Guidance Documents

Machineguns manufactured or imported on or after May 19, 1986, are subject to the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, § 922(o) and are commonly referred to as “post-1986” machineguns throughout the industry. The transfer of a “post-1986” machinegun requires certain documentation, usually referred to as a “law letter.” Describes what NFA Branch will look for in letter.

Directions for Wardens to establish and maintain law libraries in BOP facilities; what materials to maintain in law libraries; how Wardens may request upgrades, repair or replacement of materials in law libraries; Central Office responsibilities with regard to funding and purchasing materials for BOP law libraries; caution to staff against interfering with inmates attempts to obtain State law library materials in State facilities; directions for establishing procedures for inmate access to copy equipment and library usage; direction to staff regarding permitting storage of inmate legal materials; procedures for permitting inmates to assist other inmates with legal preparation (as stated in regulation); directions for Wardens to facilitate or permit recording by attorneys of attorney-client interviews/visits; directions to staff regarding which forms must be completed for students or legal assistants to correspond or visit inmates as required by regulation; directions for staff regarding administering oaths and affirmations to inmates under statutory guidance.

A three-page document highlighting five steps that owners, operators, and franchisors can take to make sure that new lodging facilities comply with the ADA. 

To transmit the revised "Old Law" Sentence Computation Manual for sentences of inmates for crimes which occurred prior to the effective date of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984. The "Old Law" Sentence Computation Manual, Program Statement 5880.20, was issued on September 25, 1972. Since then, the repeal and supercession of numerous sections of the United States Code have caused many of that Manual's sentence implementation instructions to become outdated and have added new sentencing provisions. This Manual provides staff with definitive sentence implementation and computation instructions. To the extent possible, all existing Program Statements and Operation Memoranda impacting "old law" sentencing have been updated and are included in this Manual to provide one source document which is the Bureau of Prisons' official sentence interpretation, implementation and computation policy.

The National Firearms Act (NFA) Branch continually responds to questions regarding NFA firearms in decedent’s estates. We often find that Federal firearms licensees are involved in assisting the executors in disposing of these firearms. We believe some general information and discussion of procedures will help licensees in these situations.

This correction notice provides information regarding a change in the background check procedures for firearms transfers by all South Carolina Federal firearms licensees (FFLs). 

To outline procedures for staff recommendations and correspondence to agencies and persons about Bureau inmates.

What’s In This Issue: NICS and the Brady Law; ATF Form 4473 Completion and NICS CHecks; NICS Enrollment by Licensees; Sales to Law Enforcement Officers; Required Identification Document; ATF Form 4473 Completion Errors and NICS; NICS and the 3-Day Wait; NICS and Potential "Straw Transactions"; Licensee Fines, Suspension, and/or Revocation for NICS Violation; NICS and Collectors of Curio and Relic Firearms; Special Notices

In 1992, Congress enacted Public Law 102-395, requiring the Bureau to establish policy and procedures to collect fees for incarceration costs (see 18 U.S.C. §4001, note). This policy applies to inmates who are:

To encourage inmates to use their leisure time for creative writing and to permit the direct mailing of all manuscripts as ordinary correspondence.