Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification - Change Notice CN 5100.08, CN-3

Sep 14, 2026

Change Notice CN 5100.08, CN-3 updates Program Statement 5100.08 on inmate security designation and custody classification. The notice implements changes to Section 1, Purpose and Scope, refining policy language on how classification, designation, and redesignation decisions are carried out. It adds highlighted requirements for placing prisoners in facilities consistent with security designation, programmatic needs, mental and medical health needs, faith-based requests, sentencing-court recommendations, bed availability, and practical proximity to the prisoner’s primary residence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages116

Reading Time4 h 52 min

AccessFree to download

Change Notice Overview

Section 1: Purpose and Scope

Chapter 2: Definitions

Chapter 5: Management Variables and Public Safety Factors

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Federal Bureau of Prisons CHANGE NOTICE Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification | Approved by |
William K. Marshall III
Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons | | --- | --- | | DPI | CPD | | Number | 5100.08, CN-3 | | Date | May 6, 2026 | This Change Notice (CN) implements a change to Program Statement 5100.08, Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification, dated September 12, 2006. Change notice updates Section 1, Purpose and Scope. The new language is highlighted. The deleted text has a ~~Strikethrough~~. 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE. This Program Statement provides policy and procedure regarding the Bureau of Prisons inmate classification system. The classification of inmates is necessary to place each inmate in the most appropriate security level institution that also meets their program needs and is consistent with the Bureau’s mission to protect society. ~~The Bureau~~’~~s classification~~,~~ designation and redesignation procedures are consistent with the statutory authority contained in 18 U~~.~~ S~~.~~C~~.~~ § 3621(b) ~~. Designation and redesignation of an inmate’s place of imprisonment shall be consistent with the statutory authority contained in 18 U. S.C. § 3621(b), which requires the Bureau of Prisons to designate an inmate’s place of imprisonment subject to consideration of several factors. 28 U. S.C. § 509 provides,“[a]ll functions of other officers of the Department of Justice and all functions of agencies and employees of the Department of Justice are vested in the Attorney General.” In certain circumstances, the Attorney General may exercise authority to designate or redesignate the place of a prisoner’s imprisonment, consistent with the requirements of 18 U. S.C. § 3621(b) . Notice of the Attorney General’s intention to exercise vested authority to designate or redesignate the place of a prisoner’s imprisonment shall be provided to the Bureau of Prisons as soon as practicable. Absent such notification, procedures for making classification, designation and redesignation decisions as described herein should be followed by the Bureau of Prisons. Where authority to determine the place of a prisoner’s imprisonment is invoked by the Attorney General, the Bureau may provide relevant information in order to facilitate the determination. The Bureau may also facilitate communication or correspondence between the inmate and the Office of the Attorney General. All classification, designation and redesignation decisions are made without favoritism given to an inmate’s social or economic status. U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons P R O G R A M S T A T E M E N T OPI CPD/DSC NUMBER 5100.08, CN-2 DATE March 6, 2025 Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification /s/ Approved: Kathleen Toomey Associate Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons This Change Notice (CN) implements the following changes to Program Statement 5321.09, Unit Management and Inmate Program Review, dated April 8, 2024. This CN updates language to ensure consistency with Executive Orders issued by the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Additions are marked with a highlight. CHAPTER 2: DEFINITIONS FEMALE. A person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell. MALE. A person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell. MAN/MEN. Adult and juvenile human males. SEX. An individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female. WOMAN/WOMEN. Adult and juvenile human females. U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons C H A N G E N O T I C E OPI: CPD/CPB NUMBER: 5100.08, CN-1 DATE: September 4, 2019 Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification /s/ Approved: Kathleen Hawk Sawyer Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons This Change Notice (CN) implements the following changes to P

FAQs

What does Change Notice CN-3 update within Program Statement 5100.08?

It updates Section 1, Purpose and Scope, implementing changes to the policy language governing inmate classification, designation, and redesignation decisions.

How does the notice address placement of a prisoner after classification or redesignation?

It requires placement based on bed availability, security designation, programmatic needs, mental and medical health needs, faith-based requests, sentencing-court recommendations, and other Bureau security concerns, with attention to proximity to the prisoner’s primary residence within practical limits.

What is the relationship between the Attorney General’s authority and Bureau of Prisons procedures?

The notice states that, absent Attorney General notification, procedures described in the Program Statement should be followed; where the Attorney General invokes authority, the Bureau may provide relevant information to facilitate the determination.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Mercer