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What We Do
bullet Combat Terrorism
bullet Apprehend Most-Wanted and Other Fugitives
bullet Locate Missing Persons
bullet Manage Prisons and Inmates
bullet Uphold Civil Rights & Liberties
bullet Uphold Disability Rights
bullet Operate Task Forces
bullet Help Victims of Crime
bullet Foster Safe Communities
bullet Combat Gang Violence
bullet Prevent Youth Violence
bullet Halt Domestic Violence
bullet Investigate Fraud
bullet Fight Trafficking in Persons
bullet Promote Dispute Resolution

Manage Prisons and Inmates

The Federal Bureau of Prisons protects society by confining offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens.

Locator Information

The Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains a list of all the federal prison facilities and federal inmate information.

Federal Inmate Programs and Services
Each federal prison provides services to help prepare inmates to return to their communities as productive citizens. Examples of programs such as educational, occupational and vocational training, work programs, substance abuse treatment, and other services are explained at the Federal Bureau of Prisons page on federal inmate programs and services.

Reentry of Offenders into the Community
Communities across the Nation cannot afford to release offenders without support networks and accountability systems to enhance offenders' chances for successful reintegration. The Office of Justice Programs has an initiative underway to address these offender reentry issues--Serious and Violent Offender Reentry initiative. The Reentry Initiative represents a new way of doing business for federal, state, and local agencies. Instead of focusing the Initiative on a competition for a limited amount of discretionary funds, the federal partners are coming together to help state and local agencies navigate the complex field of existing state formula and block grants and to assist them in accessing, redeploying, and leveraging those resources to support all components of a comprehensive reentry program.

Reentry Trends in the United States contains statistical information and charts about reentry of inmates into the community after serving time in prison. It discusses trends in state prisons including parole populations, the number of releases, the method of release and time served. Also listed are rearrest and reconviction rates of state parolees as well as their age, sex and race. There are also statistics from prisoners convicted of a federal offense. This includes the success rate of discharged offenders.

Prisoner Transportation
From the time that an individual is arrested and brought into federal custody by a federal agency until the person is either acquitted or incarcerated, the U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for the housing and transportation of prisoners.

International Prisoner Transfer
Find information about the program by which prisoners in a foreign country can request a transfer to a prison in the country in which they have citizenship. Review the list of countries with which the U.S. has treaties that participate in the prisoner transfer program. Visit the page "What Prisoners and Families Can Do."

Federal Parole Information
Answers to common questions about parole for federal prisoners, such as what it is, who is eligible for parole, and many others, can be found at the U.S. Parole Commission's page "Answering Your Questions."

Office of the Federal Detention Trustee (OFDT)
OFDT manages and regulates the federal detention programs and the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) by establishing a secure and effective operating environment that drives efficient and fair expenditure of appropriated funds.

The Federal Detention Trustee coordinates and develops efficiencies in the detention program, in cooperation with other agencies, while ensuring that Federal agencies involved in detention provide for the safe, secure and humane confinement of persons in the custody of the United States while awaiting trial or immigration proceedings. Find out more about new, technological tools to streamline and improve the detention-to-commitment process.

District of Columbia Parole Information
A recent federal law gradually turns over the functions of the District of Columbia Parole Board to the U.S. Parole Commission. Find out more about this transfer of roles.

Volunteer!
Citizens have the opportunity to assist offenders in making the transition from the institution to the community and family. By role-modeling community values and helping inmates with their own self-development, volunteers have the opportunity to directly affect their lives. The Federal Bureau of Prisons uses volunteers in all disciplines within the institution and community corrections facilities. The Volunteer Management Branch also assists graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in converting educational and specialized experience into volunteer hours.

Additional Information about Managing Prisons and Inmates

For more information about the Department components that are most active in this area, consult the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Parole Commission, and Office of the Federal Detention Trustee Web sites.




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