Drug Abuse Treatment Programs: Participation Requirements

AGENCY:

Bureau of Prisons, Justice.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

In this document, the Bureau of Prisons is proposing to amend its regulations on participation requirements for the drug abuse education course and the institution residential drug abuse treatment program. The amendment clarifies the distinction between mandatory and voluntary participation in the drug abuse education course, removes eligibility limitations pertaining to cognitive impairments and learning disabilities, and addresses the effects of non-participation both in the drug abuse education course and in the institution residential drug abuse treatment program. This amendment is intended to encourage inmates to take advantage of the Bureau's drug treatment programs.

DATES:

Comments due by November 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Rules Unit, Office of General Counsel, Bureau of Prisons, HOLC Room 754, 320 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sarah Qureshi, Office of General Counsel, Bureau of Prisons, phone (202) 514-6655.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Bureau of Prisons is proposing to amend its regulations on drug abuse treatment programs (28 CFR 550) pertaining to the requirements for the drug abuse education course and participation in the institution residential drug abuse treatment program.

Inmates with drug abuse problems who fail to enter drug treatment are at significantly higher risk of poor institutional adjustment, recidivism, and transition problems once released into the community. Though many inmates take advantage of the Bureau's drug treatment services each year, some inmates who need drug treatment avoid program participation while incarcerated.

The current regulations for the drug abuse education course are contained in § 550.54 and were most recently published in the Federal Register on May 25, 1995 (60 FR 27694). These regulations distinguish between “mandatory” and “voluntary” participation in the drug abuse education course. Participation is mandatory if there is evidence in the inmate's Presentence Investigation that alcohol or other drug use contributed to the commission of the instant offense, alcohol or other drug use was a reason for violation either of supervised release, including parole, or BOP community status (CCC placement) for which the inmate is now incarcerated, or the inmate was recommended for drug programming during incarceration by the sentencing judge. Inmates not qualifying under the mandatory provisions are eligible to volunteer for the drug education program with the approval of the drug abuse treatment coordinator when participation space is available.

The Bureau is revising the regulation to remove the terms “mandatory,” “voluntary,” and “sanctions”. Participation in the drug abuse education program is not intended to be mandatory in the sense that a refusal to participate would result in a disciplinary action. The intent is that if the inmate chooses to refuse to participate, certain consequences may follow which affect the inmate's eligibility for other program assignments (for example, work performance pay levels or community program eligibility). The Bureau is also adding as an additional eligibility criterion evidence of a history of alcohol or other drug use. This history of alcohol or other drug use need not be limited to circumstances surrounding the instant offense.

The current provisions for the institution residential drug abuse treatment program are contained in § 550.56 and were most recently published in the Federal Register on May 25, 1995 (60 FR 27694). The institution residential drug abuse treatment program allows participation by inmates to be voluntary. Currently, inmates may receive incentives for their satisfactory involvement in the residential program. For example, inmates may be eligible for financial achievement awards, recommendation for the maximum 180-day community corrections center placement, and early release consideration (provided they meet the strict criteria for early release) upon full program completion.

In an effort to encourage more inmates to participate in the residential drug abuse treatment program, the Bureau is proposing to establish enhanced incentives at selected institutions. The three additional incentives being proposed in this document are tangible achievement awards as permitted by the Warden and allowed by the regulations governing personal property (for example, textbooks, journals, drug abuse program t-shirts), pencils, photographs of treatment ceremonies, and consideration for a nearer release transfer for medium and low security inmates. Nearer release transfers ordinarily are made to place the inmate in an institution nearer the inmate's release destination or to facilitate the release process. While the Bureau attempts to place inmates in institutions which are reasonably close to anticipated release destinations, other factors pertaining to inmate population management may mean that an inmate is not always optimally placed. In those instances where an inmate's placement has been affected by other factors, earning consideration for a nearer release transfer may be an additional mitigating factor in a subsequent decision to transfer the inmate to an institution nearer to the inmate's anticipated release destination.

The Bureau is also proposing to encourage participation by reluctant inmates with an identified treatment need through the use of specified consequences for non-participants. An inmate who has an identified treatment need but who refuses to participate in a residential treatment program at an institution which offers enhanced incentives will be subject to the following consequences: (1) If the inmate is eligible for parole, staff will notify the U.S. Parole Commission of the inmate's treatment need and the subsequent failure to participate in the residential drug abuse treatment program; (2) the inmate is not eligible for furlough (other than possibly an emergency furlough); (3) the inmate is not eligible for more than 90 days placement in community-based programs (for example, placement in a community corrections center); (4) the inmate is not eligible for performance pay above maintenance pay level, or for bonus or vacation pay; and (5) the inmate is not eligible for a Federal Prison Industries work assignment (unless the Warden makes exception on the basis of work program labor needs). For the sake of consistency, the consequences pertaining to work assignment pay are also being revised in the provisions which pertain to the drug abuse education course (new § 550.54(e)).

The use of enhanced incentives at selected institutions together with the consequences of non-participation is intended to permit the Bureau to evaluate the effectiveness of a more aggressive approach in drug abuse treatment program placement. The Bureau assumes that these revisions will result in increased participation by inmates, particularly with respect to those inmates who do not meet the strict criteria for early release consideration but who do qualify for nearer release transfer. While the Bureau may further adjust the number of selected institutions to be used in this evaluation, any system-wide application of the additional incentives/consequences would be implemented through a separate rulemaking proceeding.

The Bureau's regulations for both the drug abuse education course and the institution residential treatment program contain provisions precluding participation by inmates with learning disabilities or mental impairments (§§ 550.54(c) and 550.56(a)(2)). In actuality, the Bureau has been able to make reasonable accommodations to allow such inmates to participate in the programs. The Bureau believes that these provisions are not necessary and accordingly has removed them in this proposed revision.

The Bureau's regulations on inmate work and performance pay (28 CFR 545, subpart C) are being amended to conform with these requirements. The Bureau's regulations on furloughs (28 CFR 570, subpart C) do not need to be amended because the Warden may deem the inmate's refusal to participate a failure to demonstrate sufficient responsibility to provide reasonable assurance that furlough requirements will be met (see § 570.34(d)).

Executive Order 12866

This rule falls within a category of actions that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined not to constitute “significant regulatory actions” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and, accordingly, it was not reviewed by OMB.

Executive Order 13212

This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Director of the Bureau of Prisons, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and by approving it certifies that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact upon a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: This rule pertains to the correctional management of offenders committed to the custody of the Attorney General or the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, and its economic impact is limited to the Bureau's appropriated funds.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

This rule is not a major rule as defined by § 804 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and export markets.

Plain Language Instructions

We want to make Bureau documents easier to read and understand. If you can suggest how to improve the clarity of these regulations, call or write Sarah Qureshi at the address listed above.

List of Subjects

28 CFR Part 545

• Prisoners

28 CFR Part 550

• Prisoners

Accordingly, pursuant to the rulemaking authority vested in the Attorney General in 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and delegated to the Director, Bureau of Prisons in 28 CFR 0.96(p), we propose to amend parts 545 and 550 in subchapter C of 28 CFR, chapter V as follows.

Subchapter C—Institutional Management

PART 550—DRUG PROGRAMS

1. The authority citation for part 550 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3521-3528, 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4046, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 21 U.S.C. 848; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; Title V, Pub. L. 91-452, 84 Stat. 933 (18 U.S.C. Chapter 223); 28 CFR 0.95-0.99.

2. Section 550.54 is revised to read as follows:

PART 545—WORK AND COMPENSATION

5. The authority citation for part 545 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3013, 3571, 3572, 3621, 3622, 3624, 3663, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 4126, 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; 28 CFR 0.95-0.99.

6. In § 545.25, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows: