The Bureau of Prisons Replies

The federal Bureau of Prisons helps inmates prepare for their eventual release from custody, beginning at their initial commitment and continuing throughout their incarceration.

This begins with the initial admission and orientation meeting between an inmate and his or her unit staff, and continuing with regularly scheduled inmate program review meetings and other personal discussions between inmates and staff, inmates are guided and encouraged to participate in the best and most appropriate programs to help them develop the personal and work-related skills they will need to return to the community as productive, law-abiding citizens.

The bureau provides a variety of work, education, vocational training, drug abuse treatment, psychological counseling and other life skills programs to the inmates in its custody. It also provides specialized employment preparation and personal development courses in a formal release preparation program, which begins approximately 18 to 24 months before an inmate’s scheduled release date.

Prior to Bornman’s participation in the release preparation program, numerous staff encouraged him to participate in a residential drug abuse treatment program to help him with his treatment needs in this area. He refused participation in the residential drug treatment program on two occasions. BOP staff continue to encourage him to participate in nonresidential treatment at the institution where he is currently confined.

Additionally, in February 1997, Bornman was transferred to the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Mo., where he received a complete psychiatric evaluation. Medical staff at Springfield determined that he had a substance abuse problem and an antisocial personality disorder. Following his evaluation, he was transferred to appropriately secure BOP facilities, where he refused to participate in programs that would address and treat his problems.

The BOP takes Bornman’s claims of harming the president and the community very seriously, and has referred these allegations to the appropriate law enforcement officials for an independent investigation.

Bornman will be released on April 10, 2000--the date he will have satisfied the custodial portion of his sentence as handed down by the U.S. District Court in Connecticut.