Prisons, Federal Bureau of, an agency of the United States Department of Justice, has responsibility for the custody and care of prisoners of the federal government. Most of these prisoners have been sentenced. Others are awaiting trial or sentencing. Still others are illegal aliens who have been detained by the government.
The Bureau of Prisons operates dozens of facilities, including high-security penitentiaries, medium- and low-security correctional institutions, and minimum-security prison camps. It also has prison hospitals and other specialized facilities. Some federal prisoners are held in state, local, or private correctional institutions. The bureau pays for the support of these prisoners.
