FPI Direction and Management Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who oversees and operates Federal Prison Industries?
2. Are Board of Directors Meetings open to the public?
3. Is there any independent oversight or review of FPI's operations?
1. Who oversees and operates Federal Prison Industries?
Federal Prison Industries is governed by a six-member Board of Directors. The members are appointed by the President and, by statute, represent Industry, Labor, Retailers and Consumers, Agriculture, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General.
FPI is an integral component of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau or BOP), and the Director of the Bureau serves as Commissioner for FPI. UNICOR's Chief Executive Officer is responsible for oversight and management of all operations and program components.
2. Are Board of Directors Meetings open to the public?
FPI is not covered by the Sunshine Act regarding public meeting access. However, FPI’s Board of Directors has instituted the following in an effort to afford the public increased opportunity to receive from and/or provide information to the Board concerning the corporation’s business practices and operations.
(1) A specified amount of time may be allocated during each Board meeting held in Washington, DC, to allow persons who wish to address the Board an opportunity to do so.
(2) Interested individuals may write at any time to FPI’s Chief Executive Officer, Patrick O'Connor or the Chairman of the Board, David Spears; or to the Corporate Communications and Support Branch.
UNICOR/Federal Prison Industries
400 First Street, NW; 8th floor
Washington, DC 20534
3. Is there any independent oversight or review of FPI's operations?
As a component of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FPI is subject to regular congressional oversight by the House Judiciary Committee. Several hearings on the program have been held over the years.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted three separate studies on FPI’s customer satisfaction rates, delivery performance, and product pricing during the late 1990s. The various studies contained several recommendations which have since been implemented. The reports (#GAO/GGD-98-50, #GAO/GGD-98-118, and #GAO/GGD-98-151) are available on GAO’s website at www.gao.gov.
FPI’s financial statements are reviewed annually by an independent audit firm, the results of which are published yearly in FPI’s Annual Report.