BOP Program Statement 5405.01 § 4

The RNAS evaluates and measures the recidivism risk and criminogenic needs of inmates

assisting staff in assigning programs geared toward reducing the likelihood of recidivism.

Additionally, the RNAS aligns evidence-based interventions with an inmate's specific needs,

learning style, motivation, and strengths.

The RNAS includes the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Needs

(PATTERN) recidivism risk instrument and Standardized Prisoner Assessment for Reduction in

Criminality (SPARC) criminogenic needs assessments.

a. Recidivism Risk Assessment – PATTERN is the automated recidivism risk assessment

instrument that objectively assesses an inmate’s current level of risk for re-offending. This tool

calculates a recidivism risk score based upon predefined criteria outlined on the FSA pages of

the Bureau’s public and intranet sites. Several of the element scores show staff and inmates

programming opportunities to help decrease the inmate’s overall recidivism risk score, while

other factors, such as the offense of conviction and criminal history remain the same despite

program completions.

Participation in EBRRs and PAs is strongly encouraged and contributes to meaningful personal

5405.01 5/7/2026 Federal Regulations from 28 CFR: this type. Implementing instructions: this type. 3

growth. Only designated program completions may reduce risk scores; these are identified in

the FSA Approved Programs Guide and listed on the FSA pages of the Bureau’s public and

intranet sites with additional scoring details.

 Periodic Recidivism Risk Reassessment. Inmate risk scores are reassessed in

accordance with the Program Statement Unit Management and Inmate Program

Review. During regularly scheduled inmate program reviews, the Unit Management

team utilizes the Insight application to reassess the recidivism risk of each inmate. If the

review indicates a change in an inmate’s recidivism risk level, staff must review the

changes and recommend appropriate EBRR programs or PAs aligning with the updated

assessments. Ordinarily, changes are a result of the inmate’s age, completed programs,

and incident reports.

b. Criminogenic Needs Assessment – SPARC utilizes multiple needs assessment tools and

processes to evaluate specific criminogenic need areas that help focus program

recommendations to best prepare inmates to return to the community.

All needs are initially assessed upon arrival at the designated facility where the inmate begins

serving their sentence. This process includes assessments completed by staff and self-assessment

surveys completed by inmates. Needs are then reassessed throughout their sentence during

regularly scheduled inmate program reviews with Unit Management team.

 Initial Criminogenic Needs Assessments. The applicable Bureau inmate management

system includes specific assignments for each identified need area. An explanation of

each assignment is listed on the FSA pages of the Bureau’s public and intranet sites. Most

time frames for completion are consistent with the initial program review as specified in

the Program Statement Unit Management and Inmate Program Review. Some

assessment time frames are extended past the initial program review and are determined

by discipline-specific program statements for general intake assessment requirements.

The FSA page of the Bureau’s intranet site includes the most up-to-date time frames for

each discipline.

 Electronic Initial Self-Assessments. Inmates have one opportunity to complete the

electronic self-assessment surveys. If a session times out or remains incomplete, this will

result in a need refusal assignment in the applicable Bureau inmate management system.

 Paper Initial Self-Assessments. Staff must provide inmates with paper-and-pencil self-assessments to complete and return if an electronic version is not available or a self-assessment need refusal requires remedy. Once the paper-and-pencil assessment is

finished, a staff member must score the assessment using the scoring instruments located

on the Bureau’s intranet pages and enter the result into the applicable Bureau inmate

management system. Additionally, assessments must be filed in section two of the

5405.01 5/7/2026 Federal Regulations from 28 CFR: this type. Implementing instructions: this type. 4

Electronic Inmate Central File (e-ICF) application. The Warden will assign the

responsibility of scoring the self-assessments, entering the resulting need assignments,

and storing these documents as necessary.

The English and Spanish versions of the assessments and scoring tools can be found on the FSA

page of the Bureau’s intranet site.

 Accommodations. Staff members may provide accommodations to inmates in

accordance with the Program Statement Management of Inmates with Disabilities.

 Periodic Criminogenic Needs Reassessment. Inmate’s needs are reassessed in

accordance with the Program Statement Unit Management and Inmate Program

Review. During regularly scheduled inmate program reviews, the Unit Management team

utilizes the Insight application to reassess criminogenic needs of each inmate. If the

review indicates a change in an inmate’s recidivism risk level or any criminogenic needs,

staff must review the changes and recommend appropriate EBRR programs or PAs

aligning with the updated assessments. Ordinarily, changes are a result of completed

programs and incident reports. Specific criteria for satisfying criminogenic needs are

maintained on the Bureau’s intranet pages. Supplemental need reassessment methods

may also be incorporated into the overall process.