BOP Program Statement 1480.06 § 2

The OCPA is responsible for this program statement.

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is responsible for the Bureau's public and media relations.

OPA provides a wide range of public information services to the media, the public, and other

government and private sector organizations and agencies. OPA provides assistance to the field

by providing technical assistance to institution and regional Public Information Officers (PIO),

conducting public and media relations training for Bureau staff, producing and distributing daily

news clips, and assisting in coordinating interviews and special media or high-profile tours.

The OPA provides oversight for the creative work produced by the Director’s Studio. This

oversight applies specifically to:

■ AV productions intended for the general public

■ Informational products designed for Bureau staff and inmates

■ The review and approval of AV productions proposed outside of OPA

In addition, OPA sets standards for digital distribution, accessibility compliance, public-facing

content strategy, and modern media quality controls.

The Office of Communications and Multimedia Production (OCMP) plays a central role in

managing and safeguarding the Bureau’s multimedia and communications work products.

OCMP’s responsibilities include:

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■ AV Leadership: Serving as the Bureau’s primary point of contact for AV matters, including

compliance with DOJ Order 2520.3C. OCMP ensures the AV production approval process is

followed, notifies sponsors of outcomes, and maintains official records of approvals and

disapprovals.

■ Library and Archives: Maintaining the Bureau’s multimedia library and structured cloud

archives, ensuring long-term preservation and secure access to digital assets.

■ Digital Asset Governance: Establishing standards for multimedia products, overseeing

digital distribution, and coordinating reviews of AV systems and files to maintain quality and

compliance.

■ Social Media Strategy: The Chief, OCMP, manages the Bureau’s social media presence,

ensuring that all public-facing content is consistent, accurate, and aligned with broader

communications goals. This role oversees the Social Media Coordinator(s) (SMC) and is

accountable for ensuring content shared across platforms complies with DOJ and federal

standards for media, privacy, security, ethics, accessibility, and records management.

■ Work Product Stewardship: Overseeing the creation, review, and distribution of

multimedia work products to ensure they meet modern media standards and reflect the

Bureau’s mission.

Through these responsibilities, OCMP ensures that the Bureau’s communications—whether in

AV formats or across social media—are professional, accessible, and strategically aligned.

In accordance with DOJ policy, all components are required to designate a minimum of one

SMC. The agency's SMCs operate under the OPA, OCPA, Office of the Director. Only

designated SMCs are authorized to create, review, or submit content for posting on the agency’s

official accounts. No other staff may perform these functions.

All Bureau social media accounts fall under the purview of the agency’s SMCs. Any request to

establish an official division account (e.g., NIC, FPI, HRM) must be formally submitted to and

approved by the Bureau’s SMCs. Once approved, the account must operate under the guidance

and direction of the SMCs, in accordance with the standards and procedures outlined in this

program statement.

SMCs are responsible for:

■ Account Establishment: Initiating requests to establish new social media accounts through

the DOJ Social Media Working Group. Each request must clearly explain the operational

need and intended use of the account. SMCs must follow the procedures outlined in DOJ

Policy 0300.02.01 for account setup.

■ Account Management: Overseeing the day-to-day operation of Bureau social media

accounts, including creating, scheduling, and monitoring content across platforms to ensure

accuracy, consistency, and alignment with Bureau communications goals.

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■ Privacy Compliance: Coordinating with Senior Bureau Official(s), or an authorized

designee, before disseminating any content that may contain Personally Identifiable

Information (PII).

Within the Bureau all social media coordination is managed exclusively by the OPA.

PIOs at the institution and regional levels serve as the Bureau’s local representatives for public

and media engagement. PIO’s responsibilities include:

■ Media Liaison: Acting as the first point of contact for media inquiries directed to their

institution or region, while coordinating closely with the OPA to ensure consistency and

accuracy in messaging.

■ Information Coordination: Assisting in the preparation and dissemination of information

about institutional operations, programs, and events, ensuring alignment with Bureau-wide

communications standards.

■ Event Support: Coordinating with OPA on interviews, tours, and other media-related events,

particularly those that may be high-profile or sensitive in nature.

■ Compliance and Standards: Ensuring that all public communications adhere to DOJ and

Bureau requirements for privacy, security, ethics, accessibility, and records management.

■ Reporting and Escalation: Promptly notifying OPA of significant media activity, emerging

issues, or requests that may require national-level oversight or approval.

■ Training and Development: Participating in public and media relations training provided by

OPA and applying best practices in their daily responsibilities.