Legal Definitions - Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with the management and oversight of individuals convicted of federal crimes. Its core mission involves ensuring the safe and secure custody, as well as the care and rehabilitation, of federal offenders. This responsibility applies whether these individuals are incarcerated in facilities directly operated by the federal government, or in state-run or privately managed facilities under contract with the federal system.

• Example 1: After being convicted of bank robbery, a federal crime, a person is sentenced to a ten-year term. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is the agency responsible for assigning this individual to a federal correctional institution, managing their daily life within the facility, overseeing their access to educational or vocational programs, and ensuring their overall care throughout their sentence.

• Example 2: A federal inmate, serving time for international drug trafficking, develops a serious medical condition requiring specialized treatment not available at their current federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Prisons would coordinate the transfer of this inmate to a federal medical center or arrange for their treatment at an external hospital, while still maintaining custody and oversight of their care.

• Example 3: To manage the federal inmate population, the U.S. government contracts with a private company to operate a detention facility. A person convicted of federal cybercrime is placed in this privately managed facility. Even though the facility is not directly run by the government, the Federal Bureau of Prisons remains ultimately responsible for the individual's custody and ensures that the private operator adheres to federal standards for inmate welfare, safety, and rights.