What is the Federal Bureau of Prisons?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, runs U.S. federal prisons. FixingBOP.org reports on how that system treats staff and inmates, and why rehabilitation has been pushed aside.

Is the Bureau of Prisons closing prisons?

Yes. On July 1, 2026 the Bureau announced it is permanently closing six facilities, affecting about 5,400 people in custody and 500 staff. It cited extreme understaffing and a $4 billion deferred maintenance backlog.

What is the First Step Act time credit rule?

A Bureau of Prisons rule effective September 30, 2026 lets people begin earning First Step Act time credits at sentencing instead of on arrival at a facility. The Bureau rewrote the regulation after courts, including the First Circuit in Miles v. Bowers, held that the old reading conflicted with the statute.

Does FixingBOP.org cover court rulings and legislation?

Yes, under Legal Battles and Legislative Updates. Coverage includes the Albarati Act, Rutherford v. United States, and the First Step Act time credits rule.

How can someone report a systemic problem at a BOP facility?

Through the contact page. Reports from correctional officers and people in custody are kept confidential, and the site does not publish material it cannot independently verify.

What does FixingBOP.org say is going wrong in the Federal Bureau of Prisons?

High recidivism, unsafe conditions, gutted programs, and short-term policy fixes that last for decades. The site treats that as a system problem, not gossip about one facility.

Who is FixingBOP.org reporting based on?

Former and current correctional officers and inmates.

What change does FixingBOP.org want in the Federal Bureau of Prisons?

A Federal Bureau of Prisons that puts rehabilitation, education, and reentry ahead of warehousing people.

Site map

A full index of reporting on the Federal Bureau of Prisons, grouped by topic.

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Fixing the Federal Bureau of Prisons Reporting on the Federal Bureau of Prisons: conditions, healthcare, corruption, and the case for rehabilitation over punishment.
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 would change …
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 nation in the world, yet …
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 employees and 160,000 …
Our Sources At FixingBOP.org, our mission is to advocate for meaningful reform within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) by highlighting systemic national issues rather than …
Topics Articles on the Federal Bureau of Prisons, grouped by history, conditions, healthcare, corruption, rehabilitation, and reform.
Contact 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 …
Privacy At FixingBOP.org, we take privacy and confidentiality seriously. We are committed to protecting our sources and ensuring that any information shared with us …

Questions this site answers

What is the Federal Bureau of Prisons?: The Federal Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, runs U.S. federal prisons. FixingBOP.org reports on how that system treats staff and inmates, and why rehabilitation has been pushed aside.
Is the Bureau of Prisons closing prisons?: Yes. On July 1, 2026 the Bureau announced it is permanently closing six facilities, affecting about 5,400 people in custody and 500 staff. It cited extreme understaffing and a $4 billion deferred maintenance backlog.
What is the First Step Act time credit rule?: A Bureau of Prisons rule effective September 30, 2026 lets people begin earning First Step Act time credits at sentencing instead of on arrival at a facility. The Bureau rewrote the regulation after courts, including the First Circuit in Miles v. Bowers, held that the old reading conflicted with the statute.
Does FixingBOP.org cover court rulings and legislation?: Yes, under Legal Battles & Legislative Updates. Coverage includes the Albarati Act, Rutherford v. United States, and the time credits rule.
How can someone report a systemic problem at a BOP facility?: Through the contact page. Reports from officers and people in custody are kept confidential, and the site does not publish material it cannot independently verify.
What does FixingBOP.org say is going wrong in the Federal Bureau of Prisons?: High recidivism, unsafe conditions, gutted programs, and short-term policy fixes that last for decades. The site treats that as a system problem, not gossip about one facility.
Who is FixingBOP.org reporting based on?: Former and current correctional officers and inmates. The mission page says people outside the walls do not have that view, and people who never worked the job do not have the staff view.
What change does FixingBOP.org want in the Federal Bureau of Prisons?: A Federal Bureau of Prisons that puts rehabilitation, education, and reentry ahead of warehousing people.

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 with today’s punitive, …
Rehabilitation Programs: Lost Opportunities Once a cornerstone of the BOP, rehabilitation programs like college courses and vocational training have been gutted. This category highlights the importance of skill-building for …
Prison Conditions & Safety Overcrowding, understaffing, and rising violence define modern federal prisons. Topics here include the physical and psychological toll of unsafe environments, the link between …
Healthcare Neglect in Prisons Federal prisons now face crises of medical neglect, including denied treatments, underqualified staff, and preventable deaths. This category exposes systemic failures, compares …
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 include incarceration rates, budget …
Corruption & Lack of Accountability From staff misconduct to institutional opacity, this category investigates the erosion of oversight in the BOP. It highlights whistleblower accounts, suppressed grievances, and …
Advocacy & Reform Strategies Focused on solutions, this section provides tools for activism: contacting lawmakers, supporting reform organizations, and amplifying campaigns. It breaks down policy proposals …
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 the economic burden of mass …
Technology & Data: Smarter Solutions for Reform Based on newly available technology, emerging data, and the cumulative experiences of incarcerated individuals and correctional officers, we have compiled solutions to systemic …
Legal Battles & Legislative Updates Stay informed on lawsuits against the BOP, pending legislation, and court rulings impacting prison conditions. This category tracks progress and setbacks in the fight for justice, …
Corrections A big-picture look at the major issues within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), including overcrowding, lack of rehabilitation programs, declining medical care, and the overall …

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 with today’s punitive, cost-driven model. Articles here detail how …

Six Federal Prisons Are Closing. La Tuna Could Become a Migrant Detention Center. The Bureau of Prisons is permanently closing six facilities, displacing about 5,400 people in custody and 500 staff, citing extreme understaffing and a $4 billion maintenance …
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 changes—particularly those involving inmate …
Reforming the Federal Prison System: A Call for Rehabilitation Over Punishment 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. …

Rehabilitation Programs: Lost Opportunities

Once a cornerstone of the BOP, rehabilitation programs like college courses and vocational training have been gutted. This category highlights the importance of skill-building for successful reentry, shares data on …

BOP Hands the Tablet Contract to Securus The Bureau awarded Securus the inmate tablet contract on July 8, 2026. It replaces the ATG/Keefe devices sold at commissary. Implementation has not started, and the Bureau has not …
The Bureau of Prisons’ Tablet Debacle: A Case Study in Missed Opportunities 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 …
The Bureau of Prisons: Sabotaging Its Own Reform Efforts 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: …

Prison Conditions & Safety

Overcrowding, understaffing, and rising violence define modern federal prisons. Topics here include the physical and psychological toll of unsafe environments, the link between understaffing and unchecked abuse, and …

The case for pillows: the cheapest fix in the federal prison system BOP policy requires a pillow and pillowcase in every bedding issue. What reaches the cell is a mattress with the pillow molded into it, and mattresses that get cut open so people …
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 self-sustaining cycle of despair and …
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 as the Rat Park study, the experiment …
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 indicated that suicides occurred more …
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 stores. Then, following a violent …
Prison Conditions & Safety 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 …

Healthcare Neglect in Prisons

Federal prisons now face crises of medical neglect, including denied treatments, underqualified staff, and preventable deaths. This category exposes systemic failures, compares past healthcare standards to today’s dire …

BOP Suspends Its mindSHFT Pouch Deal The BOP ordered every federal prison to stop buying mindSHFT nicotine pouches after a whistleblower complaint and a CBS News investigation found the product has no FDA …
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 product is cheap, the purchase cap is tight, …
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 available in the surrounding community. On …
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 just a place to buy snacks—it’s the …
The BOP’s 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 equipment, including free weights. The …
The Unseen Consequences of BOP’s 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, aligning with broader public health …
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, rampant drug addiction, and substandard …

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 include incarceration rates, budget allocations, recidivism studies, healthcare …

Global Incarceration: A Data-Driven Call for Reform 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 …
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 system and society at large. While state …

Corruption & Lack of Accountability

From staff misconduct to institutional opacity, this category investigates the erosion of oversight in the BOP. It highlights whistleblower accounts, suppressed grievances, and legal battles to hold the system …

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 $58,775 moving tobacco and sunglasses. …
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 all federal correctional facilities …
The Contraband Crisis 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 …

Advocacy & Reform Strategies

Focused on solutions, this section provides tools for activism: contacting lawmakers, supporting reform organizations, and amplifying campaigns. It breaks down policy proposals (e.g., reinstating Pell Grants, ending …

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 swapped out 70% of executive staff, …
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 transformation. From mobile banking and …
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 presence of drugs, the secondary …
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 (GCT). This penalty is supposed to be …
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 emphasizes cracking down on minor …
Reevaluating BOP’s 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 inmate possession of mobile phones as a …
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 management—punishment as the universal solution. …

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 the economic burden of mass incarceration. It argues that humane prisons benefit …

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 in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) …
Fixing the Federal Bureau of Prisons: A Necessary Step for Public Safety 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 …

Technology & Data: Smarter Solutions for Reform

Based on newly available technology, emerging data, and the cumulative experiences of incarcerated individuals and correctional officers, we have compiled solutions to systemic problems within the Federal Bureau of …

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 it, and says it is already building for …
One Company, Many Names: Inside the ContactMeASAP and GorillaText Operation ContactMeASAP and GorillaText sell $20 and $30 monthly plans for services over the BOP's mandatory TRULINCS terminal, take the payment, and in many cases deliver nothing. We traced …
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 / Rehabilitation Programs: Lost …
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, transparent communication between staff and …

Legal Battles & Legislative Updates

Stay informed on lawsuits against the BOP, pending legislation, and court rulings impacting prison conditions. This category tracks progress and setbacks in the fight for justice, offering analysis of how legal …

The BOP Has a First Step Act Office Now. The Tablets Could Make It Matter. The Bureau of Prisons created a First Step Act Office that reports to the Director and owns time credits nationwide. The credits it awards for willingness are defensible, and they …
Eleven Comments, One Blind Spot: What the Public Told the BOP About Time Credits The First Step Act time credits rule takes effect September 30, the same day comments close. The eleven comments on the docket all back the rule and all point at the same gap: what …
Compassionate Release Is Quietly Dying in Federal Court The Sentencing Commission counted 195 compassionate release grants in nine months. The First Circuit granted half of the motions it decided, the Eighth granted 4 percent, and two …
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 eligibility to treaty-transfer inmates. Courts …
The Albarati Act Won't Stop Contraband Phones. It Will Just 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 about 81 prosecutions, that changes …
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 Charles, the first person freed under the …

Corrections

A big-picture look at the major issues within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), including overcrowding, lack of rehabilitation programs, declining medical care, and the overall failures of the U.S. prison system …

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 politicians, arms traffickers, and high-level drug …