BOP Program Statement 5300.22 § 1

To prescribe guidelines, policy, and procedures pertaining to volunteerism and the use of

volunteers in Bureau facilities.

This Program Statement applies to all individuals and organizations providing services to the

BOP without compensation, except those who are providing services pursuant to a pre-existing

contract or obligation (e.g., contractors, consultants, interns, or maintenance or service

providers).

The Bureau recognizes involvement of volunteers from the community is vital to both inmates

and staff, and encourages their use in all facilities. Volunteers provide an array of services −

from one-on-one intensive mentoring and structured program and service delivery to transition

support in the institutions, Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs), and into the post-release phase.

a. Summary of Changes. This policy has been extensively revised. Changes are noted section

by section.

Policy Rescinded

P5300.20 Volunteers and Citizen Participation Programs (6/1/99)

OM 004-2014 Guidelines for Background Clearance of Volunteers (7/31/14)

Program Objectives have been revised. Objective 2 now reads, “Volunteers and staff will be

trained in all aspects of volunteer services with an emphasis on security procedures and

preparation of offenders for reentry.”

Definitions (new). Volunteers and non-volunteers are defined for clarification. Volunteers may

not serve as both a volunteer and contractor. Bureau staff may not serve as volunteers in the

Bureau of Prisons.

Classification. Defines Level I and Level II volunteers.

Types of Volunteers (new). Defines the roles of program, administrative, transitional,

mentoring, and visitation volunteers.

Communications Among Volunteers, Inmates, Former Inmates, Ex-Offenders, and Inmate

Families (new). Defines appropriate professional contact and approved means of volunteers’

programming contact with inmates through telephone, email, regular mail, and other identified

electronic communications. A new section on Contact Monitoring explains the new

Transitional/Mentor Volunteer Contact form (BP-A1068) and procedures for its use.

Program Management (formerly Responsibilities). Defines the roles of National Reentry

Affairs Branch (NRB), Regional Reentry Affairs Administrators (RAA), and Reentry Affairs

Coordinators (RAC). The roles of the Program Manager and Mentor Coordinator are added. A

new table defines the role of the RAC and Program Manager regarding volunteers and their

documentation. Definitions for types of volunteer documentation/forms are added. There are

several name changes: Volunteer Management Branch is now the National Reentry Affairs

Branch; Regional Volunteer Administrator is now the Regional Reentry Affairs Administrator;

Institution Volunteer Coordinator is now the Reentry Affairs Coordinator.

Recruitment. IVC Work Hours is renamed RAC/MC Work Hours for Volunteer Activities.

(RAC/MC: Reentry Affairs Coordinator/Mentor Coordinator).

Background Investigations and File Management. Includes a chart that defines Level I and II

background clearance requirements and explains clearance procedures. A Name Check is

recognized as a form of fingerprint clearance if fingerprints are rejected twice through the Civil

Applicant System (CAS). A national automated volunteer system has been added. All

volunteers (Level I and II) will be entered into the system.

A subsection on National Automated Volunteer System and Processing of Volunteers has been

added. Level I volunteers will be processed using the national automated volunteer system.

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Volunteers whose services are discontinued may not be considered for future volunteer service at

any BOP location.

The Records subsection explains record maintenance for Level I and II volunteers. Attachment

A defines the content of an Official Volunteer File.

Multi-Institution Volunteers. Volunteers are required to attend initial and refresher training at

only one institution. The correctional services component of volunteer training covers all

security levels. Prior to volunteers beginning service at subsequent facilities, the program

manager must provide an institution-specific orientation to augment initial or refresher training.

Ex-Offenders. For the purposes of this Program Statement, ex-offenders are defined as former

inmates who have completed their term of supervision, if applicable. Before providing volunteer

services, the ex-offender must have a documented period of at least three years of crime-free

conduct after release. The RAC will also check with the Special Investigative Supervisor/Agent

(SIS/SIA) to ensure there are no STG assignments or concerns.

Security, Badging, and Sign-In Procedures (formerly Institution Security). Level I

Volunteers enter the institution via a memo signed by the Warden or designee that is coordinated

by the program manager. Copies are provided to the Control Center, Front Lobby Officer, and

other designated areas, as well as to the RAC. The program manager monitors the number of

visits to ensure it does not exceed Level I requirements.

For Level II visitation volunteers, a memo signed by the Warden or designee is distributed to the

Control Center, Front Lobby, and other designated areas by the program manager to identify

inmates being visited.

A Moderate Background Investigation (MBI) clearance is required for volunteers with

unescorted badges.

The national automated volunteer system is used to create and number volunteer badges. A

roster is generated by the RAC quarterly or as changes occur from the automated volunteer

system to account for and control badges. The roster is provided to Correctional Services for

accountability. Excess pink and blue badge paper is accounted for to ensure compliance with the

Program Statement Correctional Services Manual.

Two badges are created for each volunteer. One may not be removed from the designated

Correctional Services area. The other will be worn in an easily visible place while the volunteer

is in the institution. The front side has the volunteer’s picture, first initial and last name,

department to be visited, date of expiration, and authorized signature. The reverse side has the

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volunteer’s first and last name, institution and department to be visited, issue date, expiration

date, and authorized department/areas.

Procedures for laminating and embossing badges now adhere to the Correctional Services

Manual. Badges are removed from designated areas when volunteers become inactive, are

pending service discontinuation, or whose services are discontinued.

Training. Defines training for RACs, MCs (Mentor Coordinators), RAAs, and volunteers.

Within the first year RACs and RAAs receive at least 20 hours of initial standardized training

developed nationally. MCs receive 8 hours of standardized training developed nationally.

RAAs ensure training is provided to the RACs. The NRB ensures training is provided to RAAs.

The Chaplaincy Services Administrator is responsible for MC training.

Level I volunteers are required to complete the Notification to Visitor (BP-A0224) and Level I

Volunteer Application/Training (BP-A1070) coordinated by the program manager, as well as

training by supervisory staff regarding Sexually Abusive Behavior Prevention and Intervention

Program once a year.

Initial training for Level II Volunteers is 4 hours of program area and orientation training using

the nationally standardized volunteer services training. Level II volunteers serving as mentors or

providing transitional volunteer services must also attend an additional 2-hour nationally

standardized training segment.

Level II Volunteers receive 2 hours of annual training, which supplements initial orientation

training. Annual training must be completed no later than the quarter following the anniversary

of their latest training date.

Additional training for volunteers in a mentor role is taught by MCs at locations where this

position exists, or RACs if MC positions are not authorized.

Supervisory staff from Correctional Services, Executive Staff, Computer Services, Religious

Services, and appropriate program managers conduct training segments, documented on the new

Volunteer Training Agenda form, BP-A1067.

RACs maintain volunteer training documentation, including volunteer sign-in sheets and the

Volunteer Training Agenda, for 3 years.

Financial Reimbursement. Removed from the policy.

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Recognition of Volunteers (formerly Incentive Awards). Updated to provide direction

regarding the provision of meals/refreshments and the use of non-authorized funds and resources

for recognition events.

Communications and Publications. Removed from the policy.

Discontinuation of Volunteer Services. Prior to the discontinuation of a volunteer’s service for

any reason, the RAC/MC, along with the program manager and Associate Warden, consult with

the Warden and RAA. Procedures for discontinuing a volunteer’s service have been revised.

Volunteers whose services are discontinued from any BOP institution or facility may not be

approved or reinstated for service at any BOP location. Procedures for discontinuing a

volunteer’s service at the regional and Central Office level have been added.

Staff Volunteerism. Removed from the policy.

Inmate Volunteerism. Revised.

Institution Supplement. The institution submits the supplement to the RAA for review. It

includes:

■ Budgeting of volunteer services.

■ Designation of signatory authority within executive staff for badges and entrance

memorandums.

■ Security of volunteer badges and files.

■ Site and frequency of mentoring sessions.

■ Training procedures for Health Services volunteers, if applicable.

b. Program Objectives. The expected results of this program are:

■ Volunteers will have opportunities to participate in and enhance Bureau programs.

■ Volunteers and staff will be trained in all aspects of volunteer services, with an emphasis on

security procedures and preparation of offenders for reentry.

■ Volunteers will be recognized for their contributions and accomplishments.