(LOOTPRESS) – Today, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) notified Congress of its intent to suspend operations and move forward with the permanent closure of one facility and deactivation of several facilities. The FBOP faces several significant challenges, including a critical staffing shortage, crumbling infrastructure, and limited budgetary resources. FBOP leadership is committed to addressing these challenges through decisive and strategic action. These actions are part of the ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBOP to address longstanding staffing shortages and maintenance and repair needs across the Agency. The DOJ and FBOP have made the case for additional resources many times and have recently offered our proposal to Congress through technical assistance.
Impact on employees: Many employees affected by this decision will move from one part of a facility to another part of the same facility. The remaining employees will have the opportunity to move to different FBOP facilities. The FBOP is not downsizing and we are committed to finding positions for every employee who wants to remain with the agency. The movement of these employees will positively impact our staffing levels at several institutions and mitigate mandatory overtime and augmentation which will help alleviate the exhaustion our employees feel.
Impact on those in custody: Those in our custody will move to different facilities. We will make every effort to place adults in custody (AIC) in facilities that are within 500 miles of their intended release location, taking into account factors such as programming needs.
- FPC Morgantown, Morgantown, WV: Maximize existing resources at FCC Hazleton by suspending operations at FPC Morgantown and reassigning employees to FCC Hazleton, WV. There are approximately 150 employees at FPC Morgantown. AICs at FPC Morgantown will move to other FBOP minimum security facilities.
