extended shifts and multiple roles. Those eligible for retirement took the opportunity to leave, creating a staffing shortage that led the BOP to lower its hiring standards, bringing in many officers with backgrounds in state prisons.

The Crisis of Healthcare in Federal Prisons

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The state of healthcare in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is nothing short of a catastrophe. Inmates are subjected to poor nutrition, rampant drug addiction, and substandard medical care. Despite BOP policy stating that healthcare within the system should be equivalent to that of the general community, the reality is starkly different—many household pets in America receive better medical treatment than incarcerated individuals.

Poor Nutrition and Unhealthy Lifestyles

Prison diets are heavily reliant on high-carbohydrate, low-protein meals, with alternatives available only through the commissary—where options consist almost exclusively of highly processed junk food. Combined with a sedentary lifestyle, this diet exacerbates chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Has Engineered Economic Chaos Behind Bars

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has long struggled with balancing security, rehabilitation, and humane treatment. But recent policy changes—particularly those involving inmate compensation and access to basic necessities—have tipped the scale toward dysfunction. By slashing inmate pay by as much as 80% and failing to provide sufficient work opportunities, the BOP has created a volatile economic vacuum within prison walls, destabilizing the very populations it is charged with managing.

The Unintended Consequences of Removing Microwaves in Federal Prisons

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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.

The Unseen Consequences of BOP’s Tobacco Policy: Corruption, Health Risks, and a Need for Reform

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the 1990s, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) sold cigarettes and other tobacco products to inmates. However, in the early 2000s, aligning with broader public health initiatives, the agency banned smoking in federal prisons. Given that taxpayers ultimately bear the cost of cancer treatment for inmates, the decision was both logical and financially sound. While some prisoners resisted the change, many welcomed the move toward a smoke-free environment.

More than 20 years later, however, smoking remains as prevalent as ever behind bars. Tobacco possession is considered only a moderate-severity infraction under BOP policy, and with an already overwhelming backlog of disciplinary cases, enforcement is inconsistent at best. The reality is that many inmates—stripped of numerous privileges under a distorted punishment model—simply no longer care about minor infractions.

A Call for Change

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to FixingBOP.org: A Call for Change in the Federal Bureau of Prisons

The United States incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world, yet our prison system fails in one of its most fundamental missions—rehabilitation. At FixingBOP.org, we shine a light on the deep-rooted problems within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and advocate for meaningful reform.

Why This Matters

The U.S. prison system isn’t just broken—it’s actively harming those it incarcerates, their families, and society at large. With high recidivism rates, deteriorating living conditions, and a lack of meaningful rehabilitation programs, the BOP has strayed far from its intended purpose.

From 'Club Fed' to Chaos: How Federal Prisons Have Become a Humanitarian Crisis

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the early 1990s, the image of federal prison largely aligned with public perception. It was a place where mob bosses, corrupt politicians, arms traffickers, and high-level drug kingpins served their sentences. These were individuals with access to financial resources, competent legal representation, and a degree of education that allowed them to advocate for their own rights. Back then, federal prisons provided a minimal but recognizable standard of rehabilitation—offering Pell Grants, college courses, microwaves, structured athletic programs, and at least a semblance of human rights protections.

Site map

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000