The Office of the Federal Detention Trustee (OFDT) achieves efficiencies, effectiveness and operational synergies by driving infrastructure modernization and process improvement with the detention community and JPATS by leading cross-government solutions among all participating agencies.

Information Technology | Procurement
Detention Standards and Compliance

OFDT develops and maintains automated solutions for the purpose of driving efficiencies within the Federal detention community. Dealing with multiple detention agencies with disparate and incompatible legacy IT systems and capabilities is challenging. Many of the IT solutions used by these agencies are either manual or were created without a strategic vision for a unified national solution.

OFDT brings a national IT vision to the federal detention community by implementing enterprise solutions which can integrate with agencies’ legacy IT environments. This enterprise IT strategy aligns the operational needs of the federal detention community. It leverages the capabilities of the legacy environment and will assist in streamlining federal detention operations and reduce operational costs.

The table below describes the major web-based applications OFDT has developed and currently manages in support of the federal detention community.

Major OFDT Applications

Read an Overview of OFDT's Major Detention Applications

OFDT is responsible for the negotiating and award of contracts issued in support of OFDT operational needs. The United States Department of Justice acquires detention bed space to house pretrial detainees through Intergovernmental Agreements with state and local governments and contracts with private vendors.

OFDT is responsible for providing oversight of detention management and for improving and coordinating detention activities of Federal agencies involved in contracting for detention services to ensure consistent methods are used. It also handles contract actions required for a full range of detention services acquisitions including contracts for guard, medical, transportation services, and detention services, augmenting the efforts of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On November 18, 2007, OFDT implemented a new web-based electronic Intergovernmental Agreement (eIGA) system. The USMS and OFDT now process all IGAs with state and local jail facilities through eIGA.

In addition to providing oversight of all OFDT awarded private detention facility contracts housing United States Marshals Service (USMS) detainees, OFDT maintains a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) to ensure these facilities and those state and local facilities operating under Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) and housing an average daily population of 480 or more USMS detainees operate in a safe, secure, and humane manner. The QAP is a synergy of components including: Quality Assurance Reviews (QARs), Technical Evaluation Board (TEB) Functions, Pre-Occupancy Reviews, Contract Monitoring Instrument (Private Facilities), Monitoring Instrument (IGA Facilities), Follow-Up Reviews, After Action Reviews, and the Facility Review Management System (FRMS)

Quality Assurance Reviews

QARs are annual reviews of (1) private facilities under contract to the USMS or OFDT and (2) of state and local facilities with Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) with an average daily population of 480 or more Federal detainees. Additional facilities, such as those requested by the USMS or needing follow-up, also receive QARs. These reviews are conducted utilizing Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards (FPBDS) to ensure federal detainees are being held in safe, secure, and humane conditions of confinement and to ensure detainees' constitutional rights are not violated. They also review the adequacy and sufficiency of services provided in non-federal detention facilities that house federal detainees.

QAR Tracking

Fiscal Year	QARS Conducted	States Covered	Facilities Meeting Minimum FPBDS
2006	21	12	20
2007	26	14*	25
2008	27	13*	26
2009	32	17*	30
2010	32	17*	32
2011	30	15*	30
2012	34	16*	TBD
	34 scheduled in 16 states*

* Includes the District of Columbia.

Core Detention Standards

In January 2000, the Department of Justice (through the BOP, USMS, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and Civil Rights Division) issued a set of core detention standards that apply to all detention facilities contracted by the U.S. Department of Justice. The standards sought to ensure that detainees housed in these facilities are safe, secure, and that such facilities provide the basic services needed by federal detainees. The purpose for detention varies across agencies; accordingly, the standards adopted addressed only the most basic and critical elements common to all agencies. The standards are intended to supplement policies, procedures, and practices that were specific to the needs of each agency.

Following the establishment of the OFDT, OFDT initiated a working group comprised of OFDT, BOP, USMS, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) -- formerly the INS -- to address federal detention policies and procedures. As part of this working group, agency representatives reviewed and refined the core detention standards previously approved.

QARs will be conducted based upon criteria listed in the Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards (FPBDS). Initially, the reviews will be conducted at all private contract facilities that house federal detainees to ensure these facilities are safe, humane, and protect detainees' statutory and constitutional rights. The FPBDS have been divided into nine functional areas that fully meet or exceed the requirements of the American Correctional Association Adult Local Detention Facility Standards.

Key Functional Areas

Within the nine functional areas of the Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards (FPBDS), there are nineteen Key Functional Areas that address the minimal requirements necessary to ensure a safe, secure, and humane environment. At the request of ICE, five ICE specific standards have been incorporated into the FPBDS in their entirety. Each standard contains a title and a defining statement followed by a series of items designed to assist the reviewer in asking questions and seeking pertinent information for making assessments.

In addition, a checklist of review criteria has been developed to ensure review procedures are clear and concise, scalable and flexible, consistent and efficient. While a facility's compliance with each of the functional Areas will be evaluated, failure to comply with any Key Functional Area will be considered a material deficiency in the operation of the facility. The use of facilities that fail to develop and implement a corrective action plan to ensure the facility can attain and maintain compliance with the Key Functional Areas may be discontinued. If under contract, administrative fee deductions may be assessed.

Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards Index including the Nineteen Key Functional Areas

A: ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT addresses facility policy development, internal inspection and reviews, detainee records, administration and orientation, personal property and monies, release and accommodations for the disabled Internal Inspections and/or Reviews Admission and Orientation - (ICE Standard) Personal Property and Monies Detainee Release	B: HEALTH CARE addresses overall access to routine, chronic health care, mental health, emergency health and dental services provided by the institution Medical, Dental, and Mental Health Appraisals Access to Routine, Acute Chronic, and Emergency Health Services
C: SECURITY AND CONTROL addresses post orders, permanent logs, security features, security inspections, control of contraband, detainee searches, detainee accountability, use of force, non-routine use of restraints, tool and equipment control, detainee discipline, supervision for special housing, contingency and merger plans Post Orders Security Features Security Inspections and/or Reviews Contingency/Emergency Plans	D: FOOD SERVICE addresses basic sanitation and adequacy of varied meals and special diets provided to detainees Sanitation Requirements Ensure Meals are Varied
E: STAFF/DETAINEE COMMUNICATION addresses methods of communicating with detainees, detention/correctional staff training in diversity, and the detainee grievance process Staff-Detainee Communication Detainee Grievances	F: SAFETY AND SANITATION addresses the adequacy of fire safety programs, the control of dangerous materials, the general facility environment (including air quality, noise levels, and sanitation and hygiene programs), the adequacy of clothing and bedding, and protection from infectious diseases Clothing and Bedding Physical Facility and Equipment
G: SERVICES AND PROGRAMS addresses detainee security classification, religious practices, work assignments, availability of exercise programs, access to legal materials, access to legal representation, access to a telephone, the handling of detainee mail and other correspondence, and visitation privileges Classification, Review, and Housing Religious Practices Legal Materials (ICE Standard) Legal Representation (ICE Standard) Telephone Access (ICE Standard) Visitation Privileges (ICE Standard) Detainee Mail and Correspondence	H: WORKFORCE INTEGRITY addresses the adequacy of the detention/correctional officer hiring process, staff training and licensing/certification and adequacy of systems to report and address staff misconduct
I: DETAINEE DISCRIMINATION addresses the adequacy of policies and procedures to prevent discrimination against detainees based on their gender, race, religion, national origin, or disability