Bureau Of Prisons Is A “Powder Keg” With Problems
The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has been in a tailspin for the past 10 years. Many of the problems the Agency faces are not brought on by the people or leadership, it is neglect in funding and oversight that has put the BOP at the bottom of places to work in the government along with a host of problems. While the central problems have been staffing shortages, aging institutions and a limit in halfway house capacity, new policy decisions are angering both staff and the inmate population.
The BOP announced that non-U.S. citizens, even if they do not have an order of removal, are not allowed in prerelease custody programs (home confinement and halfway house). While there were not many non-U.S. citizens in prerelease custody anyway, now even those people are excluded meaning that people will stay in institutions longer. Earlier this week, the BOP announced that it is capping all prerelease custody under the Second Chance Act (up to a year prior to this announcement) is cut to 60 days.
