# Fixing the BOP

> Reporting on the Federal Bureau of Prisons: conditions, healthcare, corruption, and the case for rehabilitation over punishment.

FixingBOP.org documents failures in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons and argues for rehabilitation over punishment. Sources are correctional officers and inmates.

Full text of every page in one file: https://fixingbop.org/llms-full.txt
Everything here is free to read, quote, and cite. Cite the page URL and attribute to FixingBOP.org.

## Start here

- [Fixing the Federal Bureau of Prisons](https://fixingbop.org/): Reporting on the Federal Bureau of Prisons: conditions, healthcare, corruption, and the case for rehabilitation over punishment.
- [Fixing the BOP](https://fixingbop.org/fixing-the-bop/): Fixing the BOP is the case this site makes about the Federal Bureau of Prisons: what two years of reform delivered, what it didn't, and what …
- [A Call for Change](https://fixingbop.org/a-call-for-change/): Welcome to FixingBOP.org: A Call for Change in the Federal Bureau of Prisons The United States incarcerates more people than any other …
- [The Mission](https://fixingbop.org/the-mission/): 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 …
- [Our Sources](https://fixingbop.org/our-sources/): At FixingBOP.org, our mission is to advocate for meaningful reform within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) by highlighting systemic national …
- [Topics](https://fixingbop.org/topics/): Articles on the Federal Bureau of Prisons, grouped by history, conditions, healthcare, corruption, rehabilitation, and reform.
- [Contact](https://fixingbop.org/contact-us/): Inmates We welcome reports from any BOP facility. Please note that our primary focus is on systemic issues within the Bureau of Prisons, not …
- [Privacy](https://fixingbop.org/privacy-policy/): At FixingBOP.org, we take privacy and confidentiality seriously. We are committed to protecting our sources and ensuring that any …

## Topics

- [BOP History & Decline](https://fixingbop.org/topics/bop-history-decline/): This section explores the transformation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) over the past 30 years, contrasting its former focus on …
- [Rehabilitation Programs: Lost Opportunities](https://fixingbop.org/topics/rehabilitation-programs-lost-opportunities/): Once a cornerstone of the BOP, rehabilitation programs like college courses and vocational training have been gutted. This category …
- [Prison Conditions & Safety](https://fixingbop.org/topics/prison-conditions-safety/): Overcrowding, understaffing, and rising violence define modern federal prisons. Topics here include the physical and psychological toll of …
- [Healthcare Neglect in Prisons](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/): Federal prisons now face crises of medical neglect, including denied treatments, underqualified staff, and preventable deaths. This category …
- [Statistics & Data: Exposing the Crisis](https://fixingbop.org/topics/statistics-data-exposing-the-crisis/): This section compiles critical data, research, and statistical trends to quantify the decline of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Topics …
- [Corruption & Lack of Accountability](https://fixingbop.org/topics/corruption-lack-of-accountability/): From staff misconduct to institutional opacity, this category investigates the erosion of oversight in the BOP. It highlights whistleblower …
- [Advocacy & Reform Strategies](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/): Focused on solutions, this section provides tools for activism: contacting lawmakers, supporting reform organizations, and amplifying …
- [Systemic Impact: Prisons & Society](https://fixingbop.org/topics/systemic-impact-prisons-society/): Prisons don’t exist in a vacuum. This section connects BOP policies to broader societal issues: cycles of poverty, racial disparities, and …
- [Technology & Data: Smarter Solutions for Reform](https://fixingbop.org/topics/smarter-solutions-for-reform/): Based on newly available technology, emerging data, and the cumulative experiences of incarcerated individuals and correctional officers, we …
- [Legal Battles & Legislative Updates](https://fixingbop.org/topics/legal-battles-legislative-updates/): Stay informed on lawsuits against the BOP, pending legislation, and court rulings impacting prison conditions. This category tracks progress …
- [Corrections](https://fixingbop.org/topics/corrections/): A big-picture look at the major issues within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), including overcrowding, lack of rehabilitation programs, …


## Articles

- [Six Federal Prisons Are Closing. La Tuna Could Become a Migrant Detention Center.](https://fixingbop.org/topics/bop-history-decline/six-federal-prisons-closing-la-tuna-migrant-detention/): The Bureau of Prisons is permanently closing six facilities, displacing about 5,400 people in custody and 500 staff, citing extreme …
- [The Federal Bureau of Prisons Has Engineered Economic Chaos Behind Bars](https://fixingbop.org/topics/bop-history-decline/the-federal-bureau-of-prisons-has-engineered-economic-chaos-behind-bars/): The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has long struggled with balancing security, rehabilitation, and humane treatment. But recent policy …
- [Reforming the Federal Prison System: A Call for Rehabilitation Over Punishment](https://fixingbop.org/topics/bop-history-decline/bop-history-decline-featured/): The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was once a system that, at least at its Minimum and Low-security levels, emphasized …
- [BOP Hands the Tablet Contract to Securus](https://fixingbop.org/topics/rehabilitation-programs-lost-opportunities/bop-awards-securus-tablet-contract/): The Bureau awarded Securus the inmate tablet contract on July 8, 2026. It replaces the ATG/Keefe devices sold at commissary. Implementation …
- [The Bureau of Prisons’ Tablet Debacle: A Case Study in Missed Opportunities](https://fixingbop.org/topics/rehabilitation-programs-lost-opportunities/rehabilitation-programs-lost-opportunities/): The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has finally followed the lead of county jails and state prisons by introducing tablets for inmates. To secure …
- [The Bureau of Prisons: Sabotaging Its Own Reform Efforts](https://fixingbop.org/topics/rehabilitation-programs-lost-opportunities/rehabilitation-programs-lost-opportunities-featured/): The First Step Act (FSA) was the most significant attempt at reforming the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in recent history. Passed with …
- [The Cycle of Despair: How Mismanagement in U.S. Federal Prisons Fuels Drug Epidemics and Endangers Staff](https://fixingbop.org/topics/prison-conditions-safety/the-cycle-of-despair-how-mismanagement-in-u-s-federal-prisons-fuels-drug-epidemics-and-endangers-staff/): The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) faces an escalating crisis driven by illicit drugs infiltrating its facilities, creating a …
- [The Rat Park Problem: How the Bureau of Prisons Engineered a Drug Epidemic](https://fixingbop.org/topics/prison-conditions-safety/the-rat-park-problem-how-the-bureau-of-prisons-engineered-a-drug-epidemic/): In the late 1970s, psychologist Bruce K. Alexander conducted a groundbreaking experiment that redefined how addiction is understood. Known …
- [The Real Catalyst of Prison Suicide Rates: Misguided Policy and Ignored Evidence](https://fixingbop.org/topics/prison-conditions-safety/the-real-catalyst-of-prison-suicide-rates-misguided-policy-and-ignored-evidence/): In the early 2020s, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) began to address a disturbing trend: an increase in inmate suicides. Internal data …
- [The Unintended Consequences of Removing Microwaves in Federal Prisons](https://fixingbop.org/topics/prison-conditions-safety/the-unintended-consequences-of-removing-microwaves-in-federal-prisons/): For decades, inmates in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) had access to microwaves—standard heavy-duty units similar to those found in convenience …
- [Prison Conditions & Safety](https://fixingbop.org/topics/prison-conditions-safety/prison-conditions-safety-featured/): The Crisis in Federal Prisons: A System in Decline More than a decade ago, synthetic marijuana was developed to mimic the effects of …
- [BOP Suspends Its mindSHFT Pouch Deal](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/bop-suspends-mindshft-pouch-deal/): The BOP ordered every federal prison to stop buying mindSHFT nicotine pouches after a whistleblower complaint and a CBS News investigation …
- [Nicotine Is Back in the BOP](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/nicotine-is-back-in-the-bop/): The Federal Bureau of Prisons has started selling nicotine pouches. Official policy still bans tobacco. It does not ban nicotine. The …
- [The Silent Crisis in Federal Prisons: When Healthcare Becomes a Life Sentence](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/the-silent-crisis-in-federal-prisons-when-healthcare-becomes-a-life-sentence/): According to official Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policy, incarcerated individuals are entitled to the same standard of medical care …
- [The Federal Prison Commissary: A Failing Business Model That Harms Inmates and Wastes Resources](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/the-federal-prison-commissary-a-failing-business-model-that-harms-inmates-and-wastes-resources/): Few aspects of federal prison life impact inmates as significantly as the commissary. This small store inside each facility is more than …
- [The BOP’s Backward Ban on Fitness: A Policy That Harms More Than It Helps](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/the-bops-backward-ban-on-fitness-a-policy-that-harms-more-than-it-helps/): In the past, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) recognized the importance of physical fitness, providing inmates with access to exercise …
- [The Unseen Consequences of BOP’s Tobacco Policy: Corruption, Health Risks, and a Need for Reform](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/the-unseen-consequences-of-bops-tobacco-policy-corruption-health-risks-and-a-need-for-reform/): In the 1990s, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) sold cigarettes and other tobacco products to inmates. However, in the early 2000s, …
- [The Crisis of Healthcare in Federal Prisons](https://fixingbop.org/topics/healthcare-neglect-in-prisons/the-crisis-of-healthcare-in-federal-prisons/): The state of healthcare in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is nothing short of a catastrophe. Inmates are subjected to poor nutrition, …
- [Global Incarceration: A Data-Driven Call for Reform](https://fixingbop.org/topics/statistics-data-exposing-the-crisis/statistics-data-exposing-the-crisis-featured/): As societies worldwide grapple with the complexities of criminal justice, new data on global incarceration rates underscore the urgent need …
- [Analyzing U.S. Federal Prison Recidivism: The Need for Evidence-Based Reform](https://fixingbop.org/topics/statistics-data-exposing-the-crisis/analyzing-u-s-federal-prison-recidivism-the-need-for-evidence-based-reform/): The United States has long grappled with high rates of incarceration and recidivism, posing significant challenges for the criminal justice …
- [Two Forrest City Officers Get Thirty Months for the Contraband Economy](https://fixingbop.org/topics/corruption-lack-of-accountability/two-forrest-city-officers-get-thirty-months-for-the-contraband-economy/): Robert Cochran and Tejuana Dillard each got 30 months for smuggling contraband into the Forrest City Federal Correctional Complex. One made …
- [In the Bureau of Prisons, Every Clown Runs His Own Circus](https://fixingbop.org/topics/corruption-lack-of-accountability/in-the-bureau-of-prisons-every-clown-runs-his-own-circus/): 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 …
- [The Contraband Crisis](https://fixingbop.org/topics/corruption-lack-of-accountability/the-contraband-crisis/): How Corruption Undermines Federal Prisons The politics of contraband within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is a complex and deeply …
- [Josh Smith Is Gone. His BOP Reforms Are Still Standing.](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/josh-smith-is-gone-his-bop-reforms-are-still-standing/): Deputy Director Josh Smith, the first formerly incarcerated person in BOP senior leadership, resigned August 25 with no stated reason. He …
- [The Bureau of Prisons Must Embrace Technology to Reduce Recidivism](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/the-bureau-of-prisons-must-embrace-technology-to-reduce-recidivism/): Every day, hundreds of individuals are released from U.S. federal prisons and reenter a society that has undergone a massive technological …
- [Reforming the Bureau of Prisons' Approach to Drug Abuse](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/reforming-the-bureau-of-prisons-approach-to-drug-abuse/): The proliferation of drug use within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has reached epidemic levels. Yet, while much attention is given to the …
- [Reforming the Inmate Disciplinary System: A Call for Fairness and Justice](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/reforming-the-inmate-disciplinary-system-a-call-for-fairness-and-justice/): One of the most significant factors contributing to prolonged incarceration in the federal prison system is the loss of Good Conduct Time …
- [Broken Windows Policing in Federal Prisons: A Policy Failure Ignoring the Real Issues](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/broken-windows-policing-in-federal-prisons-a-policy-failure-ignoring-the-real-issues/): A Misguided Approach to Prison Management In the broader criminal justice system, the theory of 'Broken Windows Policing'—which …
- [Reevaluating BOP’s Harsh Stance on Mobile Phones: A Call for Sensible Reform](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/reevaluating-bops-harsh-stance-on-mobile-phones-a-call-for-sensible-reform/): Why Mobile Phone Possession Should Be Reclassified as a Moderate Severity Offense The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) currently categorizes …
- [Punishment Without Purpose: Why the Bureau of Prisons’ Disciplinary Approach Fails](https://fixingbop.org/topics/advocacy-reform-strategies/punishment-without-purpose-why-the-bureau-of-prisons-disciplinary-approach-fails/): To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. That adage perfectly encapsulates the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) approach to inmate …
- [Systemic Impact: Prisons & Society](https://fixingbop.org/topics/systemic-impact-prisons-society/systemic-impact-prisons-society/): The Urgent Need for Reform in Federal Prisons It's a critical yet often overlooked truth: the vast majority of individuals incarcerated …
- [Fixing the Federal Bureau of Prisons: A Necessary Step for Public Safety](https://fixingbop.org/topics/systemic-impact-prisons-society/systemic-impact-prisons-society-featured/): The criminal justice system in the United States impacts every aspect of society, but no branch has a more far-reaching effect than the …
- [One Real Technology Company in a Fly-by-Night Industry](https://fixingbop.org/topics/smarter-solutions-for-reform/one-real-technology-company-in-a-fly-by-night-industry/): CorrLinks gives federal inmates bare text-only email. Open Efforts, a Wyoming technology company, built a whole assistant layer on top of …
- [One Company, Many Names: Inside the ContactMeASAP and GorillaText Operation](https://fixingbop.org/topics/smarter-solutions-for-reform/one-payment-gateway-many-names/): ContactMeASAP and GorillaText sell $20 and $30 monthly plans for services over the BOP's mandatory TRULINCS terminal, take the payment, and …
- [BOP Begins Transition to CICLOPS: A Long-Overdue Modernization of Its Core Inmate Management System](https://fixingbop.org/topics/smarter-solutions-for-reform/bop-begins-transition-to-ciclops-a-long-overdue-modernization-of-its-core-inmate-management-system/): BOP Begins Transition to CICLOPS: A Long-Overdue Modernization of Its Core Inmate Management System Category: BOP History & Decline / …
- [The Urgent Need for Transparent Communication Between BOP Staff and Inmates](https://fixingbop.org/topics/smarter-solutions-for-reform/the-urgent-need-for-transparent-communication-between-bop-staff-and-inmates/): One of the most overlooked yet critical issues plaguing the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is its failure to establish consistent, …
- [Compassionate Release Is Quietly Dying in Federal Court](https://fixingbop.org/topics/legal-battles-legislative-updates/compassionate-release-is-quietly-dying/): The Sentencing Commission counted 195 compassionate release grants in nine months. The First Circuit granted half of the motions it decided, …
- [BOP Expands First Step Act Time Credits After Courts Told It To](https://fixingbop.org/topics/legal-battles-legislative-updates/bop-expands-first-step-act-time-credits-after-courts-told-it-to/): A new BOP rule lets inmates start earning First Step Act time credits at sentencing instead of arrival at a facility, and extends …
- [The Albarati Act Won't Stop Contraband Phones. It Will Just Clog the Courts.](https://fixingbop.org/topics/legal-battles-legislative-updates/albarati-act-contraband-phones-clog-the-courts/): S. 736 doubles the maximum sentence for smuggling a cell phone into a federal prison and makes it a felony. Against 20,000 phones a year and …
- [Thirteen Men Freed Under the First Step Act Face Going Back to Prison](https://fixingbop.org/topics/legal-battles-legislative-updates/thirteen-men-freed-under-the-first-step-act-face-going-back-to-prison/): A May Supreme Court ruling in Rutherford v. United States removed the legal basis for the compassionate release of 13 people. Matthew …
- [From 'Club Fed' to Chaos:  How Federal Prisons Have Become a Humanitarian Crisis](https://fixingbop.org/topics/corrections/from-club-fed-to-chaos-how-federal-prisons-have-become-a-humanitarian-crisis/): In the early 1990s, the image of federal prison largely aligned with public perception. It was a place where mob bosses, corrupt …