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U.S. Department of Justice
) Federal Bureau of Prisons
PROGRAM STATEMENT
OPI:
CPD/CSB
NUMBER:
5270.09
DATE:
July 8. 2011
EFFECTIVE DATE: August I. 2011
Inmate Discipline Program
/5/
Approved: Thomas R. Kane
Acting Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons
1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
§ 541.1 Purpose.
This subpart describes the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (Bureau) inmate discipline
program. This program helps ensure the safety, security, and orderly operation
of correctional facilities, and the protection of the public, by allowing Bureau staff
to impose sanctions on inmates who commit prohibited acts. Sanctions will not
be imposed in a capricious or retaliatory manner. The Bureau's inmate
discipline program is authorized by 18 U.S.C. 4042(a)(3).
§ 541.2 Application.
This program applies to sentenced and unsentenced inmates in Bureau custody.
It also applies to sentenced and unsentenced inmates designated to any prison,
institution, or facility in which persons are held in custody by direction of, or
under an agreement with, the Bureau of Prisons.
This policy applies to all persons in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons or Bureau
contract facilities, including persons charged with or convicted of offenses against the United
States; D.C. Code felony offenders; and persons held as witnesses, detainees, or otherwise.
These provisions do not apply to Federal inmates designated to a non-Federal facility (e.g..
inmates serving Federal sentences in state or county facilities).
Federal Regulations from 28 Code of Federal Regulations, part 541, are shown in this type.
Implementing instructions are shown in this type.
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2. SUMMARY OF CHANGES
a. Establish Greatest and High severity level prohibited acts for sexual assault of any person.
The Greatest severity level act (114) requires the use or threat of force. The High severity level
act (229) is for incidents without the use or threat of force.
b. Increase the severity level of escapes from non-secure facilities from a High to a Greatest
severity level prohibited act.
c. Amend the Code 104 to include any instrument used as a weapon.
d. Establish a Code 115 for destroying and/or disposing of any item during a search or attempt
to search.
e. Establish a High severity level prohibited act code for escape from a work detail, a
non-secure institution, or other non-secure custody, including a community facility, with
subsequent voluntary return to custody within four hours.
f. Clarify possession of a cellular telephone or other electronic communications device is a
Greatest severity level prohibited act.
g. Increase the severity level of all alcohol-related offenses from a High to a Greatest severity
level prohibited act.
h. Establish a High severity level prohibited act code for stalking.
i. Establish a High severity level prohibited act code for possession of stolen property.
j. Establish a Moderate severity level prohibited act code for circulating a petition.
k. Establish a High severity level prohibited act code for refusing to participate in a required
physical test or examination unrelated to testing for drug abuse (e.g., DNA, HIV, TB).
1. Increase the severity level for tattooing and self-mutilation to a High severity level prohibited
act.
m. Establish a Moderate severity level prohibited act code for the fraudulent or deceptive
completion of a skills test.
n. Increase the severity level for conducting a business to a Moderate severity level prohibited
act.
o. Establish a Moderate severity level prohibited act code for communicating gang affiliation.
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p. Establish Greatest, High, and Moderate severity level prohibited acts for abuse of the mail.
q. Establish a sanction of monetary fine.
r. Remove the formal sanctions of reprimand and warning.
s. Increase the sanction of disciplinary segregation from a range of 7 to 60 days to a range of 1
to 18 months.
t. Change from three work days to five work days for the UDC to ordinarily conduct a review.
u. The Special Housing Unit policy (conditions of disciplinary segregation, administrative
detention, and protection cases) has been removed and guidance is provided in a separate
program statement.
3. PRINCIPLES
Several general principles apply to every disciplinary action:
a. Incident reports can be written by Bureau staff, Federal Prison Industries (WI) staff, and
Public Health Service (PHS) officers detailed to the Bureau. Community Corrections Managers
may take disciplinary action on inmates in contract RRC's.
b. Staff take disciplinary action at such times and to the degree necessary to regulate an
inmate's behavior within Bureau rules and institution guidelines and to promote a safe and
orderly institution environment.
c. Staff control inmate behavior in an impartial and consistent manner.
d. Disciplinary action may not be capricious or retaliatory.
e. Staff may not impose or allow corporal punishment of any kind.
4. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED
a. Directive Rescinded
P5270.08
Inmate Discipline and Special Housing Units (12/4/09)
b. Directives Referenced
P1315.07
Inmate Legal Activities (11/5/99)
P1330.16
Administrative Remedy Program (12/31/07)
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P1505.03
Language Translations Used in Official Documents (10/31/97)
P2000.02
Accounting Management Manual (10/15/86)
P4500.07
Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (4/19/10)
P4700.05
Food Service Manual (6/12/06)
P5100.08
Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification (9/12/06)
P5162.05
Categorization of Offenses (3/16/09)
P5180.05
Central Inmate Monitoring System (PS Only) (12/31/07)
P5180.06
Central Inmate Monitoring System (Operations Manual Only) (3/24/08)
P5212.07
Control Unit Programs (2/20/01)
P5215.05
Youth Corrections Act (YCA) Inmates and Programs (3/17/99)
P5264.08
Inmate Telephone Regulations (1/24/08)
P5265.14
Correspondence (4/5/11)
P5267.08
Visiting Regulations (5/11/06)
P5270.10
Special Housing Units (8/1/11)
P5322.12
Inmate Classification and Program Review (11/29/06)
P5360.09
Religious Beliefs and Practices (12/31/04)
P5380.08
Financial Responsibility Program, Inmate (8/15/05)
P5500.1I
Correctional Services Manual (10/10/03)
P5500.12
Correctional Services Procedures Manual (10/10/03)
P5521.05
Searches of Housing Units, Inmates, and Inmate Work Areas (6/30/97)
P5580.07
Inmate Personal Property (12/28/05)
P5800.15
Correctional Systems Manual (1/1/09)
P5880.28
Sentence Computation Manual (CCCA of 1984) (7/20/99)
P5880.30
Sentence Computation Manual (Old Law, Pre-CCCA of 1984) (9/8/99)
P5880.32
Sentence Computation Manual (District of Columbia) (1/23/01)
P5884.03
Good Conduct Time Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (3/31/06)
P7300.09
Community Corrections Manual (5/19/99)
P7331.04
Pretrial Inmates (1/31/03)
c. Rules cited in this Program Statement are contained in 28 CFR § 541.2 and §§ 541.10-23.
5. AGENCY ACA ACCREDITATION PROVISIONS
a. American Correctional Association 4th Edition Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions:
4-4226, 4-4227, 4-4228, 4-4229, 4-4230, 4-4231, 4-4232, 4-4233, 4-4234, 4-4235, 4-4236,
4-4237, 4-4238, 4-4239, 4-4240, 4-4241, 4-4242, 4-4243, 4-4244, 4-4245, 4-4246, 4-4247,
4-4248, 4-4255, 4-4399
b. American Correctional Association 4th Edition Performance-Based Standards for Adult
Local Detention Facilities:
4-ALDF-2A-47, 4-ALDF-2A-50, 4-ALDF-3A-01, 4-ALDF-3A-02, 4-ALDF-4C-40,
4-ALDF-6C-01, 4-ALDF-6C-02, 4-ALDF-6C-03, 4-ALDF-6C-04, 4-ALDF-6C-05,
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4-ALDF-6C-06, 4-ALDF-6C-07, 4-ALDF-6C-08, 4-ALDF-6C-09, 4-ALDF-6C-10,
4-ALDF-6C-11, 4-ALDF-6C-12, 4-ALDF-6C-13, 4-ALDF-6C-14, 4-ALDF-6C-15,
4-ALDF-6C-16, 4-ALDF-6C-17, and 4-ALDF-6C-18.
6. INSTITUTION SUPPLEMENTS
None required.
7. NOTICE TO INMATE OF THE INMATE DISCIPLINE PROGRAM
Staff must give each inmate a copy of the following documents promptly after his/her arrival at
an institution:
■ Summary of the Inmate Discipline System (Appendix B).
■ Inmate Rights and Responsibilities (Appendix C).
■ Prohibited Acts and Available Sanctions (Table I).
Receipt of these documents must be noted on the intake screening form and maintained in the
inmate's central file. The receipt is kept in the inmate's central file.
To the extent reasonably available, a qualified staff member or translator will help an inmate who
has a language or literacy problem, in accordance with the Program Statement Language
Translations Used in Official Documents.
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1
§ 541.3 Prohibited acts and available sanctions
9
(a) Prohibited acts
9
(b) Available sanctions
9
(1) Greatest Severity Level Offenses
9
(2) High Severity Level Offenses
9
(3) Moderate Severity Level Offenses
9
(4) Low Severity Level Offenses
10
(5) All Severity Level Offenses
10
§ 541.4 Loss of good conduct sentence credit as a mandatory sanction
11
(a) Groups that lose good conduct sentence credit
11
(1) VCCLEA — violent inmates
11
(2) PLRA inmates and D.C. Code offenders
11
(b) Amount of credit lost
11
(1) Greatest Severity Level Offenses
11
(2) High Severity Level Offenses
11
(3) Moderate Severity Level Offenses
12
(4) Low Severity Level Offenses
12
Available Sanctions
12
(A) Recommend Parole Date Rescission or Retardation
12
(B) Forfeit Earned Statutory Good Time, Non-vested Good Conduct Time.
or Terminate or Disallow Extra Good Time
12
(B.1) Disallowance of Good Conduct Time
13
(C) Disciplinary Segregation
14
(D) Make Monetary Restitution
15
(E) Monetary Fine
15
(F) Loss of Privileges
15
(G) Change Housing Quarters
15
(H) Remove from Program or Group Activity
15
(I) Loss of Job
16
(J) Impound Inmate's Personal Property
16
(K) Confiscate Contraband
16
(L) Restrict to Quarters
16
(M) Extra Duty
16
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Chapter 2
§ 541.5 Discipline process
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(a) Incident report
17
(b) Investigation
18
(1) Information
18
(2) Statement
18
(3) Informally resolving the incident report
20
Chapter 3
§ 541.6 Mentally ill inmates
21
(a) Competency to participate in disciplinary proceedings
21
(b) Responsibility for conduct
21
Chapter 4
§ 541.7 Unit Discipline Committee (UDC) review of the incident report
23
(a) Available dispositions
23
(b) UDC members
23
(c) Timing
24
(d) Inmate appearance
24
(e) Evidence
24
(f) Sanctions
24
(g) Referral to the DHO
25
(h) Written report
25
(i) Appeals
25
Chapter 5
§ 541.8 Discipline Hearing Officer (DHO) hearing
27
(a) Available dispositions
27
(b) Discipline Hearing Officer
27
(c) Timing
27
(d) Staff representative
27
(1) How to get a staff representative
28
(2) How the staff representative will help
28
(3) How the staff representative may appear
28
(e) Inmate appearance
28
(t) Evidence and witnesses
29
(g) Sanctions
33
(h) Written report
34
(i) Appeals
35
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APPENDIXES
A. List of Forms
37
B. Summary of Inmate Discipline System
38
C. Inmate Rights and Responsibilities
39
D. Data Entry Instructions
41
TABLES
1. Prohibited Acts and Available Sanctions
44
2. Additional Available Sanctions for Repeated Prohibited Acts
Within the Same Severity Level
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CHAPTER 1.
§ 541.3 Prohibited acts and available sanctions.
(a) Prohibited acts. The list of prohibited acts are divided into four separate
categories based on severity: Greatest; High; Moderate; and Low. We describe
the prohibited acts in Table 1 - Prohibited Acts and Available Sanctions. Aiding,
attempting, abetting, or making plans to commit any of the prohibited acts is
treated the same as committing the act itself.
(b) Available sanctions. The list of available sanctions for committing
prohibited acts is listed in Table 1 - Prohibited Acts and Available Sanctions. If
you commit repetitive prohibited acts, we can impose increased sanctions, as
listed in Table 2 - Additional Available Sanctions for Repeated Prohibited Acts
Within the Same Severity Level.
(1) Greatest Severity Level Offenses. The Discipline Hearing Officer (DHO) imposes one or
more of sanctions A through E. Sanction B.1 must be imposed for a VCCLEA inmate rated
"violent" (an inmate who, per the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994,
committed a crime of violence on or after September 13, 1994) and for a PLRA inmate (an
inmate sentenced for an offense committed on or after April 26, 1996, per the Prison Litigation
Reform Act). The DHO may impose any available sanctions (A through M) in addition to
sanctions A through E. All Greatest severity level charges must be referred to the DHO.
(2) High Severity Level Offenses. The DHO imposes one or more of sanctions A through M,
and, except as noted in the sanction, may also suspend one or more sanctions A through M.
Sanction B.1 must be imposed for a VCCLEA inmate rated "violent" and for a PLRA inmate.
All High severity level charges must be referred to the DHO.
Prohibited Act Code 225, Stalking, is for the purpose of punishing repetitive inmate behavior,
e.g., loitering, staring, leering, inappropriate remarks (short of insolence, profanity, or sexual
proposals), that are not clearly covered by another prohibited act code. When staff encounter
such behavior, the inmate should be specifically warned that it is inappropriate and must cease.
If the behavior fits another prohibited act code provision, the inmate should be charged with
violating that specific provision instead of stalking. Examples of other prohibited act code
behavior that may be used instead of Code 225, Stalking, include, but are not limited to Insolence
(Code 312), Being in an Unauthorized Area (Code 316), Threatening (Code 203), and Making a
Sexual Proposal or Threat (Code 206).
(3) Moderate Severity Level Offenses. The DHO imposes at least one sanction A through M,
but, except as noted in the sanction, may suspend any sanction(%) imposed. Sanction B.1
ordinarily must be imposed for a VCCLEA inmate rated "violent" and for a PLRA inmate.
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Except for charges referred to the DHO, the Unit Discipline Committee (UDC) shall impose at
least one sanction F through M, but may suspend any sanctions imposed.
The UDC ordinarily refers to the DHO a moderate severity level charge for a VCCLEA inmate
rated "violent" or for a PLRA inmate if the inmate was found to have committed two moderate
offenses during his/her current anniversary year (the 12-month period for which an inmate may
be eligible to earn good conduct time [GCT]). The UDC must document the reasons why a third
charge for such an inmate was not referred to the DHO.
A prohibited act charge for 331 involving tobacco or nutritional supplements must be referred to
the DHO for final disposition.
(4) Low Severity Level Offenses. The DHO imposes at least one sanction B.1, or D through
M. The DHO may suspend any sanction(%) imposed; however, a B.1 sanction may not be
suspended. Except for charges referred to the DHO, the UDC imposes at least one sanction F
through M, but may suspend any sanction(%) imposed.
The UDC ordinarily refers to the DHO a low severity level charge for a VCCLEA inmate rated
"violent" or for a PLRA inmate if the inmate had been found to have committed three low
offenses during his/her current anniversary year. The UDC must document the reasons why a
charge for such an inmate was not referred to the DHO.
Sanction B.1 may be imposed on the Low severity level only if the inmate has committed a Low
severity level prohibited act more than once within a six-month period (except for a VCCLEA
inmate rated "violent" or a PLRA inmate).
(5) All Severity Level Offenses. In all categories of severity, aiding another person to
commit any of these offenses, attempting to commit them, or making plans to commit them, is
considered equivalent to committing the offense itself. In these cases, the letter "A" is
combined with the offense code. For example, planning an escape is Escape, Code 102A.
Attempting to adulterate food or drink is Code 209A.
When the prohibited act is Interfering with a Staff Member in the Performance of Duties
(Code 198, 298, 398 or 498) or Conduct Which Disrupts (Code 199, 299, 399, or 499), the
DHO or UDC must specify the severity level of the conduct that is most comparable to an
offense(s) at that severity level. Example: "I find the act of Conduct Which Disrupts (Code
299) to be of High severity level, most comparable to the prohibited act of Engaging in a Group
Demonstration (Code 212)."
Suspensions of any sanction cannot exceed six months. Suspended sanctions may only be
revoked and executed if the inmate is found to have committed a subsequent prohibited act.
Only the DHO may execute, suspend, or revoke and execute suspension of sanctions A through E
(B and B.1. may never be suspended). The DHO or UDC may execute, suspend, or revoke and
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execute suspensions of sanctions F through M. The DHO may execute UDC-suspended
sanctions. However, the UDC may not execute DHO-suspended sanctions A through E.
When an inmate receives an incident report while on a DHO-imposed. but suspended sanction.
the new incident report is forwarded by the UDC to the DHO. both for a final disposition on the
new incident report. and for a disposition on the suspended sanction. This procedure is not
necessary when the UDC informally resolves the new incident report. The DHO may return an
incident report to the UDC if a decision not to execute the suspended sanction is made.
The UDC or DHO may impose increased sanctions for repeated. frequent offenses per the
guidelines in Table 2.
Noting that not all UDC or DHO decisions finding an inmate committed a prohibited act will
result in a change to the inmate's security designation score, the Unit Team may recommend a
greater security transfer, using their professional judgment. and in accordance with the policy on
Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification.
§ 541.4 Loss of good conduct sentence credit as a mandatory sanction.
(a) You will lose good conduct sentence credit as a mandatory disciplinary
sanction if you are in one of the following two groups:
(1) VCCLEA-violent inmates. The date of your U.S. Code offense was on or
after September 13, 1994, but before April 26, 1996, and you committed a "crime
of violence" as defined by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of
1994 (VCCLEA); or
(2) PLRA inmates and D.C. Code offenders. The date of your U.S. Code offense
was on or after April 26, 1996, and, therefore, under the Prison Litigation Reform
Act (PLRA), or the date of your District of Columbia (DC) Code offense was on or
after August 5, 2000.
(b) If you are an inmate in one of the above groups and commit a prohibited act,
you will lose good conduct sentence credit as a mandatory disciplinary sanction.
The amount of good conduct sentence credit you will lose depends on the
severity level of the prohibited act(s) committed, as follows:
(1) Greatest Severity Level Offenses. You will lose at least 41 days, or 75% of
available credit if less than 54 days are available for the prorated period, for each
act committed.
(2) High Severity Level Offenses. You will lose at least 27 days, or 50% of
available credit if less than 54 days are available for the prorated period, for each
act committed.
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(3) Moderate Severity Level Offenses. You will lose at least 14 days, or 25% of
available credit if less than 54 days are available for the prorated period, after
committing two or more Moderate severity acts during the current year of your
good conduct sentence credit availability.
(4) Low Severity Level Offenses. You will lose at least 7 days, or 12.5% of
available credit if less than 54 days are available for the prorated period, after
committing three or more Low severity acts during the current year of your good
conduct sentence credit availability.
Available Sanctions (upon finding the inmate committed the prohibited act(s)):
(A) Recommend Parole Date Rescission or Retardation. The DHO may recommend
retardation or rescission of parole grants to the U.S. Parole Commission or respective parole
authority.
(B) Forfeit Earned Statutory Good Time, Non-vested Good Conduct Time, or Terminate
or Disallow Extra Good Time.
Forfeited good conduct time (GCT) is not eligible for restoration. However, forfeited statutory
good time (SGT) may be restored. Restoration of statutory good time is approved at initial
eligibility only when the inmate has shown a period of improved good behavior. When the
Warden (or designee) denies restoration of forfeited statutory good time, the unit team notifies
the inmate of the reasons for denial. The unit team establishes a new eligibility date, not to
exceed six months from the date of denial.
An application for restoration of statutory good time is forwarded from the inmate's unit team,
through the DHO and Captain for comments, to the Warden for final decision.
Inmates who committed their crimes on or after November 1, 1987, and are sentenced under the
Sentencing Reform Act provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, are only eligible to
receive 54 days GCT credit (18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)). This credit is given at the end of each year
served and, once given, is vested. For these inmates, the DHO's authority is final and subject
only to review by the Regional Director to ensure conformity with the discipline policy and by
inmate appeal through Administrative Remedy procedures.
The statutory good time available for forfeiture is limited to an amount computed by multiplying
the months served at the time of the offense for which forfeiture is taken, by the applicable
monthly rate specified in 18 U.S.C. §4161 (less previous forfeiture or withholding). The
amount of GCT available for forfeiture is limited to total days in "non-vested" status at the time
of misconduct (less previous forfeiture).
Forfeiture of GCT may not be suspended.
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Disallowance of extra good time is limited to extra good time for the calendar month in which
the violation occurs. It may not be withheld or restored.
The sanction of termination or disallowance of extra good time may not be suspended.
Forfeited GCT will not be restored. Authority to restore forfeited statutory good time is
delegated to the Warden, and may not be delegated lower than the Associate Warden level.
Limitations on this sanction and eligibility for restoration are based on the severity scale. (See
Table 2.)
To ensure an inmate's case is not overlooked when statutory good time has been forfeited, the
unit manager will ensure the eligibility requirements are reviewed for restoration per the time
frames in the Program Statement on Classification and Program Review of Inmates. A
recommendation of the unit team for or against restoration is forwarded to the Warden through
the DHO and Captain. Except as noted, eligibility for restoration of forfeited statutory good
time is computed from the date of the withholding or forfeiture action by the DHO.
An inmate who has escaped and receives a forfeiture at a subsequent in absentia hearing begins
the eligibility for restoration period upon return to Bureau custody. The Warden refers to the
Regional Director any case where exceptional circumstances support restoration of statutory
good time before completion of the eligibility requirements.
Sanction B does not apply to inmates committed under the Comprehensive Crime Control Act
for crimes committed on or after November 1, 1987, and prior to passage of the Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (September 23, 1994). For those inmates, the
applicable sanction is B.1.
(B.1) Disallowance of Good Conduct Time. An inmate sentenced under the Sentencing
Reform Act provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act (committed a crime on or after
November 1, 1987) may not receive statutory good time, but is eligible to receive 54 days GCT
credit each year (18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)). Once awarded, the credit is vested, and may not be
disallowed.
Crimes committed on or after September 13, 1994, and before April 26, 1996, (VCCLEA) credit
is not vested unless the inmate has earned or is making satisfactory progress toward a high school
diploma or equivalent degree (or is exempt because of a learning disability).
For crimes committed on or after April 26, 1996, (PLRA and SRAA) GCT credit toward an
inmate's service of sentence vests on the date the inmate is released. Once disallowed, the credit
may not be restored, except by immediate review or appeal as indicated below. Prior to this
award being made, the credit may be disallowed for an inmate found to have committed a
prohibited act.
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A sanction of GCT disallowance may not be suspended. Only the DHO can take action to
disallow GCT. The DHO considers the severity of the prohibited act and the suggested
disallowance guidelines in making a determination.
A decision to go above the guideline is warranted for a greatly aggravated offense or a repeated
violation of another prohibited act within a relatively short time (e.g., within 24 months for a
greatest severity level prohibited act, 18 months for a high severity level prohibited act, and 12
months for a moderate severity level prohibited act). A decision to go below the guidelines is
warranted for strong mitigating factors. A decision above or below the guidelines is justified in
the DHO report.
VCCLEA inmates rated "violent" and PLRA inmates are ordinarily disallowed GCT for each
prohibited act they are found to have committed at a DHO hearing, consistent with the following:
■ Greatest Severity Level Offenses. A minimum of 41 days (or, if less than 54 days are
available for the prorated period, a minimum of 75% of available GCT) for each act
committed.
■ High Severity Level Offenses. A minimum of 27 days (or, if less than 54 days are
available for the prorated period, a minimum of 50% of available GCT) for each act
committed.
■ Moderate Severity Level Offenses. A minimum of 14 days (or, if less than 54 days are
available for the prorated period, a minimum of 25% of available GCT) for each act
committed if the inmate has committed two or more moderate severity level offenses during
the current anniversary period.
■ Low Severity Level Offenses. A minimum of 7 days (or, if less than 54 days are available
for the prorated period, a minimum of 12.5% of available GCT) for each act committed if the
inmate has committed three or more low moderate offenses during the current anniversary
period.
Except for VCCLEA inmates rated "violent" or PLRA inmates, Sanction B.1 may be imposed on
the Low severity level only where the inmate has committed a Low severity level act more than
once within a six-month period.
GCT credit may only be given to an inmate serving a sentence of more than one year, but less
than life. In the last year or part of a year of an inmate's sentence, only the GCT available for
the time remaining may be disallowed.
(C) Disciplinary Segregation. The DHO may direct that an inmate be placed or retained in
disciplinary segregation. Consecutive disciplinary segregation sanctions can be imposed for
inmates found to have committed offenses that are part of different acts only. Limits on time in
disciplinary segregation are based on the severity scale (see Tables 1 and 2).
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Unless otherwise specified by the DHO, disciplinary segregation placements for different or
separate prohibited acts are imposed consecutively.
(D) Make Monetary Restitution. The DHO may direct that an inmate reimburse the U.S.
Treasury for damages to U.S. Government property that the individual caused or contributed to.
The UDC is prohibited from imposing the sanction of make monetary restitution.
Commissary privileges should be suspended by the DHO until restitution is made. See the
Program Statement Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual for instructions regarding impoundment
of inmate funds.
(E) Monetary Fine. The DHO may direct that an inmate pay a fine, as follows:
■ Greatest severity level offense — Up to $500, or 75% of the inmate's trust fund balance.
■ High severity level offense — Up to $300, or 50% of the inmate's trust fund balance.
■ Moderate severity level offense — Up to $100, or 25% of the inmate's trust fund balance.
■ Low severity level offense — Up to $50, or 12.5% of the inmate's trust fund balance.
Commissary privileges should be suspended until the fine is paid. See the Trust Fund/Deposit
Fund Manual for instructions regarding impoundment of inmate funds.
This sanction cannot be used as a form of monetary restitution. The UDC is prohibited from
imposing the sanction of monetary fine.
(F) Loss of Privileges (e.g., visiting, telephone, e-mail, commissary, movies, recreation).
The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate forego specific privileges for a specified time.
The DHO or UDC may impose non-contact visiting or immediate family-only visitation in
addition to loss of visiting.
Loss of recreation privileges (exercise periods) may not be imposed on inmates in a Special
Housing Unit (SHU), but may be used for general population inmates.
The DHO or UDC may impose a loss of mattress sanction from lights on to lights off for inmates
in the SHU. Staff must ensure the inmate has a mattress from lights off to lights on.
(G) Change Housing (Quarters). The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate be moved to
other housing.
(H) Remove from Program or Group Activity. The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate
not participate in any program or group activity for a specified time.
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(I) Loss of Job. The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate be removed from his/her present
job or assigned to another job.
(J) Impound Inmate's Personal Property. The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate's
personal property be stored in the institution for a specified time.
(K) Confiscate Contraband.
(L) Restrict Quarters. The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate be confined to quarters
or its immediate area for a specified time.
(M) Extra Duty. The DHO or UDC may direct that an inmate perform tasks other than those
performed during his/her regular job.
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CHAPTER 2.
§ 541.5 Discipline process.
(a) Incident report. The discipline process starts when staff witness or
reasonably believe that you committed a prohibited act. A staff member will
issue you an incident report describing the incident and the prohibited act(s) you
are charged with committing. You will ordinarily receive the incident report
within 24 hours of staff becoming aware of your involvement in the incident.
When staff witness or reasonably believe that a violation of Bureau regulations has been
committed, staff must prepare an incident report and forward it to the appropriate Lieutenant.
The Lieutenant will enter the incident report into SENTRY.
The reporting employee immediately completes Part 1 of the incident report. The incident is a
prohibited act listed in Appendix C. The entire language of the prohibited act(s) does not have
to be copied. For example, "Destroying Government Property, Code 218" or "Possessing
Narcotics, Code 113" would be acceptable listings.
The description of the incident should contain all facts known by the employee that are not
confidential. Anything unusual about the inmate's behavior should be noted. The reporting
employee also lists persons (staff, inmates, others) at the scene, and physical evidence (weapons,
property, etc.) the employee may have handled. The report reflects any actions taken, including
use of force. The reporting employee signs the report, enters his/her title, date, and time, and
forwards it to the Lieutenant. The description of the incident provides the inmate with specific
evidence for which he/she may prepare a defense.
References to attachments and other investigative materials should not be identified in Section 11
of the report. For example, if staff observe two inmates in a physical altercation, the reporting
officer should describe in Section 11 specific actions by each inmate; e.g., throwing punches to
the head with a closed fist, striking one another with closed fists, biting, scratching, hair pulling.
Acts are different or separate if they have different elements (time, place, persons involved,
actions). For example, if an inmate is involved in a fight with another inmate and also strikes a
staff member trying to break it up, the inmate can be charged with fighting (Code 201) and
assaulting a staff member (Code 224 or 101, depending on seriousness of injuries).
Code 305, Possession of anything not authorized, may be appropriate for inmates possessing
items in excess of authorized limits.
Codes 199, 299, and 399, most like 196, 296, and 396, respectively, may be appropriate for
inmates using electronic messaging (e.g., TRULINCS) in violation of policy. Sanctions Code
F., Loss of privileges, in the form of loss of electronic messaging privileges, may be an
appropriate sanction for these offenses.
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(b) Investigation. After you receive an incident report, a Bureau staff member
will investigate it.
The Investigating Officer is an employee at the supervisory level who conducts an investigation
of alleged inmate misconduct. The Investigating Officer must be IDC-certified, and may not be
the employee reporting the incident or otherwise be involved in the incident. The officer is
ordinarily a Lieutenant, but the Warden may appoint another staff member.
Staff conduct the investigation as promptly as possible. The Investigating Officer is ordinarily
appointed within 24 hours of the incident report. The investigation should be finished within 24
hours after the appointment.
When it appears likely that the incident may involve criminal prosecution, the investigating
officer suspends the investigation. Staff may not question the inmate until the FBI or other
investigative agency releases the incident report for administrative processing. The incident
report should then be delivered to the inmate by the end of the next business day. The time
frame for processing the Incident report is suspended until it is released for processing.
The Investigating Officer may informally resolve the Incident report (except for prohibited acts in
the Greatest or High severity level categories) or conduct an investigation consistent with this
section.
(1) Information: The investigator will specifically inform you:
(A) of the charge(s) against you: and
(B) that you may remain silent at all stages of the discipline process, but that
your silence may be used to draw an adverse inference against you at any stage
of the process. Your silence alone, however, cannot be the basis for finding you
committed the prohibited act(s).
(2) Statement: When the investigator asks for your statement, you may give an
explanation of the incident, request any witnesses be interviewed, or request that
other evidence be obtained and reviewed. However, the staff investigation of the
incident report may be suspended before requesting your statement if it is being
investigated for possible criminal prosecution.
The Investigating Officer provides a copy of the incident report to the inmate at the beginning of
the investigation, unless there is good cause for later delivery, such as absence of the inmate from
the institution or a medical condition that argues against delivery. If the investigation is delayed,
any employee may deliver the charge(s) to the inmate. The reason for the delay must be
documented in the discipline record.
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The incident report should be delivered to the inmate within 24 hours of the time staff become
aware of the inmate's alleged misconduct. If an incident is referred for prosecution, the report is
delivered by the end of the next business day after release for administrative processing. (The
five-day time frame for a UDC review starts when the incident report is released for
administrative processing.)
The staff member must record the date and time the inmate received a copy of the report. The
investigator also reads the charge(s) to the inmate and asks for the inmate's statement about the
incident.
The investigator then talks to persons with direct and relevant information, and summarizes their
statements. (For example, if an inmate was in a fight, the investigator talks with the other
inmate(s) involved.) Often, the investigator will want to talk to the reporting employee to obtain
a report firsthand and to clarify any questions. Although an inmate may not identify or request
any witnesses at this stage of the discipline process, the investigator should interview any
witnesses to the incident (and victims, if applicable) to record their statements. The investigator
records the disposition of evidence.
If practicable, the inmate's statements offering a rationale for his/her conduct or for the charges
against him/her should be investigated. If the inmate requests exculpatory evidence, such as
video or audio surveillance, the investigator must make every effort to review and preserve the
evidence. It would also be prudent for the investigator to review and preserve the video or audio
surveillance even if the inmate does not make a specific request as such evidence is relevant to
the incident.
An inmate who receives an Incident report based on a "positive" urine test may claim this result
comes from either:
■ Permissible medication he/she was given.
■ A combination of medications he/she is taking.
In the first situation, the investigator must contact Health Services staff to determine if the inmate
is receiving medication that contains the compound found in the urinalysis. In the second
situation, the investigator must confirm that the inmate is authorized to take the medications.
When necessary, the testing laboratory is contacted to see if the combined medications could
produce a "false positive."
While an inmate can challenge the results of a urine test, and this may be considered by the
DHO, the validity of the testing process is not at issue. Neither the investigator nor the DHO
has the experience to assess the accuracy of the laboratory process. See the Program Statement
Urine Surveillance.
Under Comments and Conclusions, the investigator may include:
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■ Comments on the inmate's prior record and behavior.
■ Analysis of any conflict between witnesses.
■ Conclusions regarding what happened.
The investigator must record all steps and actions taken on the incident report and forward the
relevant materials to staff holding the initial hearing.
The inmate does not receive a copy of the investigation (Sections 23 through 27 of the
incident report). However, if the case is ultimately forwarded to the DHO, the DHO must give
a copy of the investigation and other relevant materials to the inmate's staff representative, if
requested, for use on the inmate's behalf.
The UDC chairman or DHO taking final action ensures that the required information is entered
into SENTRY. The unit team files all discipline documents in the inmate's central file.
(3) Informally resolving the incident report. The incident report may be
informally resolved at any stage of the disciplinary process, except for prohibited
acts in the Greatest and High severity levels, or as otherwise required by law or
these regulations. if the incident report is informally resolved, it will be removed
from your records.
The Bureau encourages informal resolution of incidents. However, prohibited acts in the
Greatest severity level (100 level) and High severity level (200 level) may not be informally
resolved, and must be referred to the DHO. Moderate severity level (300 level) and Low
severity level (400 level) offenses can be informally resolved at any stage of the process. A
record of any informal resolution is maintained in SENTRY. However, the incident report is not
filed in the inmate's central file.
Staff may suspend discipline proceedings up to two calendar weeks while informal resolution is
undertaken. If informal resolution is unsuccessful, staff may reinstate disciplinary proceedings at
the stage at which they were suspended. The time requirements then restart at the point at which
they were suspended. Staff are required to write the incident report before starting informal
resolution so the facts of the incident will be preserved if informal resolution is not successful.
While informal resolution requires the consent of both staff and inmate to be successful, the
determination to informally resolve an incident report is solely at the discretion of staff.
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CHAPTER 3.
§ 541.6 Mentally ill inmates.
If it appears you are mentally ill at any stage of the discipline process, you will be
examined by mental health staff.
(a) Competency to Participate in Disciplinary Proceedings. If evidence
indicates that you cannot understand the nature of the disciplinary proceedings,
or cannot help in your own defense, disciplinary proceedings may be postponed
until you are competent to participate. The Unit Disciplinary Committee or
Discipline Hearing Officer will make this decision based on evidence, including
evidence presented by mental health staff.
(b) Responsibility for Conduct. You will not be disciplined for conduct
committed when, as the result of a severe mental disease or defect, you were
unable to appreciate the nature and quality, or wrongfulness of the act. The UDC
or DHO will make this decision based on evidence, including evidence presented
by mental health staff.
If it appears at any stage of the discipline process that an inmate is mentally ill, staff refers
him/her to a mental health professional to determine whether he/she is responsible for his/her
conduct or is incompetent. Staff may take no discipline action against an inmate who is
determined by a mental health professional to be incompetent to participate in the disciplinary
proceedings or not responsible for his/her behavior.
A person is not responsible for his/her conduct if. at the time of the conduct, as a result of a
severe mental disease or defect, he/she was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the
wrongfulness of his/her acts. When a person is determined not responsible for his/her conduct,
the incident report shows as a finding that the person did not commit the prohibited act because
he/she was found not mentally responsible. The incident report is retained in the inmate's
central file. The DHO or UDC, as appropriate, enters this finding into SENTRY in the
Chronological Disciplinary Record.
A person is incompetent if he/she lacks the ability to understand the disciplinary proceedings, or
to assist in his/her defense. When a person is determined incompetent, the disciplinary
proceedings are postponed until the inmate is able to understand the proceedings and assist in
his/her defense. If competency is not restored within a reasonable time, the incident report
shows as a finding that the inmate is incompetent. The incident report is retained in the inmate's
central file. The DHO or UDC chairman records the finding into SENTRY in the Chronological
Disciplinary Record.
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Generally, the UDC initiates referral to a mental health professional. However, staff at any stage
of the discipline process may make such a referral.
The completed mental health evaluation is
returned to the UDC, which then decides whether the incident may be handled by the UDC (other
than Greatest or High severity level), or referred to the DHO. In Greatest or High severity level
cases, the UDC may refer an inmate for a mental health evaluation along with referral to the
DHO. The completed evaluation is returned to the UDC, which forwards it to the DHO.
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CHAPTER 4.
§ 541.7 Unit Discipline Committee (UDC) review of the incident report.
A Unit Discipline Committee (UDC) will review the incident report once the staff
investigation is complete. The UDC's review involves the following:
(a) Available dispositions. The UDC will make one of the following decisions
after reviewing the incident report:
(1) You committed the prohibited act(s) charged, and/or a similar prohibited
act(s) as described in the incident report;
(2) You did not commit the prohibited act(s) charged; or
(3) The incident report will be referred to the Discipline Hearing Officer (DHO) for
further review, based on the seriousness of the prohibited act(s) charged.
(4) If you are charged with a Greatest or High severity prohibited act, or are an
inmate covered by § 541.4, the UDC will automatically refer the incident report to
the DHO for further review.
(b) UDC members. The UDC ordinarily consists of two or more staff. UDC
members will not be victims, witnesses, investigators, or otherwise significantly
involved in the incident.
The Warden designates ordinarily two or more unit staff members to hold an initial review and
impose available sanctions upon completion of the investigation of alleged misconduct for
moderate category and low category offenses. One staff member UDCs are permitted when
other members are not reasonably available.
Only one unit staff member is required to hold an initial review when the incident report is
required by policy to be referred to the DHO.
A staff member witnessing an incident may serve on the UDC in cases where virtually every staff
member in the institution witnessed the incident in whole or in part.
A staff member may not sit on the UDC without successfully completing the self-study program
for UDC certification.
Each Warden must select at least one UDC Trainer to monitor the progress of staff participating
in the self-study program.
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(c) Timing. The UDC will ordinarily review the incident report within five work
days after it is issued, not counting the day it was issued, weekends, and
holidays. UDC review of the incident report may also be suspended if it is being
investigated for possible criminal prosecution.
The Warden's approval is required for any extension beyond five work days. The UDC will
ensure the approval is documented and included in the discipline packet. The time that an
incident report is suspended for referral to another agency for possible prosecution is not
included in this five work day time frame. The time line commences when the incident report is
released from the outside agency for administrative processing. However, the inmate should be
advised of the delay, and if appropriate. the reason for the delay.
(d) Inmate appearance. You are permitted to appear before the UDC during its
review of the incident report, except during UDC deliberations or when your
presence would jeopardize institution security, at the UDC's discretion. Also:
(1) You may appear either in person or electronically (for example, by video or
telephone conferencing) at the UDC's discretion.
(2) You may waive your appearance before the UDC. If you waive your
appearance, the UDC will review the incident report in your absence.
(3) If you escape or are otherwise absent from custody, the UDC will conduct a
review in your absence at the institution where you were last confined.
The UDC must document its reasons for excluding an inmate from the hearing.
A waiver may be in writing, signed by the inmate, or if the inmate refuses to sign, by a memo
indicating the inmate's refusal to appear (Waiver of Appearance (BP-A0307)).
(e) Evidence. You are entitled to make a statement and present documentary
evidence to the UDC on your own behalf.
The UDC will consider all evidence
presented during its review. The UDC's decision will be based on at least some
facts and, if there is conflicting evidence, on the greater weight of the evidence.
The phrase "some facts" refers to facts indicating the inmate committed the prohibited act. The
phrase "greater weight of the evidence" refers to the strength of the evidence.
(f) Sanctions. If you committed a prohibited act(s), the UDC can impose any of
the available sanctions listed in Tables 1 and 2, except loss of good conduct
sentence credit, disciplinary segregation, or monetary fines.
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(g) Referral to the DHO. If the UDC refers the incident report to the DHO for
further review, the UDC will advise you of your rights at the upcoming DHO
hearing, as detailed in § 541.8.
The UDC is prohibited from imposing the sanctions of make monetary restitution or monetary
fines.
The UDC forwards copies of relevant documents to the DHO with a statement of reasons for the
referral, along with recommendations for sanctions if the DHO finds the inmate has committed
the act or another prohibited act. The UDC Chair records reasons for the referral and
recommendations for disposition in the "Committee Action" section of the incident report.
Recommendations are contingent upon a DHO finding that the inmate committed the act.
When charges are referred to the DHO, the UDC advises the inmate of the rights afforded at a
hearing. The UDC asks the inmate to choose a staff representative, if any, and the names of
witnesses the inmate wishes to be called to testify and what testimony they are expected to
provide. The UDC advises the inmate that he/she may waive the right to be present at the
hearing, but still have witnesses or a staff representative appear on his/her behalf.
If an inmate waives the right to appear at the UDC review, the UDC ensures the inmate is
advised of the rights afforded at a hearing before the DHO (see forms for Inmate Rights at
Discipline Hearing and Notice of Discipline Hearing Before the Discipline Hearing Officer
(DHO)).
(h) Written report. You will receive a written copy of the UDC's decision
following its review of the incident report.
The UDC prepares a record of its proceedings, which need not be verbatim. A record of the
hearing and supporting documents is kept in the inmate's central file.
The UDC gives the inmate a written copy of the decision and disposition by the close of business
the next work day. Action taken as a minor disposition may be reviewed under the
Administrative Remedy Program (see 28 CFR Part 542, Subpart B.).
All UDC member(s) must print their name and sign Part H of the incident report to certify they
served on the UDC and that the completed Part II accurately reflects their review.
When the UDC finds the inmate committed the prohibited act charged or a similar prohibited act
reflected in the incident report, the chair ensures the information is entered into SENTRY in the
Chronological Disciplinary Record.
(i) Appeals. You may appeal the UDC's action(s) through the Administrative
Remedy Program, 28 CFR Part 542, Subpart B.
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