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Open Recommendations

Federal Prisons: Improvements Needed to Prevent, Detect, and Address Sexual Abuse
GAO-26-107343
May 05, 2026
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Justice The Attorney General should identify options that would enhance the ability of PREA audits to detect ongoing sexual abuse. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Justice The Attorney General should ensure the BOP Director assesses and responds to risks that BOP's current contracting approach may result in audits that do not meet the requirements of the PREA Auditor Handbook. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Justice The Attorney General should ensure the BOP Director evaluates BOP's use of the Justice Enterprise File Sharing system to provide PREA auditors with sufficient access to audit documentation. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Justice The Attorney General should ensure the BOP Director routinely analyzes facility-level PREA data to identify trends and other findings that may require targeted action. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Justice The Attorney General should ensure the BOP Director publishes uniform facility-level data in its Annual PREA Report for allegations where an incarcerated individual was the perpetrator and allegations where a BOP employee was the perpetrator. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Justice The Attorney General should ensure the BOP Director includes men's facilities in future cultural assessments. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Tribes in Alaska: More Clarity Needed on Concurrent Criminal Jurisdiction and Funding Opportunities
GAO-26-107533
Feb 18, 2026
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure BIA documents its position on concurrent state-tribal criminal jurisdiction in Alaska and makes it readily available to relevant entities (recommendation 1).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should ensure BIA documents and communicates criteria for entering into new funding agreements with Tribes for public safety and justice programs, including with Tribes in mandatory P.L. 280 states (recommendation 2).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Bureau of Prisons: Actions Needed to Better Achieve Financial and Other Benefits of Moving Individuals to Halfway Houses on Time
GAO-26-107353
Feb 11, 2026
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should maintain readily available data on the dates incarcerated individuals are eligible to transfer to RRCs or home confinement, across the bureau. This includes the eligibility date pursuant to the First Step Act, Second Chance Act, and any other incentives or benefits available to incarcerated individuals regardless of the availability of RRC and home confinement space. (Recommendation 1)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should monitor, across the bureau, whether individuals transfer to RRCs and home confinement on time, and if not, take corrective action. (Recommendation 2)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should more comprehensively assess its RRC capacity needs, including locations and number of RRC spaces. The assessment should consider all time available to incarcerated individuals for prerelease custody, including time under the First Step Act, Second Chance Act, and the Residential Drug Abuse Program. (Recommendation 3)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should, after determining RRC capacity needs, determine the related budgetary needs. (Recommendation 4)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should develop and implement a plan—including timeframes, roles, and responsibilities—for addressing known challenges in reaching a sufficient level of prerelease custody capacity. (Recommendation 5)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The BOP Director should ensure its market analysis for RRC contracts is aligned with leading practices for developing and assessing models. (Recommendation 6)
Open
We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its 180-day letter (expected in late summer 2026).

Federal Prisons: Improvements Needed to the System Used to Assess and Mitigate Incarcerated People’s Recidivism Risk
GAO-26-107268
Jan 27, 2026
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should take steps to ensure it collects and maintains accurate programming data, including codes to indicate program participation and waitlists. (Recommendation 1)
Open
The Bureau of Prisons agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its response letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should collect standardized data bureau-wide that are readily accessible on incarcerated people who do not have work assignments, including data on people who are exempt from working for allowable reasons. (Recommendation 2)
Open
The Bureau of Prisons agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its response letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should monitor work assignment data, once collected, and take corrective action as needed to ensure eligible persons have work assignments. (Recommendation 3)
Open
The Bureau of Prisons agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its response letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The Director of BOP should ensure accurate release data are readily accessible on an individual's release status and associated date. (Recommendation 4)
Open
The Bureau of Prisons agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its response letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The Director of the BOP should develop and implement a process to ensure its FSA policies and procedures are consistently implemented across the bureau and take corrective actions as needed. (Recommendation 5)
Open
The Bureau of Prisons agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its response letter (expected in late summer 2026).
Bureau of Prisons The Director of the BOP should develop and implement a process for staff with FSA responsibilities to demonstrate competence in implementing the FSA and take corrective actions as needed. (Recommendation 6)
Open
The Bureau of Prisons agreed with this recommendation. We will update the status of this recommendation when the Bureau of Prisons provides its response letter (expected in late summer 2026).
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