NCJ Number
48886
Date Published
1976
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THE EARLY HISTORY OF PRISONS IN AMERICA, THE CHANGES WROUGHT BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, AND THE STATE OF THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM IN 1976 ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT.
Abstract
BEFORE THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS WAS ESTABLISHED, THERE WERE ONLY SEVEN FEDERAL PRISONS, LESS THAN ONE-SIXTH OF THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN OPERATION AS OF 1976. THE ORIGINAL PRISONS WERE FUNDED SEPARATELY BY CONGRESS AND WERE RUN ACCORDING TO VARYING POLICIES DEVELOPED BY THE INDIVIDUAL WARDENS. HOWEVER, 1930 LEGISLATION ESTABLISHED THE BUREAU OF PRISONS AND CHARGED IT WITH DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF INSTITUTIONS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CUSTODY AND TREATMENT BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OFFENDERS. THE BUREAU MOVED RAPIDLY IN PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTING NEW FACILITIES, IMPROVING EXISTING INSTITUTIONS AND LIVING CONDITIONS, AND UPGRADING AND TRAINING PERSONNEL. IN 1976, THE INMATE POPULATION OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM ROSE AT RECORD RATES, REACHING AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 27,185. ALTHOUGH OVERCROWDING IN THE FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS REACHED CRITICAL PROPORTIONS WITH AN INMATE POPULATION 22 PERCENT ABOVE THE SYSTEM'S PHYSICAL CAPACITY, SEVERAL POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR INCLUDED THE OPENING OF THREE NEW INSTITUTIONS AND A THIRD STAFF TRAINING CENTER, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITIES AND INDEPENDENT FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS, THE INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICY PERMITTING PRESS INTERVIEWS WITH INMATES, THE CESSATION OF INMATE PARTICIPATION IN MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS, AND THE EXPANSION OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR INMATES IN FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REFINEMENTS HAVE LED TO MORE EFFICIENT AND SATISFYING GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, UPDATED INMATE PROGRAMS, AN EXPANDED TEACHING STAFF AND BUDGET FOR INMATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, IMPROVED HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES, EXPANDED LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASED USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, ADMINISTRATIVE DECENTRALIZATION AND EXPANDED FISCAL RESOURCES. FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE TWO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ANOTHER TWO IN THE DESIGN STAGE. CHARTS, A MAP, AND A LISTING OF REGIONAL OFFICE ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)