Transforming Prisons, Restoring Lives Final Recommendations of the Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections January 2016 AB OUT THE CHA RLES C OLS ON TASK FORCE ON FEDERAL C ORRECTIONS The Task Force was established by Congressional mandate in 2014 as a nine-person, bipartisan, blue ribbon panel charged with developing practical, data-driven recommendations to enhance public safety by creating a more just and efficient federal corrections system. Informed by over a year of fact-finding, rigorous data analysis, and discussions with key experts and stakeholders, the independent Task Force’s recommendations to the US Congress, the President, and the Attorney General provide a blueprint for reforms to the federal corrections system that are sensible, cost-effective strategies to reduce crime and restore lives. Copyright © January 2016. Urban Institute. Permission is granted for reproduction of this file, with attribution to the Urban Institute. Photo credits: left, Getty Images/Marga Frontera; top center: AP Photo/Seth Perlman; top right: AP Photo/Steve Miller; bottom center: Thinkstock Images/Getty Images; bottom right: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli. Contents Members of the Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections iv Task Force Staff v Acknowledgments vi Letter from the Task Force Chairs vii Executive Summary ix Recommendations for Reform xiv Overview of the Task Force xix The Transformation of the Federal Corrections System 1 Who is in the BOP? 3 Federal Sentencing Reform in the 1980s 5 The Abolition of Parole and Increase in Time Served 8 The Policy Changes Driving BOP Growth 9 Federal prison growth driven largely by drug and weapon offenses 10 Mandatory minimum sentences drove long sentences for drug crimes 11 Many people convicted of drug crimes have minimal or no criminal histories 12 Mandatory minimum sentences also drove growth in long sentences for weapon offenses 13 With Growth, Comes Consequences 14 Rising costs 14 The toll on individuals, families, and communities 15 Overcrowding and poor conditions of confinement 15 Inadequate programming 17 A New Path 17 Recommendation 1: Reserve Prison for Those Convicted of the Most Serious Federal Crimes 20 Background 20 Recommendations 22 Maintain drug mandatory minimum penalties for only the most serious offenses and revise the Sentencing Guidelines accordingly 22 Allow judges to sentence below the mandatory minimum for certain weapon possession offenses associated with nonviolent crimes 23 Review all other mandatory minimum penalties, establish a “sunset provision” for any future mandatory minimums, and require prison, fiscal, and racial impact statements for proposed legislation and Sentencing Guidelines 24 II C O N T E N T S Encourage and incentivize alternatives to incarceration 25 Limit the types of cases prosecuted federally 27 Recommendation 2: Promote a Culture of Safety and Rehabilitation in Federal Facilities 29 Background 29 Recommendations 30 Enhance safety and security within federal correctional facilities 30 Deliver adequate and appropriate in-prison programming and services based on individual risk for recidivism and identified needs 32 Identify programming shortages and expand program offerings to meet the assessed needs of the prison population 34 Ensure conditions of confinement are conducive to rehabilitation 36 Develop greater opportunities for family engagement 39 Recommendation 3: Incentivize Participation in Risk-Reduction Programming 42 Background 42 Recommendations 44 Improve public safety by incentivizing high- and medium-risk individuals to participate in risk-reduction programming 44 Establish a Second Look provision to ensure judicious use of incarceration and encourage rehabilitation 46 Recommendation 4: Ensure Successful Reintegration by Using Evidence-Based Practices in Supervision and Support 50 Background 50 Recommendations 52 Conduct a comprehensive assessment of BOP procedures and practices surrounding prerelease custody, particularly RRCs 52 Improve the transition of individuals transferring from BOP facilities to community agencies to ensure a safe and seamless reintegration 54 Strengthen supervised release and expand use of early termination for successful individuals 55 Recommendation 5: Enhance System Performance and Accountability through Better Coordination across Agencies and Increased Transparency 57 Background 57 Recommendations 58 Establish a joint Department of Justice/Judiciary working group on sentencing and corrections to oversee implementation of recommended reforms 58 Expand and disseminate public information and knowledge about federal corrections and supervision 59 Establish a BOP Office of Victim Services as a point of contact for victims seeking information or support 62 C O N T E N T S III Expand the role and capacity of the USSC to include more diverse perspectives and greater responsibility for cross-agency collaboration 62 Establish a permanent BOP P