The Bureau of Prisons Can Take Certain Actions To Make Sure Its Correctional Training Is Both Relevant and Cost Effective

GAO reviewed certain aspects of the Bureau of Prisons' training practices.

The Bureau's policy is to provide firearms training in the use of three types of weapons to virtually all of its employees. The Bureau also requires that all of its correctional officers be trained on carbine weapons, even though several of its institutions do not use them. These practices are resulting in certain individuals' receiving unnecessary training. GAO believes that consideration should be given to exempting more Bureau employees from firearms training. By changing these practices, the Bureau could make funds available for improving firearms training for employees who have the greatest potential for using weapons. Most of the Bureau employees interviewed by GAO regarding self-defense training were skeptical of their ability to use the techniques being taught. There were indications that the self-defense training may not develop proficiency. The Bureau needs to assess the results of this program so that it can determine whether changes in its content are necessary. The Bureau delivers its correctional training to new employees at a training center. GAO recognizes advantages to this approach but, because increasing transportation costs and budget restrictions might make centralized training too expensive, other approaches to providing training need to be explored.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Ronald F. Lauve Team: General Accounting Office: General Government Division Phone: (202) 512-6113