BOP Program Statement 5100.08 Change Notice 3

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Bureau of Prisons

CHANGE NOTICE

Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification

Approved by

William K. Marshall III

Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons

DPI CPD

Number 5100.08, CN-3

Date May 6, 2026

This Change Notice (CN) implements a change to Program Statement 5100.08, Inmate Security

Designation and Custody Classification, dated September 12, 2006. Change notice updates Section 1,

Purpose and Scope. The new language is highlighted. The deleted text has a Strikethrough.

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE. This Program Statement provides policy and procedure regarding the

Bureau of Prisons inmate classification system. The classification of inmates is necessary to place

each inmate in the most appropriate security level institution that also meets their program needs and

is consistent with the Bureau’s mission to protect society.

The Bureau’s classification, designation and redesignation procedures are consistent with the

statutory authority contained in 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b). Designation and redesignation of an inmate’s

place of imprisonment shall be consistent with the statutory authority contained in 18 U.S.C. §

3621(b), which requires the Bureau of Prisons to designate an inmate’s place of imprisonment subject

to consideration of several factors.

28 U.S.C. § 509 provides, “[a]ll functions of other officers of the Department of Justice and all

functions of agencies and employees of the Department of Justice are vested in the Attorney

General.” In certain circumstances, the Attorney General may exercise authority to designate or

redesignate the place of a prisoner’s imprisonment, consistent with the requirements of 18 U.S.C. §

3621(b).

Notice of the Attorney General’s intention to exercise vested authority to designate or redesignate the

place of a prisoner’s imprisonment shall be provided to the Bureau of Prisons as soon as practicable.

Absent such notification, procedures for making classification, designation and redesignation

decisions as described herein should be followed by the Bureau of Prisons.

Where authority to determine the place of a prisoner’s imprisonment is invoked by the Attorney

General, the Bureau may provide relevant information in order to facilitate the determination. The

Bureau may also facilitate communication or correspondence between the inmate and the Office of

the Attorney General.

All classification, designation and redesignation decisions are made without favoritism given to an

inmate’s social or economic status.