The FOIA Library was developed to provide the public with access to certain types of information created by the Bureau of Prisons after November 1, 1996. These categories of documents, as outlined in the Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C.552(a)(2) include:
(A) final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases;
(B) those statements of policy and interpretations that have been adopted by the agency and are not published in the Federal Register;
(C) administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public;
(D) copies of all records, regardless of form or format, that have been released to any person under paragraph (3) and that, because of the nature of their subject matter, the agency determines have become or are likely to become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records; and
(E) a general index of the records referred to under subparagraph (D)
These documents are also located in the conventional reading room. The conventional reading room is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., by appointment. A dedicated workstation is available for public use in accessing the Bureau's documents in electronic format. Access to the Internet, particularly the BOP home page - http://www.bop.gov - is available.
Location and Contact
Street Address:If you do not find the information you need in the reading room, please submit a FOIA request via our online form.
Final Opinions made in the adjudication of cases |
The Bureau of Prisons adjudicates no cases.
Statements of Policy |
Bureau of Prisons Policy are referred to as Program Statements
Administrative Staff Manuals and instructions to staff that affect a member of the public |
Bureau of Prisons staff manuals and instructions to staff are referred to as Technical Reference Manuals
Frequently Requested Records |
Community Confinement Procedure Changes, December 20, 2002:
Employment Information Handbook: provides inmates with contacts and
other information that can help them prepare for release.
Inmate Locator: tool to locate information on an inmate.
Purchase Cardholders (updated quarterly)
State of the Bureau (current version)
Index of Frequently Requested Records |
Proactive Disclosures |
Budget:
Menus:
Operational Review Reports |
Program Review Division, August 2009
Updated December 29, 2014