NCJ Number
226029
Date Published
February 2009
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has policies and procedures for employee-requested lateral transfers between correctional facilities as well as daily changes in correctional services or temporary assignments of employees within a correctional facility.
Abstract
The study found that the BOP does not have written policies and procedures on lateral transfers of staff. Each correctional facility evaluates requests for lateral transfers on a case-by-case basis. The processes for requesting a lateral transfer and the criteria for forwarding, granting, or denying such requests varied across the facilities examined. Generally, no documentation on decisions made or actions taken was maintained. Further, the BOP does not systematically review decisions on these transfer requests at any level. On the other hand, the BOP has written policies and procedures on how facilities are to assign staff temporarily to compensate for employee absences or to meet other needs that arise; however, the BOP has not systematically assessed how facilities are managing temporary assignments. This study recommends that the BOP develop and implement policies and procedures for administering employee requests for lateral transfers and that it systematically assess temporary assignments. The BOP agreed with the study’s findings but did not agree to develop and implement policies and procedures for administering employee requests for lateral transfers. It did agree to a systematic assessment of temporary employee assignments. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which conducted this study, is still convinced that written policies would help ensure consistency across the BOP in the management of employee requests for lateral transfers between correctional facilities. The GAO reviewed available documentation on BOP’s polices and procedures on lateral transfers and temporary assignments. It also interviewed officials from BOPs central and regional offices and seven facilities selected on the basis of the number of staff. At least one facility was selected from each of BOPs six regions. 7 figures, 1 table and appendix supplementary information