Federal Bureau of Prisons

I want to share with you my continued commitment for the Bureau of Prisons to do all we can to provide you a safe living environment as well as opportunities to prepare for a successful return to the community. This time of year can be difficult for many of us, but particularly for individuals who are removed from their friends and families. Focusing on the future and the promise it can hold may be of help. Below I have described some changes in the operations of the Bureau of Prisons that may benefit you.

First, we expanded our policy on compassionate release, a sentence reduction mechanism authorized by Title 18, United States Code, Section 3582. Most significantly, we added some non-medical circumstances that could be the basis for requests and we broadened the medical criteria somewhat. The details of the new criteria are explained in the new Compassionate Release Program Statement 5050.49 that is available through the law library. I encourage you to review this information and consider whether it applies to you. We also expedited the process for considering these requests by removing the requirement for Regional Directors to review the packages. Wardens now send approved requests directly to Central Office for review and final disposition.

Second, we enhanced our participation in the international prisoner treaty transfer program. This program permits inmates who are foreign nationals to request a transfer back to their country of origin to complete their sentence. I encourage you to review information pertaining to this opportunity in Program Statement 5140.40; the program is entirely voluntary on your part. Your unit team can assist you with questions you may have about either the treaty transfer or compassionate release policies.

Finally, we created the Reentry Services Division in the Bureau of Prisons that will allow us to consolidate and concentrate many of our reentry programs and services. Our long standing approach that "Reentry Begins on the First Day of Incarceration" is as true today as it has ever been in the past. The Bureau of Prisons provides and searches for new programs and new opportunities to help you be as productive as possible while in prison, preparing to return to your family and community as a productive, law abiding citizen. This past weekend, as you are probably aware, we hosted Universal Childrens' Day visiting events to encourage parents to spend some quality time with your children. There is no substitute for looking your children in the eye and letting them know you care about them. For some of you it may have been the first time you read a book to your child or drew a picture together. My hope is that this is just the beginning of a sustained journey back into the lives of your children and your roles as parents. Parenting is just one of many areas where you can develop skills through our programs. We also have programs to help you to overcome substance or behavioral issues. I challenge you -- do all you can to focus on preparation for a successful return to the community.

I wish you continued success on your reentry journey.