BOP Program Statement 5319.01 § 1

To establish the Life Connections Program (LCP), a structured residential, personal, and spiritual

development program, at designated low, medium, and high security Bureau of Prisons (Bureau)

institutions.

The Threshold program, currently offered at many Bureau institutions, is a non-residential

program designed for inmates who do not meet the criteria for acceptance into the LCP. Priority

placement is given to inmates within two years of release from prison. Participants use a

modified LCP curriculum and ordinarily meet weekly for six to nine months.

The goals of these programs are to foster personal and spiritual growth and social responsibility,

as well as to reconcile relationships with victims, families, and the community utilizing a

curriculum, instruction from trained leadership, and community mentors. Other desired program

outcomes include increased prosocial behavior, improved institutional adjustment, successful

community reentry, and reduced recidivism. These programs build upon the inmate’s personal

belief system, whether secular or religious, and provide the life skills and tools to transition back

into the community in a positive manner.

a. Program Objectives.

■ Inmates will demonstrate improved institutional adjustment and enhanced success in

community reentry through living within the boundaries of their belief systems, whether

secular or religious.

■ Inmates will obtain the skills necessary to form realistic goals and steps toward their

personal achievements as they reintegrate into society.

■ Working closely with outside community organizations for release preparation, the

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program will provide the necessary skills and resources to successfully transition and

reintegrate back into the community.

■ Inmates will be afforded the opportunity to complete the LCP and/or Threshold program

and may be eligible for First Step Act (FSA) incentives, in accordance with the Program

Statement First Step Act Program Incentives.

b. Institution Supplement. None.

1. RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Warden. The Warden at each institution ensures all aspects of this Program Statement are

implemented.

b. Associate Warden. An Associate Warden participates in the LCP Review Committee as

needed.

c. Supervisory Chaplain. The Supervisory Chaplain has oversight responsibilities and

supervision of the LCP Chaplain. Programming and administrative oversight of the non-residential Threshold program is the responsibility of the Supervisory Chaplain. This

responsibility may be delegated to a Staff Chaplain. Critical to a successful return to the

community, the Chaplain overseeing the Threshold program helps participants formulate realistic

personal goals reflecting outcome-based objectives and enters data into the applicable Bureau

inmate management system.

d. Chaplaincy Faith-Based Coordinator, Central Office. The Chaplaincy Services Branch

(CSB), Reentry Services Division is responsible for developing and providing technical expertise

for the LCPs and Threshold programs. The Chaplaincy Faith-Based Coordinator and respective

Chaplaincy Administrators provide ongoing program and curriculum development, technical

assistance support, and training for institution staff to integrate the LCP and Threshold program

goals with other reentry efforts.

e. Life Connections Program (LCP) Chaplain. Program oversight, administrative duties, and

supervision of contractors and support staff are the responsibility of the LCP Chaplain. Critical

to a successful return to the community, the LCP Chaplain helps participants formulate realistic

goals reflecting outcome-based objectives. The LCP Chaplain also enters program codes into the

applicable Bureau inmate management system. In addition, the LCP Chaplain collaborates with

and participates in Inmate Program Review meetings with Unit Management staff when relevant.

f. Unit Management. Unit Management staff and the LCP Chaplain communicate about

inmate program participation and progress during regular Inmate Program Review meetings. The

Unit Manager ensures Unit Management staff collaborate with the LCP Chaplain. The Unit

Manager participates in the LCP Review Committee as needed.

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g. Mentor Coordinator. The Mentor Coordinator, a Chaplaincy Services staff member, is

responsible for the organization, oversight, and administration of mentoring inmates who are

enrolled in or have completed faith-based or secular programming with a mentoring component.

h. Contractors. Bureau staff are primarily responsible for the administration of the LCP. The

majority of the instruction within LCP is conducted by community organizations which are

contracted to provide regular instruction, and special activities including electives and course-specific seminars. Contractors are overseen and supervised by the LCP Chaplain.