Latest news with #FederalBureauOfPrisons
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Prisoners Set Back By Bureau Of Prisons Home Confinement 'Expansion'
Newly appointed Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall III wrapped himself in the Trump flag by announcing an expansion of use of home confinement to allow prisoners more time in the community at the end of their prison sentence. Unfortunately, for many in prison the actions by the BOP will lead to longer stays in institutions, which is both more costly and a blow to those trying to get home sooner. The BOP issued a press release on May 28, 2025 touting, 'Federal Bureau of Prisons Issues Directive to Expand Home Confinement, Advance First Step Act.' However, a closer look reveals that this move neither expands home confinement nor advances First Step Act. When Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, advocates, prisoners and criminal justice reform groups all touted it as a major victory. The law was meant to both reduce the sentences for non-violent prisoners, many of whom are first time offenders, by up to a year and also give them the opportunity to serve more of their sentence under strict conditions in the community. However, the BOP has had a difficult time implementing this law under multiple directors since becoming law. It took over three years for the Department of Justice and BOP to finalize the Final Rule for First Step Act. During that time, thousands of inmates stayed in prison hoping they would receive credits to reduce their sentence. From January 2022 until now, the BOP has taken different positions on the law, leading some to get out of prison too late while others enjoyed the additional credits and were released earlier than anticipated. The BOP initially implemented the First Step Act by capping the credits through a rule that stated no credits could be earned within 6 months of release. BOP then issued a memorandum in March 2025 limiting the amount of halfway house placement for federal inmates from 12 months to 2 months, something central to the Second Chance Act, another hallmark piece of criminal justice reform. Both of these actions were rescinded after outcry from advocacy groups. In September 2024, the BOP implemented a new calculator to anticipate the effects of the First Step Act after other iterations of the calculator proved to be an inaccurate tool. The result was a predictive report that every inmate was given that provided them with a projected date for leaving the institution to live in the community and a release date from BOP custody. The reaction to those in custody and their families was immediate joy, however, that was short lived. The reports reflected 'stacking' the practice of showing the inmate both all of their First Step Act credits and the maximum amount of prerelease custody (12 months) under the Second Chance Act. To date, few inmates ever received the full compliments of these credits and the recent memorandum from Director Marshall upends 'Stacking.' Many people want to know what the new memorandum means and the BOP provided a statement clarifying their rule. When asked whether inmates are still eligible for Second Chance Act placement up to 12 months prior to their FSA conditional placement date, as has been the case, the BOP responded, 'Due to statutory restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(1), an individual who has earned 365 days (12 months) of First Step Act credits to be applied to prerelease custody cannot receive additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act.' The BOP's current stance contradicts its position from just a few months ago, when it stated that stacking First Step Act and Second Chance Act benefits was permissible. Now, without addressing its previous position, the BOP asserts that home confinement under the Second Chance Act is only allowed by law during the final 12 months of a prison sentence. Additionally, the BOP claims that home confinement under the First Step Act can only be applied when the First Step Act time credits earned are equal to the remaining length of the prison term. This means an inmate cannot apply First Step Act credits to home confinement while also receiving up to 12 months of prerelease custody (6 months in a halfway house and 6 months in home confinement) under the Second Chance Act. For many inmates, this change means they will have to remain in prison for up to a year longer than they had initially expected. The BOP's statement went on to say, 'For individuals eligible under the First Step Act (18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)), and who are projected to earn at least 365 days (12 months) of time credits for prerelease custody, referrals should be based on credits and the corresponding First Step Act Conditional Placement Date. There is no restriction concerning how many credits may be applied toward home confinement.' Those who earn a year off of their sentence and another year toward home confinement will not receive any Second Chance Act, meaning they will serve a year in a prison that could have been spent in the community. Former BOP Director Colette Peters (fired on January 20, 2025 by Trump), stated in a congressional hearing last year that capacity at BOP halfway houses was capped out. She stated at the time, "So this [halfway house capacity] is almost as significant of a problem as our recruitment and retention crisis and our infrastructure crisis, because as you're aware ... now under the First Step Act, they could spend months or years, and so that has created a substantial backlog in our residential reentry center.' In December 2018, when the First Step Act was signed into law, the residential reentry centers (or halfway houses) had a capacity of 10,500 beds. At that time, it was understood that the law would increase the number of people placed in prerelease custody. However, as of today, the capacity of halfway houses remains largely the same. As a result, those who are eligible for First Step Act credits, which would allow them to return home sooner, now find themselves competing for limited bed space with individuals who have been incarcerated for decades and rely on halfway house resources to reintegrate into society. The intent of the new memorandum was to redirect individuals who do not require halfway house services to home confinement. However, the outcome may be that fewer people are able to leave prison, and those who could have served part of their sentence in the community will end up remaining in prison for a longer period. In his press release about the expansion of halfway house use, Director Marshall said, 'President Trump said he would fight for the forgotten men and women of this country, and the First Step Act proved he meant it. Now, we are ensuring that this reform continues to work—not just as a policy, but as a promise to Americans seeking redemption and a path forward.' This new directive seems counter to Trump's promise.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Todd Chrisley RELEASED from prison without wife Julie after controversial Trump pardon
Todd Chrisley has officially been released from prison just one day after President Donald Trump pardoned him and his wife Julie. Todd and Julie, who starred in the television show 'Chrisley Knows Best' and several spin-offs, were found guilty of defrauding banks out of $30 million in 2022. Julie Chrisley has been serving a seven-year sentence in Kentucky, while Todd Chrisley was serving a 12-year sentence in Florida. According to TMZ, the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Todd was released on Wednesday night from Federal Prison Camp Pensacola.
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Office Of Inspector General Critical Of Federal Prison Medical Care
The Office of the Inspector General issued a report on the lack of preventative care for colorectal ... More cancer of inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons This month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz announced the release of an evaluation assessing the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) practices regarding colorectal cancer (screenings for inmates and the follow-up care provided after positive screenings. The DOJ's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) identified significant operational and managerial shortcomings that the BOP must address to ensure inmates receive appropriate screening and treatment for CRC. The failure to conduct annual CRC screenings, as outlined by BOP clinical guidelines, raises risks and could lead to worse clinical outcomes for inmates, potentially resulting in significantly higher healthcare costs for the BOP. This evaluation was prompted by issues identified in previous unannounced inspections of BOP facilities, as well as the deaths of two BOP inmates, Robert Hanssen and Frederick Bardell, from colorectal cancer. Early screening for colorectal cancer offers life-saving benefits, including early detection, more effective treatment, and improved survival rates. It plays a crucial role in reducing the incidence of advanced-stage cancer, improving patients' quality of life, and lowering long-term healthcare costs. Screening allows for the detection of precancerous polyps and early-stage cancers that might not yet show symptoms. This early detection is crucial because colorectal cancer often develops slowly over several years. Identifying precancerous growths early enables healthcare providers to remove them before they develop into cancer, significantly lowering the risk of cancer. With early detection, treatment is more likely to be effective and may involve less extensive procedures, leading to a better overall prognosis and quicker recovery. I reached out to Dr. Charles Howard who is the CEO of MedAvise Consultants, LLC doing Prison Medical Consulting for individuals with serious medical issues who may be pre-trial, pre-sentence or incarcerated. Dr. Howard told me "the BOP has a poor record of following through on those screenings because of staffing and budgetary issues." The BOP has its own policy on preventative treatment and included in that is colorectal screening, prostate cancer and cervical cancer. However, staff shortages and funding has been a hurdle for care. Dr. Howard retired as Medical Director at the Miami Detention Center, a BOP facility, said 'If a person over 50 years old arrives in prison with a family history of colorectal cancer or a history of colon polyps on a prior colonoscopy they should have a repeat colonoscopy, but the BOP has a poor record of following through on those screenings because of staffing and budgetary issues.' The OIG concluded that despite the BOP's guidance for screening inmates at increased risk for colorectal cancer, that the BOP does not have a way to accurately and comprehensively identify the entire increased-risk population due to limitations within the BOP's Electronic Medical Records System (BEMR). As a result, the BOP's ability to ensure that increased-risk inmates receive appropriate screening is limited. Those limitations have long term implications for inmates once they leave prison. The OIG looked specifically at two cases, that of Robert Hanssen and Frederick Bardell. In June 2023, Hanssen died of metastatic colon cancer. Hanssen had multiple positive test results indicating the possibility of cancer while incarcerated at Administrative Maximum Facility Florence, yet he never received a colorectal diagnosis or even a colonoscopy. OIG's report revealed that about 10 percent of inmates (33 of 327) in their sample with a positive colorectal screening result did not have any documented follow-up with any BOP clinical provider. While at FCI Seagoville, Bardell reported seeing blood in his stool but did not complete a successful colonoscopy for over 6 months. During that period, Bardell had a precolonoscopy evaluation appointment, an unsuccessful colonoscopy, and then a successful colonoscopy that led to his colorectal diagnosis. These appointments occurred weeks to months later than the BOP's target dates for them. In February 2021, 9 days after being released from FCI Seagoville following a compassionate release order, Bardell died of metastatic colon cancer. Timely follow-up after a positive screening result is an important aspect of ensuring positive health outcomes. OIG found that the BOP does not have any established metrics for appropriate colonoscopy wait times, in part because each facility primarily depends on community provider availability. A BOP Central Office official responsible for oversight of Health Services Division programs said that community practice generally aims to complete a colonoscopy within 90 days of a positive screening result. However, BOP Facility Health Services interviewees estimated that the average time between a positive screening result and colonoscopy was 4–8 months. The OIG was able to conduct a timeliness analysis for 133 of the 145 inmates in their sample who had completed a colonoscopy by the time they concluded their data collection and validation in August 2024. OIG found that for those 133 inmates the average wait time between the positive screening result and colonoscopy was 8 months, with a median of 7 months. The BOPf recently announced a new Director, William Marshall III who has a monumental job in front of him. Among the priorities for Marshall and the BOP is to reduce costs while also assuring safety of both staff and inmates. This seems to be another instance where the BOP policy is sound but the execution of that policy is lacking. Even the BOP understands that and BOP Office of Public Affairs reacted to the report by providing a statement, 'The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has taken immediate action to address the concerns in the report. We appreciate the work of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in this important area.' 'I'm not surprised by the report's findings,' Dr. Howard said, 'the BOP has good health care program statements, but in real life they fall short as reported in the OIG's report.'
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US officials visit Alcatraz amid Trump's plan to reopen island prison
Federal prison officials visited Alcatraz last week after Donald Trump's announcement earlier this month of plans to rebuild and reopen the infamous island prison, which has been closed for over 60 years. David Smith, superintendent of the Golden Gate national recreation area (GGNRA), told the San Francisco Chronicle that officials with the Federal Bureau of Prisons are planning to return for further structural assessments. 'They have been out here. They'll be coming out again to do assessments of the structure,' Smith told the news outlet. The island facility has been closed since 1963, when then attorney general Robert F Kennedy ordered its shutdown amid high operating costs, limited space and multiple escape attempts. BOP director William Marshall told Fox News that engineering teams are already surveying the site. 'We've got engineering teams out there now that are doing some assessments, and so I'm just really excited about the opportunity and possibilities,' he said. In recent months, the US government has moved to reopen at least five previously closed detention centers and prisons. Although California lawmakers have dismissed the Alcatraz proposal as a 'distraction' and not a serious plan, the Trump administration is actively working – with the help of private prison companies – to reopen other facilities, some of which are already back in operation. Smith said he was skeptical about reopening Alcatraz, pointing to the large financial investment and legal challenges it would require. He said it's 'just not well-situated' for the Bureau of Prisons. But Marshall called the proposal 'exciting' and feasible. He suggested that modern, lightweight materials could solve some of the island's logistical challenges. 'When you think of Alcatraz, you think of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, those types of facilities … you just get that kind of feeling about Alcatraz when you think of those historical venues,' Marshall told Fox News's My View with Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law. 'And so, yeah, we absolutely think we can get it done.' Meanwhile, the GGNRA is undertaking seismic retrofitting projects on the island, including reinforcing the pier and stabilizing the aging cellhouse to prevent further deterioration.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump's prison officials visited Alcatraz this week to assess reopening it, superintendent confirms
Officials from the Federal Bureau of Prisons visited Alcatraz this week to assess the feasibility of reopening the island prison in the San Francisco Bay after being ordered to do so by President Donald Trump. 'I have been in discussion with folks from the Bureau of Prisons,' David Smith, superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area GGNRA, told a meeting of the Presidio Trust board on Thursday, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. 'They have been out here, they'll be coming out again to do assessments of the structure.' The president announced the project earlier this month in a post on TruthSocial in which he declared: 'REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. 'When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That's the way it's supposed to be.' Smith was doubtful about the prospect of the historic maximum-security penitentiary ever reopening, however, telling those in attendance at the meeting, 'I don't think this is likely in our future.' He noted the 'amount of money that would be necessary' and the 'amount of legal hurdles that will stand in the way' and concluded the island was 'just not well-situated' for the purpose. The visit follows FBP Director William Marshall telling Lara Trump on Fox News that 'we've got engineering teams out there now' reviewing the site and that he would soon make an inspection himself, calling the venture 'exciting.' 'When you think of Alcatraz, you think of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, those types of facilities – you get that kind of feeling about Alcatraz when you think of those historical venues,' he said. 'And so yeah – we absolutely think we can get it done.' Alcatraz was opened in 1934 and quickly gained notoriety until it was closed by then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in 1963. It was found to be three times more expensive to run than other jails and too costly to maintain, not least because of the extreme weather it was exposed to from the Pacific. The facility has since enjoyed a lucrative second act as a tourist attraction, with visitors drawn by the lurid reputation it acquired during its 29 years of service, when it housed such legendary criminals as Al Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, 'Creepy' Alvin Karpis, and Robert Stroud, a psychopathic amateur ornithologist known as 'the Birdman of Alcatraz. Asked to elaborate on his Truth Social post, Trump told reporters that the idea had originated with his frustration at 'radicalized judges' slowing down his effort to deport undocumented migrants by insisting that due process be followed. Florida Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz suggested a different source of inspiration, wondering during a House committee hearing whether the president had been taking in reruns of old movies on late-night television. 'Perhaps he was watching Escape from Alcatraz,' Moskowitz speculated, referring to Don Siegel's 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood. 'The funny part about that is that it was actually on television in South Florida. It was on PBS South Florida over the weekend when Trump was at Mar-a-Lago. In fact, he made his announcement just hours after it aired.' The congressman's reference to the scheduling proved correct. Also skeptical was Charlie Hopkins, one of the last living inmates to have served time at the institution in its heyday, who said he did not believe the president was serious and was just 'trying to draw attention to the crime rate.' 'When I was on Alcatraz, a rat couldn't survive,' Hopkins added.
