®If;" of lbe i!lttornep <!lieneral
Wasbmgton, ]:;I,\!:. 20530
October 14, 2010

MEMORANDUl'>l FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENT CO:-'IPO:\,ENTS

FROM:
SUBJECT:

TilE AlTOR.t"EY GENERAL

c.;.....:...;

Federal Prison Industries

The purpose oflhis memorandum is to express my strong support for the Federal Prison
Industries program (FPI or trade name Ul\'ICOR). an important Justice Department program. I
ask you to support this critical program by encouraging your statrlo purchase FPl products and
services to the greatest extent practicable in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation
(FAR).I

Through the outstanding work oflhc investigating and prosecuting components of the
Departmem. we yield thousands of successful cases each year. resulling in continued gTOw1h of
the federal prison population. Our responsibility 10 society does not end .... hen the prison gates
close. however. For the more than 37,500 people who work in our fedeml prisons around the
country. that is when the work begins. All of us in the Department of Justice are committed to
supporting prison programs. for we all have a stake in the outcome. We must help offenders
change the course of their lives such that they lea\'e prison with a commitment to becoming la\\abiding. tax-paying members of our community, and with knowledge and skills that will support
that objC\:tile.
The bonom line is that Federal ?rison lndllstrics is an integral part of our efforts to keep
Americans safe. As an initial mailer. FPI is a critical component of the Department's reentry
efforts. F?I provides job skills training to inmates confined in our federal prisons around the
country through the production of market·quality goods and services_ Research has
demonstmted that inmates who participate in FPI arc 24 percent less likely to commit crimes and
14 percent more likely to be employed after release. when compared to similar inmates without
FPI e.~perienee _ Additionally. FPI is vital 10 the safety and sC\:urity of federal prisons: by
keeping a large number of inmates constructh'ely occupied. FPI reduces inmate idleness and the
violence and disruption that often accompanies such inactivity. FPI helps make prisons safer for
both staff and ;nmates, Finally. beyond helping the Department with reemry and prison
managemem. FPI supports the Departmem's efforts by purchasing 54 percent of its raw materials
from businesses o\\T1ed by women. minorities. and those who are disadvantaged.

ISU 18 U.S.c. § 4121

eI

seq.; Federal AcqUisition Regulation Part 8.6.

MtomOffindum for Htoads ofDtopartmtonl Compontonts
Page 2
FPI [tolies on agencies and departments in the fedt'ral government to buy their products.
thereby allowing this wholly-<Jwned government corporation to operate in a self-sustaining
manner. In recent months, as a result of a drop in sales to fedt'ral agencies, FPI has been fOKed
to close factories. displacing hundreds of civilian workers. and reducing the impact of one of the
Department's most important correctional programs. We need your help to prevent any further
erosion of the program.
J am asking each of you to review FPI's extensive catalog of products and services.
which is available online at hnp:,ww\\.unicor,go\'prodsel" ices"prod dir schedule, in order to
tonsure that your procurement staff consistently support FPlto the greatest extent possible. The
attached summary sheet highlights the '-arious product lines available through Federal Prison
Industries.

Thank you \'ery much for )our support