About Bureau of Prisons

The **Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)** is a United States federal agency established in 1930 within the Department of Justice to manage and regulate all federal penal and correctional institutions. It was created to centralize and professionalize the administration of federal prisons, addressing issues like overcrowding, inconsistent management, and lack of inmate programs that existed when the federal prison system operated with limited oversight since its informal start in 1891[1][3][6]. Initially, the federal prison system consisted of a few penitentiaries authorized by the Three Prisons Act of 1891, including USP Leavenworth, USP Atlanta, and USP McNeil Island. By 1930, there were 11 federal prisons, but the expansion of federal criminal law during Prohibition and the rise of organized crime in the 1920s and 1930s necessitated a more structured federal prison system[1][2][3]. The BOP's establishment marked a major step toward standardization and humane care, with a mission to provide safe, secure, and cost-efficient incarceration facilities while offering programs to help inmates reintegrate into society[6][7]. A notable achievement of the BOP was the creation of **Federal Prison Industries (FPI)** in 1934, a government corporation that provides work opportunities for inmates, promoting rehabilitation through employment[1][5]. The BOP has also been responsible for operating some of the most infamous maximum-security prisons, such as Alcatraz, which housed notorious criminals until its closure in 1963[2]. Today, the BOP oversees more than 120 institutions, housing over 200,000 federal inmates across various facilities including prisons, detention centers, and community-based programs. It works closely with U.S. Marshals, probation, and pretrial services to manage inmate custody and reentry services efficiently[6][4][5]. The agency emphasizes professional staff conduct and modern correctional programs, making it a ke

Latest right now for Bureau of Prisons