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Open Recommendations (24 total)

Federal Prisons: Bureau of Prisons Should Improve Efforts to Implement its Risk and Needs Assessment System

GAO-23-105139
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7 Open Recommendations
4 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should evaluate its evidence-based recidivism reduction programs, according to the plan established. (Recommendation 5)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP missed dates it previously set to conduct evaluations of its evidence-based recidivism reduction programs. To help address this issue, we recommended that BOP evaluate its programs, according to the plan established. BOP concurred with this recommendation. In September 2023, BOP officials stated that it had initiated and was actively conducting research on 15 evidence-based recidivism reduction programs. BOP stated that its evaluation of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs would be ongoing and evolving, as BOP would be continuously working to evaluate and re-evaluate its programs. To fully address this recommendation, BOP should provide documentation that it is initiating its evaluations of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs, according to its plan- and that the evaluations include pre-established, quantifiable goals that align with the First Step Act.
Bureau of Prisons
Priority Rec.
The Director of BOP should use and document the results of its ongoing monitoring of the frequency at which it conducts risk and needs assessments, and take appropriate corrective actions, as needed. (Recommendation 3)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP has not confirmed if its planned monitoring efforts will measure whether risk and needs assessments are completed according to First Step Act required and BOP internal timeframes. As such, BOP may not have any results from its monitoring efforts that could be utilized to document and determine whether it is conducting assessments on time and taking appropriate corrective action when it is not. We recommended that BOP should use and document the results of its ongoing monitoring of the frequency at which it conducts risk and needs assessments, and take appropriate corrective actions, as needed. BOP concurred with this recommendation. In September 2023, BOP stated they planned to enhance its auto-calculation time credits application to integrate risk, needs, and time credits assessments into a single, monthly automated process. According to BOP, this application will automate and independently generate these assessments and will more clearly document completion of each of these assessments at the intervals prescribed by the First Step Act and BOP requirements. BOP officials stated that it will take at least 1 year to generate data necessary to evaluate the need for corrective actions, as First Step Act-related assessments occur every 180-days. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to implement its monitoring efforts and demonstrate through documentation how they are using the results.
Bureau of Prisons
Priority Rec.
The Director of BOP should collect and monitor participation data for unstructured productive activities that incarcerated people are able to participate in and earn First Step Act time credits. (Recommendation 8)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP did not collect or monitor participation data on unstructured productive activities that incarcerated people are able to participate in and earn First Step Act time credits. We recommended that BOP collect and monitor such data. BOP did not concur with this recommendation. In September 2023, BOP officials stated incarcerated people cannot earn time credits for participating in unstructured productive activities. Rather, these individuals earn time credits for being in "opt-in status." Officials stated that they revised the First Step Act Approved Programs Guide in September 2023 to clarify this point. According to the guide, incarcerated individuals may begin opt-in status upon completion of all needs assessments survey. Further, the guide states that an individual would be in opt-out status-and not earn time credits-if the individual refuses to complete any of the initial need assessments, declines recommended programming that correspond to an identified need, refuses to participate in the Financial Responsibility Program, is placed in disciplinary segregation, or leaves a designated institution for an entire calendar day or more. While under BOP's current process, incarcerated people do not earn time credits for participation in unstructured productive activities, these individuals also do not earn time credits for actual participation in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or structured productive activities. Further, BOP's FSA program guide is not consistent with its actual program statement on time credits, which states that "an eligible inmate who successfully participates in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities that are recommended based on the inmate's risk and needs assessment may earn FSA Time Credits to be applied toward prerelease custody or early transfer to supervised release." And it further states that "successful participation requires a determination by BOP staff that an eligible inmate has participated in the evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities that the Bureau has recommended based on the inmate's individualized risk and needs assessment, and has complied with the requirements of each particular evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities" and that "[p]roductive activities include a variety of groups, programs, classes and individual activities which can be either structured or unstructured." To fully address this recommendation, BOP should collect and monitor participation data for unstructured productive activities.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should collect and maintain complete and accurate data in a readily-available format on First Step Act risk and needs assessments, including the actual dates when First Step Act risk and needs assessments and reassessments are conducted. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP does not have readily-available, complete, and accurate data to determine if risk and needs assessments were conducted within the First Step Act required and BOP established timeframes. We recommended that BOP collect and maintain such data and BOP concurred. In September 2023, BOP officials stated that they planned to enhance its auto-calculation time credits application to integrate risk, needs, and time credits assessments into a single, monthly automated process. According to BOP, the auto-calculation application will ensure that BOP is able to collect and maintain complete and accurate data in a readily-available format, including the actual dates when First Step Act risk and needs assessments and reassessments are conducted. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to provide documentation on how this application addresses issues related to data completeness and accuracy, such as ensuring dates assigned to each assessment represent the accurate date the assessment was completed as opposed to reflecting the date the assessment was entered into the system by the responsible staff member (since we know these two dates may not be the same).
Bureau of Prisons
Priority Rec.
The Director of BOP should develop a mechanism to monitor, on an ongoing basis, if it is offering a sufficient amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to meet the needs of its incarcerated population. (Recommendation 6)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP does not have a mechanism to monitor, on an ongoing basis, if it is offering a sufficient amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to meet the needs of the incarcerated population at each facility. To help address this issue, we recommended that BOP develop such a mechanism and BOP concurred. In September 2023, BOP officials stated they were in the process of developing a First Step Act Dashboard, which would display the level of needs and the amount of programming available to meet those needs at each facility. According to these officials, the First Step Act Dashboard would allow BOP to monitor trends, increase areas of emphasis, and shift focus and resources. BOP officials stated they anticipated completion and implementation of the first phase of the Dashboard by the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. To fully address this recommendation, BOP should complete the implementation of First Step Act Dashboard and ensure it is offering a sufficient amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities to meet the needs of its incarcerated population.
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should ensure that the monitoring efforts it implements can determine if BOP is conducting risk and needs assessments in accordance with First Step Act required and BOP internal timeframes. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP has not confirmed if its planned monitoring efforts will measure whether risk and needs assessments are completed according to First Step Act required and internal timeframes. We recommended that BOP ensure that the monitoring efforts it implements can determine if BOP is conducting risk and needs assessments in accordance with First Step Act required and BOP internal timeframes. BOP concurred with this recommendation. In September 2023, BOP officials stated they planned to enhance its auto-calculation time credits application to integrate risk, needs, and time credits assessments into a single, monthly automated process. According to BOP, this application will automate and independently generate these assessments and will more clearly document completion of each of these assessments at the intervals prescribed by the First Step Act and BOP requirements. To fully address this recommendation, BOP will need to implement its monitoring effort and ensure it can determine that BOP is conducting risk and needs assessments in accordance with First Step Act required and BOP internal timeframes.
Bureau of Prisons
Priority Rec.
The Director of BOP should document a complete list of all the unstructured productive activities that incarcerated people are able to participate in and earn First Step Act time credits. (Recommendation 7)
Open
In March 2023, we reported that BOP did not list the unstructured productive activities in its First Step Act Approved Programs Guide, or otherwise document a complete list of unstructured productive activities. To help address this issue, we recommended that BOP document a complete list of all the unstructured productive activities that incarcerated people are able to participate in and earn First Step Act time credits. BOP did not concur with this recommendation. In September 2023, BOP officials stated incarcerated people cannot earn time credits for participating in unstructured productive activities. Rather, these individuals earn time credits for being in "opt-in status." Officials stated that they revised the First Step Act Approved Programs Guide in September 2023 to clarify this point. According to the guide, incarcerated individuals may begin opt-in status upon completion of all needs assessments survey. Further, the guide states that an individual would be in opt-out status-and not earn time credits-if the individual refuses to complete any of the initial need assessments, declines recommended programming that correspond to an identified need, refuses to participate in the Financial Responsibility Program, is placed in disciplinary segregation, or leaves a designated institution for an entire calendar day or more. While under BOP's current process, incarcerated people do not earn time credits for participation in unstructured productive activities, these individuals also do not earn time credits for actual participation in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or structured productive activities. Further, BOP's FSA program guide is not consistent with its actual program statement on time credits, which states that "an eligible inmate who successfully participates in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities that are recommended based on the inmate's risk and needs assessment may earn FSA Time Credits to be applied toward prerelease custody or early transfer to supervised release." And it further states that "successful participation requires a determination by BOP staff that an eligible inmate has participated in the evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities that the Bureau has recommended based on the inmate's individualized risk and needs assessment, and has complied with the requirements of each particular evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities" and that "[p]roductive activities include a variety of groups, programs, classes and individual activities which can be either structured or unstructured." To fully address this recommendation, BOP should document a complete list of all the unstructured productive activities.

Federal Prisons: Bureau of Prisons Should Improve Efforts to Implement its Risk and Needs Assessment System

GAO-23-105139
Show
1 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons
Priority Rec.
The Director of BOP should ensure its plan for evaluating evidence-based recidivism reduction programs has pre-established, quantifiable goals that align with the First Step Act, and includes clear milestone dates. (Recommendation 4)
Open – Partially Addressed
In March 2023, we reported that BOP's evaluation plan for its evidence-based recidivism reduction programs did not include pre-established, quantifiable goals that align with the First Step Act or clear milestone dates for the evaluation of most of its programs. Accordingly, we recommended that BOP ensure its plan included these elements and BOP concurred. In August 2023, BOP updated its evaluation plan to include milestone dates (i.e. initiation and anticipated completion dates for all of its evaluations) through fiscal year 2026 and goals and research questions for those evaluations that have been initiated. According to BOP officials in September 2023, while long-term outcomes will primarily focus on recidivism, short-term outcomes will vary by program. However, BOP's updated evaluation plan did not include timeframes for all of if evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and did not include pre-established, quantifiable goals that align with the First Step Act. To fully address this recommendation, BOP should ensure that its plan to evaluate evidence-based recidivism reduction programs include goals that align with the First Step Act, including a determination of which programs are the most effective at reducing recidivism, and the type, amount, and intensity of programming that most effectively reduces the risk of recidivism.

Bureau of Prisons: Opportunities Exist to Better Assist Incarcerated People with Obtaining ID Documents Prior to Release

GAO-23-105302
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should examine the existing data fields to ensure that the appropriate information is being captured to clearly inform BOP of the number of people who have ID documents at home and choose not to have them sent to BOP facilities, as well as the reasons for not having ID documents. (Recommendation 3)
Open
In December 2022, we reported on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) efforts to assist incarcerated individuals with obtaining identification (ID) documents. We found that in 2018, BOP began recording the ID document status of incarcerated people in its case management system, but it had not assessed what data would provide the most useful information in its ID assistance efforts. We identified several examples of potential data that BOP could consider to provide clearer and more detailed information. For example, BOP has a data field to capture information on why a person may not have a Social Security card or birth certificate. These could be defined reasons, such as refusal to obtain the document, or selection of an "other" free-form data entry field allowing staff to provide a description of the reason. However, a large number of these "other" reasons were recorded as "not specified" or "N/A", thus making it difficult to ascertain why these people may not have the ID document. As a result, we recommended that BOP examine the existing data fields to ensure that the appropriate information is being captured to clearly inform BOP of the number of people who have ID documents at home and choose not to have them sent to BOP facilities, as well as the reasons for not having ID documents. In response, as of September 2023, BOP officials stated that they have begun making changes to how such data are recorded in its case management system. Specifically, they stated that they began making changes to its system to ensure that the reasons for not having ID were being captured and noticed that additional modifications to data entry screens were needed. Also, according to BOP, data analysis conducted in June 2023 showed that the largest reason for not having ID was recorded as "other", but staff were not using the "other" field correctly, so BOP is planning to change how the field is used. BOP also reports making changes to relevant policy (Program Statement on Unit Management and Inmate Program Review). To fully address this recommendation, BOP should complete making changes to how the data are gathered to ensure that they know how many people have ID documents at home or do not have them at all, or the reasons for not having ID, communicate these changes to staff, and finalize development of its new policy.
Bureau of Prisons In developing its new federal ID card, the Director of BOP should identify key stakeholders and leverage their expertise to help ensure that BOP maximizes the potential uses of the ID card. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In December 2022, we reported on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) efforts to assist incarcerated individuals with obtaining identification (ID) documents. We found that BOP had a process in place to provide this assistance, and was developing a new federal ID card for incarcerated people, which they may be able to exchange for a state-issued photo ID upon release. However, while BOP had begun outreach to state motor vehicle departments about accepting this new ID card, it had not identified or leveraged input from other stakeholders, such as public assistance providers or state health agencies, which could potentially accept the new ID card. Consequently, we recommended that in developing its new federal ID card, BOP should identify key stakeholders and leverage their expertise to help ensure that BOP maximizes the potential uses of the ID card. In response, as of September 2023, BOP officials stated they have conducted testing of its release ID card in three facilities, reached out to all 50 state motor vehicle departments and governor's offices, and signed agreements regarding acceptance of the ID in 11 states. In addition, BOP identified 8 key stakeholders such as the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. BOP officials stated that they conducted outreach to these agencies about accepting the ID card. To fully address this recommendation, BOP should provide information on how it has leveraged outreach to these other entities in its development of the release ID.
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