Our Blog

December 27, 2024

Bureau Of Prisons Director Speaks Out After Latest OIG Report

Looking back at past management challenges for the Department of Justice you will find an Office of Inspector General (OIG) reportthat lists the Federal Bureau of Prisons as an area of concern. Chief among those concerns are crumbling infrastructure and under-staffed facilities. The latest OIG report lists the challenges for DOJ and again there is no surprise that the BOP is there with the usual problems. In fact, Inspector General Michael Horowitz stated in the report that over the past 20 years, the OIG has issued over 100 reports detailing these serious systemic issues facing the BOP. His conclusion was that “among the many challenges facing the BOP is its persistent inability to address staffing shortages in key positions, lack of sufficient funding to repair its crumbling infrastructure, and the introduction of contraband at its prisons.” However, BOP Director Colette Peters thinks such reports do not tell the whole story and agreed to a sit-down interview with me to address the report and provide a bit more context as to how the Agency is pushing forward.

November 29, 2024

Grammy Winning Artist Thankful For Second Chance

Creativity, gratitude, and fellowship were in abundance in New Orleans, LA this Thanksgiving. With a commitment to social and criminal justice reform, one of our world’s most creative individuals reached across one of the world’s most creative cultures to bridge two wildly disparate landscapes — a prison and a music club.

August 10, 2024

Judge Cites Horrid Conditions At MDC Brooklyn At Sentence Hearing

The federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has huge challenges in front of it with crumbling infrastructure, staffing shortages and a troubled implementation of the First Step Act. While progress has been made, the BOP’s own troubles are now influencing the decisions of judges at sentencing. In one case in the Eastern District of New York, U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown (Case No.: 23-CR-417) ordered that defendant Gary Colucci be sentenced to 9 month in prison. However, his order came with the stipulation, “... if the BOP opts to designate MDC [Brooklyn] as the relevant facility, then the imposed term of imprisonment will be vacated and, in its place, the defendant shall serve nine months of home incarceration ...”

Inspector General Issues Report On Inmate Financial Responsibility

Former singer and now convicted sex offender R. Kelly had tens of thousands of dollars in his federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) commissary account when a federal court stepped in and ordered the money seized to repay court costs and victims. The same happened for Larry Nassar, the disgraced doctor who assaulted young women athletes under his care. Both men are serving the equivalent of life in prison but the money in their commissary account was going to buy them some creature comforts to make their time in prison a bit better. However, for many in prison, commissary represents more than comfort, it is a necessity to maintain contact with their family, pay for personal hygiene items and buy food to supplement their diets.

Federal Prison Director On Record About Her Two Years At Helm

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters took over the agency in a time of crisis in August 2022. Not only were we still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but years of neglect had left prison institution infrastructure in need of repair. Staffing shortages, staff corruption and poor morale were all issues Peters had to address on day one. While these challenges remain two years into the job, she has made progress and reflects on her accomplishments and how she intends to steer the BOP in a new direction.