BOP Program Statement 5200.09 § 5

Managers consider the needs of female offenders and consult with the Women and Special

Populations Branch as appropriate during the development of this Program Statement.

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Section 2. MANAGEMENT OF FEMALE OFFENDERS

1. CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGNATION

The Bureau’s classification system takes into account the different ways risk factors for

recidivism may apply to females. Management variables should not be used to over-classify

females.

a. Distance from Home. Females are incarcerated at much lower rates than males. As a result,

there are fewer institutions housing female offenders, meaning females are, on average, housed

at greater distances from home than men. Staff will consider location of children and families,

not just release destination, and involve the inmates in a discussion of options.

b. Female Administrative Unit. High security female inmates may be housed in administrative

units, such as the one currently at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell. The majority of

female offenders are appropriate for housing at minimum or low security facilities. A very small

number of females may require more secure confinement. Female offenders will receive mental

health screening prior to placement on this unit consistent with the procedures for male inmates

referred to the Administrative Maximum Penitentiary (ADX) described in the Program

Statement Treatment and Care of Inmates With Mental Illness.

The Women and Special Populations Branch can provide assistance in establishing appropriate

programs for these inmates. In addition, the Regional Director will receive an annual

justification from the Warden or designee for each inmate who continues to be placed in the

administrative unit, except for those sentenced to death. This rationale is informed by an annual

Extended Restrictive Housing Placement Review conducted by Psychology Services consistent

with the format described in the Program Statement Treatment and Care of Inmates With

Mental Illness. The Regional Director will provide this justification to the Assistant Director,

Reentry Services Division.

If an inmate’s mental health appears to have deteriorated during placement in an administrative

unit, the institution’s Chief Psychologist works with the Women and Special Populations Branch

and Psychology Services Branch to mitigate the impact or identify an alternative placement.

Consultation will also be made with the Bureau’s Chief Psychiatrist through the Psychology

Services Branch.

2. CORRECTIVE ACTION

The purpose of this section is to provide guidance in dealing with female offenders. Discipline

should be applied equally to all inmates for their actions according to the Program Statement

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Inmate Discipline Program.

Discipline should be corrective and not punitive when sanctioning inmates. The Discipline

Hearing Officer (DHO) and Unit Disciplinary Committee (UDC) should consider all factors and

the described behavior within the incident report when disciplining inmates. This entails

focusing on the influence of trauma, sex, staff-inmate interactions, and input from both staff and

inmates. For chronic infractions, referral to an appropriate program should be considered.

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Section 3. FEMALE OFFENDER PROGRAMS

All institutions housing female offenders must meet basic standards for offering programming

that is responsive to the needs of females and for ensuring staff responsible for providing the

programs have the knowledge and skills to deliver these services. Programs are divided into

three categories: National Programs, Model Programs, and local activities or leisure-time

programs.

1. PROGRAMMING

National programs rely on standardized admission and delivery criteria across sites, which

include at least one full-time staff position. Ordinarily, these programs are also supported by

evidence of their impact on recidivism or other desired intervention targets. Examples include

the Resolve Program and the Residential Drug Abuse Program. A complete list of national

programs is maintained by the Reentry Services Division. Generally, these programs are offered

to both male and female inmates, often via the same curricula with appropriate modifications

designed specifically to meet the needs of females.

The decision to locate a national program at a particular institution is made by Central Office,

based on capacity monitoring with existing programs or data demonstrating need for new

programs. Ordinarily, all minimum and low security facilities housing female offenders have a

Resolve Program. Administrative facilities housing primarily pretrial females are not required to

offer the full Resolve Program, but ordinarily provide the Trauma in Life Workshop quarterly.

Offenders are encouraged to participate in national programs. In some cases, a determination

will be made at the Central Office level that the needs of a particular population dictate a

modified version of a national program be created. Examples of this approach include female

versions of the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), Skills, and Sex Offender Treatment

Programs. In these cases, the Women and Special Populations Branch Administrator will work

with the appropriate Divisions and Regions to develop and implement the modified program.

The FSA Approved Programs Guide contains a growing number of programs that have been

determined to represent evidence-based or promising practices. Evidence-based and promising

practices evolve quickly, therefore a full list is not provided in this Program Statement. Instead,

these programs are maintained in the Bureau’s FSA Approved Programs Guide. Local

implementation of programs will be consistent with all procurement authorities, if applicable.

Evidence-based and promising programs from the FSA Approved Programs Guide specifically

for female offenders are considered essential practices. If an institution has resources to deliver

programming, institutions will select from programs responsive to the needs of females

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contained in the FSA Approved Programs Guide. If an institution identifies a program need area

for which a female specific program does not exist, the Regional Female Offender Coordinator

should contact Central Office for program development consultation.

Each minimum, low, or administrative security institution housing female offenders ensures at

least one program from the FSA Approved Programs Guide is designed specifically for females

is offered each quarter. This requirement is also extended to facilities housing pretrial women.

Foundation is a program designed to assist women in assessing their individual needs and

translating that information into attainable goals while building a supportive community.

Foundation is offered at least once annually at minimum, low, administrative, and pretrial

facilities. It is to be used for women at the beginning of the service of their sentences and can

help them plan future program choices. Copies of materials can be obtained from the Women

and Special Populations Branch. Completion of the program should be documented. Ordinarily

this program is delivered by the Social Worker or Special Populations Coordinator.

Holdover facilities housing female offenders offer at least one FSA Approved Programs

annually. Female specific programming options must also be available to females in restrictive

housing and in FMC Carswell’s Administrative Unit. The Regional Female Offender

Coordinator tracks and reports each type of program being provided to the Women and Special

Populations Branch quarterly.

Programs not developed specifically for females may also be appropriate to offer at female

facilities.

2. LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND LEISURE-TIME PROGRAMS

Beyond required services, institutions housing females offer a number of other activities to meet

population needs and develop leisure-time skills. Institutions generally offer Recreation and

Adult Continuing Education Programs on an ongoing basis. These programs are implemented

based on an understanding of the unique needs of females and other special populations, and take

into account females’ activity preferences. These services may also be provided by volunteers

from the community who demonstrate understanding of issues common to females in

corrections.

3. PROGRAM SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT

Assigning individual females to programs and services should be prioritized based on need; e.g.,

work history, skill level, resources, sentence length. Waiting lists should be maintained at the

institution level for all female offender Programs.

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Local programming at each institution may vary based on population needs. To ensure adequate

availability of programming options, the Women and Special Populations Branch will provide a

forum for internal and external stakeholder feedback on an annual basis to identify potential FSA

Approved Program submissions. In addition, because the Women and Special Populations

Branch relies on feedback from the field to make resource determinations, institutions should

track program participation in SENTRY or other databases, and WASP Central Office monitor

this information as needed to ensure adequate service delivery.

Specification of Vocational Certification and Apprenticeship Programs is beyond the scope of

this Program Statement. In implementing these programs locally, attention is given to workforce

trends, and job skill or training opportunities are provided to females in male-dominated fields as

well as more traditional career paths.

4. PROMOTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Research has demonstrated the importance of family reunification and supportive community

connections in preventing recidivism. In addition, inmates may have supportive relationships

which fall outside legal definitions of family. The Bureau of Prisons encourages family

engagement and maintenance of these support networks.

a. Visiting Room Standards. Visiting rooms at each institution should include child-friendly

materials in the waiting area and in a Children’s Center within the actual physical visiting space.

Institutions are encouraged to contact Central Office for recommendations.

b. Parent-Child Activities. If parent-child activities are held at local facilities, local and

national policies will be followed, to include dress code. Central Office, including the Women

and Special Populations Branch, must be consulted in the development of these activities.

c. Peer Relationships. Research has shown the formation and maintenance of relationships to

be of particular importance to females. Many females enter prison as the result of criminal

behavior tied to a significant relationship. When incarcerated females are separated from their

families, they have a tendency to seek new relationships in prison. Sexual relationships are

prohibited in all correctional facilities. The Bureau of Prisons supports healthy, appropriate

relationships among female inmates. Female offenders benefit from common areas in which to

congregate and engage in supportive social communities, and areas are designated for such

activities when space allows.

5. COMMISSARY

All institutions housing females are required to implement standardized female specific

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commissary lists. This information is available on the Women and Special Populations Branch

Sallyport page.

The First Step Act of 2018, Section 611:

(a) AVAILABILITY.—The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall make the healthcare

products described in subsection (c) available to prisoners for free, in a quantity that is

appropriate to the healthcare needs of each prisoner.

(b) QUALITY PRODUCTS.—The Director shall ensure that the healthcare products

provided under this section conform with applicable industry standards.

(c) PRODUCTS.—The healthcare products described in this subsection are tampons and

sanitary napkins.

Hair styling irons (curling iron, flat iron) and hair dryers must also be made available to inmates.

Wardens will ensure inmates are provided the following products (at no cost to the inmates):

■ Tampons, regular and super size.

■ Maxi Pads with wings, regular and super size.

■ Panty liners, regular.

Additional products of this type may be purchased and issued by the facility at the discretion of

the Warden. Institutions will purchase the products in accordance with National Acquisitions

guidance. These products are provided in addition to those required via the standardized female

specific commissary list.

In issuing feminine hygiene products, staff may not ration these items. For inmates in general

population, all products must be made available in common areas, either a bathroom or

accessible area of the housing unit. Women must have access to these items at all times of the

day and may keep them in their cell, consistent with personal property requirements. Monthly

issuance of these items is strictly prohibited, and unit replenishment of supplies must be done

with 24 hours of notification that a particular product is lacking. For women in restrictive

housing, all five products must be available for issuance on a daily basis.

Misuse of items for other than intended purposes is not cause for withholding access, but is

managed via routine disciplinary procedures.

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