(BOP) - On May 14, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) celebrates 90 years of leadership and exceptional public service in the field of corrections management. Over the years, BOP adapted to the changing needs of the nation and evolving criminal justice system, and is recognized today as a model for correctional excellence worldwide. In marking this milestone, we remember the significant accomplishments and the thousands of dedicated staff in BOP's history that continue to serve with a spirit of perseverance and resiliency.
Highlights from the BOP's History:
- In 1930, Assistant Attorney General Mabel Walker Willebrandt hired leading prison reformer Sanford Bates to organize and operate a new centralized Federal Bureau of Prisons with Sanford Bates serving as the BOP's first Director. The BOP was established to provide more progressive and humane care for federal inmates, to professionalize the prison service, and to ensure consistent and centralized administration of the federal prisons in operation at that time. By the end of 1930, the BOP had 14,115 inmates in 14 institutions nationwide.
- In 1932, USP Lewisburg opened, becoming the first penitentiary built by the BOP, followed by the establishment of BOP's first medical center in Springfield, MO (1933). Soon after, in 1934, Congress established Federal Prison Industries (FPI) - more commonly known by its tradename "UNICOR". Beginning in 1941, During World War II, FPI produced a multitude of goods for the Army and Navy and enlistment regulations are changed to permit released offenders to enter the military.
- The mid 1960's brought the Prisoner Rehabilitation Act, making halfway houses, furloughs, and work/study release available to adult offenders.
- In 1973, the continued growth of the BOP prompted the agency to decentralize its operations, creating regional offices to improve management of its widely scattered facilities. The first regional office, South Central, was opened. The following year, offices for North Central, Northeast, Southeast, and Western regions were opened. The last of the six regional offices, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, opened in 1990.
- The 1980's and 1990's was a time of growth for the inmate population. Enactment of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 (which created many new Federal crimes, abolished parole, reinstituted the Federal death penalty, and established sentencing guidelines) led to substantial increases in the BOP's inmate population. Enactment of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 required the BOP's absorption of the entire DC felony population. During this time the BOP also successfully resolved two major disturbances: Atlanta/Oakdale in 1987 and Talladega in 1991.
- The next decade brought numerous cost reduction initiatives to the BOP as the federal government shifted budget resources from traditional criminal justice areas to supporting homeland security and counter-terrorism. In support of the Department of Justice and the Nation in the war on terrorism, in 2006, the BOP activated the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) to assist in identifying inmates involved in terrorist activities and to provide for the coordination of translation services and analysis of terrorist inmate communications and established the Communications Management Unit (CMU) at FCC Terre Haute, IN.
- The BOP established a new division in 2013, Reentry Services, to enhance oversight and direction in facilitating the successful return of inmates into their communities upon release. A year later, on May 29, 2014, the BOP and the Council of Prison Locals (American Federation of Government Employees) signed a new Master Agreement, paving the way for a new partnership in labor-management relations. (The previous agreement was signed on March 9, 1998 and was periodically amended over the sixteen years to cover policy changes.)
- In 2018 The First Step Act (FSA) was signed into law promoting criminal justice reform with provisions that impact BOP inmates and their families. The law gives judges greater latitude in imposing mandatory minimum sentences allows inmates to earn increased good conduct time, increases BOP recidivism reduction programming to address inmate's needs, offers earned time credits for completion of recidivism reduction programs and/or productive activities, and expands opportunities for inmate placement into RRCs or home confinement.
After 90 years, the BOP houses 169,080 federal inmates in 122 institutions across the country and in Puerto Rico. "I am proud to serve alongside the men and women of the Bureau of Prisons," said Director Michael Carvajal. "Our staff continue to tell the story of BOP's rich history by their professionalism and hard work, and continue to honor our core values of correctional excellence, respect and integrity in our dedication to public service."
More BOP historical information can be found here: https://www.bop.gov/about/history/