BOP Program Statement 5270.12 § 2

Special Housing Units (SHUs) are housing units in Bureau institutions where inmates are

securely separated from the general inmate population, and may be housed either alone or with

other inmates. Special housing units help ensure the safety, security, and orderly operation of

correctional facilities, and protect the public, by providing alternative housing assignments for

inmates removed from the general population.

For inmates with suspected or confirmed contagious diseases, refer to the Program Statements

Intake Screening, Infectious Disease Management, and Patient Care, and, when applicable,

Pandemic plans.

a. Restrictive Housing. Restrictive housing is defined as any type of detention that

involves these elements:

■ Removal from the general inmate population, whether voluntary or involuntary.

■ Placement in a locked room or cell, whether alone or with another inmate.

■ Inability to leave the room or cell for the majority of the day.

Restrictive housing arrangements outside the SHU itself must be proposed by the Warden to the

Regional Director, and ultimately approved by the Assistant Director, Correctional Programs

Division (CPD), before activation. Restrictive housing of this type will only be approved as

SHU overflow for inmates in administrative detention or disciplinary segregation status.

Operation of such restrictive housing requires compliance with all Bureau rules, policies,

staffing, and post orders for operating Special Housing Units to include the accommodation of

inmates with disabilities.

Correctional units, areas, or cells in addition to SHU that meet this definition will ordinarily

follow requirements of this Program Statement to the extent possible. Inmates housed at the

United States Penitentiary-Administrative Maximum (ADX), a Communications Management

Unit (CMU), or a Special Management Unit (SMU) follow the requirements of those policies.

Inmates housed in the Special Confinement Unit (SCU) follow the requirements of the SCU

Institution Supplement.

All SHUs with an inmate population of more than 50 will require a second officer on the

P5270.12 3/5/2024 Federal Regulations are shown in this type. Implementing instructions: this type. 3

Morning Watch shift to maintain the safety and security of the unit. In the event of an

institution emergency, this post may need to be temporarily vacated to aid and assist elsewhere

in the facility.

b. General Population Inmates. General population inmates are not permitted to enter a

secure housing unit to interact with inmates for dispute resolutions, intelligence gathering, or

security threat group/disruptive group meetings. This also applies to removing inmates from a

restrictive housing unit to meet with inmates in general population. Institution employees

must rely on trained investigative techniques, link analysis, and other means of gathering

information without allowing inmates into a secure housing setting to conduct face-to-face

meetings with one another.

Inmate work details entering SHU must be accompanied by their detail supervisor (e.g.,

Facilities, Laundry, etc.). After hours or during an emergency, inmate work details may be

accompanied by an employee assigned by the Operations Lieutenant.

c. Pregnant Female Inmates. Women who are pregnant, in post-partum status (the 12

weeks following a pregnancy outcome) as the result of childbirth, miscarriage, or who recently

terminated a pregnancy should not be placed in restrictive housing. In rare situations, a

woman who is pregnant, is post-partum, recently had a miscarriage, or recently terminated a

pregnancy may be placed in restrictive housing as a temporary response to behavior that poses

a serious and immediate risk of physical harm. This decision must be approved by the Women

and Special Populations Administrator, in consultation with the Bureau Medical Director, and

must be reviewed every 24 hours. Should this placement be required, the Women and Special

Populations Administrator will be contacted without delay. The placement of pregnant

inmates in Special Housing Units and any use of restraints will be guided by the procedures

outlined in the Program Statement Female Offender Manual.

To ensure the safety, security, and orderly running of a Bureau facility, when restrictive

housing placements affecting females in any of the above specified categories is necessary, the

severity of the inmate’s behavior must be carefully considered. In immediate response

situations, notification of the temporary placement must be made to the Bureau’s Women and

Special Populations Administrator. When placing any of these inmates in restrictive housing,

the Warden must contact the Women and Special Populations Branch Administrator, the

Bureau Medical Director, and the Correctional Services Administrator, Central Office for

further guidance and continuation of care. In consultation with the Bureau Medical Director,

the Women and Special Populations Administrator will approve, and conduct 24-hour reviews

of continued placement in restrictive housing. For additional guidance see the Program

Statement Female Offender Manual.

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