Appropriateness of Construction of Industrial Facilities for Prisoners

The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice, House Committee on the Judiciary, requested GAO's opinion on whether Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI) has the authority to construct a prison camp with its own funds. GAO held that FPI is authorized to make expenditures from its revolving fund to build industrial facilities. It is also authorized to spend its funds for secure residential camps at sites selected by the Attorney General for the confinement of prisoners who are employed in public works or public improvement projects.