NCJ Number
90473
Date Published
1983
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The Bureau of Prisons should standardize the procedures used to determine whether employees are qualified to fire weapons, emphasize the reporting of all incidents involving the discharge of weapons, and require that firearms discharge reports be analyzed to identify firearms training needs.
Abstract
Findings resulted from work performed at the Bureau of Prisons' headquarters, its five regional offices, and 11 Federal correctional institutions. The General Accounting Office (GAO) visited four institutions to observe annual firearms training and found that each facility set different qualifications for its employees. These procedures should be standardized. Further, all incidents involving the discharge of a firearm were not being reported, although required by Bureau policy. It was also found that the Bureau has allowed institution officials to determine weapons needs without providing them with formal guidance for making such determinations. The institutions had large differences in the number and types of weapons in inventory, and many of the weapons needed maintenance. Although the Justice Department believed that the Bureau's firearms training program has adequately met its needs, it agreed that the study make several valid and worthwhile observations. The Justice Department informed the GAO that corrective actions would be taken. (Author summary modified)