SEBOLT v. LARIVA et al

Filing 42

ENTRY Dismissing Amended Complaint and Directing Entry of Final Judgment - For the reasons explained above, the amended complaint is dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Judgment consistent with this ruling shall now issue. Copy sent to Plaintiff via US Mail. Signed by Judge William T. Lawrence on 5/23/2017. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(DW) Modified on 5/23/2017 (DW).

Chapter 14. TRUST FUND LIMITED INMATE COMPUTER SYSTEM
14.1 GENERAL
The Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System (TRULINCS) provides inmates with a
computer system that does not jeopardize the safety, security, orderly operation of the correctional
facility, or the protection of the public or staff. Inmates participating in the program must accept
rules identified in the TRULINCS Electronic Messaging Warning/Responsibility/
Acknowledgment Statement prior to accessing the system. Inmates do not have access to the
Internet.
14.2 AUTHORITY
The Bureau’s authority to operate TRULINCS is found in 18 U.S.C. 4042, which authorizes the
Bureau to provide for the safekeeping, care, and subsistence of Federal prisoners. Pursuant to that
authority, the CEO prohibits or discontinues its operation, or individual inmate's participation,
whenever it is determined to jeopardize the safety, security, or orderly operation of the correctional
facility, or the protection of the public and staff.
Use of TRULINCS is a privilege; therefore, the Warden may limit or deny the privilege of a
particular inmate (see Section 14.9 for restrictions). This authority may not be delegated below
the Associate Warden level.
Individual inmates may be excluded from program participation or individual services as part of
classification procedures (see Section 14.9). Information supporting the exclusion is forwarded
to the Warden for final determination.
14.3

RESPONSIBILITIES

a. TRULINCS Coordinator. The Chief of the Trust Fund Branch is the designated
TRULINCS Coordinator − the resource person for Bureau staff, other components of the
Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies, and the general public.
b. Trust Fund Supervisor. The Trust Fund Supervisor has responsibility for the overall
operation of TRULINCS at the institution. The Trust Fund Supervisor administers, maintains,
and monitors the system; provides training to inmates during Admission and Orientation;
supervises inmate workers assigned to the TRULINCS detail; and responds to inmate inquiries
regarding the system.
The Trust Fund Supervisor is also the designated System Supervisor and maintains internal
controls, system integrity, user accounts, and all other aspects of TRULINCS security and
operations.
c. Staff Use. Staff members may not use TRULINCS for personal use.
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d. Contacts and Inmates. By participating in the TRULINCS Program, inmates, and the
contact(s) with whom they correspond, voluntarily consent to having all email, including
transactional data, and system activity, monitored and retained by authorized personnel. This
authority includes rejecting individual emails sent to or from inmates that jeopardize the
above-mentioned interests.
(1) An inmate’s participation in the TRULINCS Program is conditioned on their notice,
acknowledgment, and voluntary consent to the Warden's authority, as indicated above. Inmates
consent to monitoring when they accept the TRULINCS Electronic Messaging
Warning/Responsibility/Acknowledgment Statement each time they access the system.
(2) A community person’s consent to Bureau staff monitoring of all TRULINCS emails and
activity is obtained when the person receives the initial system-generated email notifying him/her
the inmate wants to add him/her to their contact list and when he/she proceeds with corresponding.
14.4 RATES
The Chief of the Trust Fund Branch, with the concurrence of the Assistant Director of the
Administration Division, sets all program fees. By participating in the program, the inmate
consents to have the Bureau withdraw program fees directly from their Deposit Fund account.
14.5 EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
a. Equipment. Inmate computers and printers must clearly display a blue label as “INMATE
ACCESS.”
Requests for additional equipment are forwarded from the Warden through the Regional Trust
Fund Administrator to the Chief of the Trust Fund Branch for consideration.
b. Multi-Purpose Workstations. Ordinarily, workstations are located in the housing units and
law library. Requests for alternative locations are forwarded from the Warden through the
Regional Trust Fund Administrator to the Chief of the Trust Fund Branch for consideration.
Workstations located in the housing units ordinarily are multi-purpose, offering various services
with the exception of the Electronic Law Library (ELL) and Print Services. Workstations located
in the institution Law Library ordinarily offer access to only the ELL Service and limited
supporting services (e.g., TRU-Unit Management and Bulletin Board Services). TRULINCS
ELL workstations are located in the Law Library due to the sensitivity of information and
supervision within the area.
c. Print Stations. Ordinarily each institution will have two print stations available on the main
compound and one in a satellite camp. Requests for additional locations are forwarded from the

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Warden through the Regional Trust Fund Administrator to the Chief of the Trust Fund Branch for
consideration.
d. Operating Supplies. Funds are provided in the annual TRULINCS budget to purchase
operating supplies (e.g., paper, toner, mailing labels). Procedures for procuring these items are in
Chapter 2.
14.6 TRULINCS INMATE WORKERS
Inmates receive compensation from the Trust Fund Appropriation for work performed in support
of TRULINCS. Relatively short absences due to callouts, hospitalization, sick line, etc., do not
affect the period covered. Extended absences such as furloughs, lay-in assignments, or
lockdowns are not compensable.
a. Screening of Inmate Workers. Inmates who refuse to participate in the Inmate Financial
Responsibility Program may not work in TRULINCS. Prior to assigning inmates to the detail, the
Trust Fund Supervisor shall request the Special Investigative Supervisor (SIS) to determine if any
issues exist that raise security concerns (e.g., ongoing investigation).
b. Work Hours. Ordinarily, TRULINCS inmate work details do not exceed four hours per day.
Institutions may determine the appropriate work hours based on availability of funds provided in
the annual budget.
c. Rate of Pay. The hourly rate of pay for inmates assigned to TRULINCS activities is:
$0.55 per hour starting
$0.75 per hour after 3 months’ service, if warranted
Any increase in pay (not to exceed $0.75 per hour) is based on the inmate’s work performance and
availability of funds provided in the annual budget.
d. Bonus Pay. Bonus Pay may be awarded to TRULINCS inmate workers. It may not exceed
one-half of the inmate’s monthly pay. A bonus recommendation is made by the work assignment
supervisor.
e. Restrictions on Inmate Duties. TRULINCS equipment should be secured adequately to
prevent inmates from accessing the internal components of computers or peripherals. If inmates
are used to clean secured equipment (e.g., workstations, printers), they must be directly supervised
by staff at all times to prevent theft, damage, or misuse, until the equipment is secured.
14.7 ACCOUNTING
a. Daily Reconciliation. Staff responsible for Deposit Fund accounting compare the
TRUFACS Withdrawal Report total (TRUFACS Withdrawal Type = TRUL Withdrawal) with the
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TRULINCS Reconciliation with TRUFACS Report daily. Staff verify that these balances are
equal. If they differ, staff contact the Central Office Trust Fund Branch Deposit Fund
immediately. Upon verification of the balances, the Deposit Fund staff member uploads the daily
TRULINCS extract to the automated accounting system.
b. Monthly Reconciliation. Staff complete the monthly reconciliation as required in the
institution proof-check.
c. Refunds. Refunds are provided in the following circumstances:
■ When granted by the Trust Fund Supervisor as a result of a system malfunction that has been
documented through the trouble ticket system.
■ Refunds for printer malfunctions, in the form of a reprint unless documented through the
trouble ticket system.
■ When granted by the Central Office when purchased media has been deemed defective,
explicit, or inappropriate.
d. Funds Returned to TRUFACS. Funds are returned to TRUFACS by staff only in the
following circumstances:
■ Inmates are released.
■ Inmates on Public Messaging and/or MP3/Music restriction for more than 60 days may request
in writing that their TRU-Units be returned to their Commissary account. This is a one-time
transaction for the entire TRU-Unit balance.
■ In rare or unusual instances deemed appropriate by the Warden when inmates do not have
access to TRULINCS. In these circumstances, Trust Fund staff are given written
documentation to support the transfer. This is a one-time transaction for the entire balance.
e. Processing Inmate Releases. A TRULINCS account is released when an inmate is released
in TRUFACS. If there is a communication issue between TRUFACS and TRULINCS, staff may
proceed with the release in TRUFACS. A secondary TRUFACS release to transfer the inmate’s
TRU-Units must be completed once connection with TRULINCS is restored. The Trust Fund
Specialist shall run the TRULINCS Released Inmate with TRU-Unit Balance Report weekly and
take corrective action for inmates listed on this report.
14.8 INMATE ACCOUNTS. TRULINCS inmate accounts are established and maintained
automatically through the TRUFACS nightly process.
a. Account Access. Inmates access their accounts using their eight-digit register number;
nine-digit phone access code (PAC); and fingerprint identification or four-digit Commissary
personal identification number (PIN).
It is the inmate’s responsibility to maintain possession of his/her login information. Inmates will
not disclose passwords (login criteria) to anyone and will log off the system when leaving the
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TRULINCS terminal.
b. Locked Accounts. After three consecutive failed attempts to access the system, the inmate’s
account is locked. Inmates request in writing to the Trust Fund Supervisor that their accounts be
unlocked.
14.9 SYSTEM ACCESS
It is important that staff ensure inmates are only restricted from using TRULINCS, or individual
TRULINCS services, when absolutely necessary to protect the safety, security, or orderly
operation of the correctional facility, or the protection of the public or staff.
Due to the “self-service” format TRULINCS provides, all inmates who are physically capable of
accessing a TRULINCS terminal should be provided access in all but limited cases. Public
Messaging is the only exception to this approach, as it involves communication with persons in the
community and the possibility of continuing criminal or other prohibited activity that may
jeopardize the safety and security of the institution.
a. Program/Service Exclusions. Inmates excluded from participation under this section are
notified of the specific reason(s) by a written explanation of the decision, unless possessing such
written information would threaten the safety of the inmate or other legitimate penological
interest(s). If prohibited from possessing a copy of the written explanation, inmates remain
entitled under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to access this information from their central
files, and must be provided reasonable opportunities to access and review such documents. At the
inmate’s request, expense, and preparation of an envelope, staff may photocopy and mail the
documents.
An inmate’s exclusion from participation must be based on their individual history of behavior that
could jeopardize the legitimate penological interests listed above. Inmates must not be excluded
from participation based on general categorizations of previous conduct.
(1) Sex Offenders. Inmates whose offense, conduct, or other personal history indicates a
propensity to offend through the use of email or jeopardizes the safety, security, orderly operation
of the correctional facility, or the protection of the public or staff, should be seriously considered
for restriction.
As a method of identifying these inmates, staff responsible for local sex offender management
should review inmates with SENTRY CMA Walsh Assignments of Certified, With Conviction,
and No Conviction, to determine if their participation in the Public Messaging Service poses a
realistic threat. TRULINCS automatically applies a temporary restriction on inmates’ accounts
with the above SENTRY CMA Walsh Assignments. These restrictions may be over-written
when deemed appropriate by staff responsible for local sex offender management and approved by
the Warden.

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Inmates may be permanently restricted from corresponding and/or communicating with
individuals who are:
■ Prior child or adult victims of sexual offenses committed by the inmate.
■ Children who are being groomed by the inmate for sexual assault or other predatory behavior
involving children and/or the caregivers of those children.
■ Other sexual offenders.
■ Any other contact with the general public deemed inappropriate by staff responsible for local
sex offender management due to its association with the inmate’s risk to engage in sexually
offensive behavior.
(2) Secure Units. The Warden may determine which services shall be available to inmates
housed in areas of the institution in which there are special security concerns that limit regular
access. Special consideration should be given to the type of services being made available in
these areas. No services with text input/retention fields (e.g., Contact List Service) shall be
available as inmates may use the system to communicate indirectly with other inmates.
At a minimum, workstations located in secure units shall provide access to the following services:
(a) Law Library − per the Program Statement Inmate Legal Activities, the Warden shall provide
an inmate confined in disciplinary segregation or administrative detention a means to access legal
materials.
(b) Purchase TRU-Units − to facilitate charging for printing of law library content, when
applicable.
(c) Print − to facilitate printing of law library content, when applicable.
(d) Request to Staff − for reporting of allegations of sexual abuse and harassment directly to the
Office of Inspector General (OIG). The Request to Staff Service will not be made available to
inmates located in Protective Custody Units (PCU).
Inmates housed in secure units will request access to the TRULINCS workstation per local
procedures.
Inmates confined in segregation and PCUs will not have access to the Public Messaging Service.
Inmates may continue to receive incoming emails while in secure units that restrict access to the
Public Messaging Service. Staff are not responsible for printing emails for inmates without
access to the Public Messaging Service.
b. Restrictions
(1) Inmate Discipline/Criminal Prosecution. Inmate use of the program in violation of the
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procedures subjects the inmate to disciplinary action or criminal prosecution. In addition,
inmates who abuse, circumvent, or tamper with the program (equipment, application, furniture)
are subject to disciplinary action or criminal prosecution. The DHO or UDC may impose the
sanction of loss of Public Messaging or Music/Media Program privileges for inmates found guilty
of committing prohibited acts.
Note: Inmates are only restricted from accessing the Music Service during the designated period
of time. There is no effect on the MP3 player; therefore, it will continue to operate until it expires.
(2) Pending Investigation or Disciplinary Action for TRULINCS Abuse or Misuse. If an
inmate is pending either investigation or disciplinary action for possible abuse or misuse, a partial
or total restriction is authorized by the Warden. A restriction in this situation is discretionary to
ensure the institution’s safety, security, and orderly operation, or the protection of the public and
staff. When deemed necessary, ordinarily the SIS office recommends this type of restriction.
Any TRULINCS restriction recommended by the SIS office may only be imposed with the
Warden’s approval, in accordance with the procedures outlined in this section and documented on
form BP-A0740 Request for Inmate Telephone Restriction or TRULINCS Restriction.
Initial Public Messaging restrictions, imposed pending an investigation or pending disciplinary
action for possible TRULINCS abuse or misuse, are limited to 30 days. If additional 30-day
periods are required to complete either the investigation or disciplinary process, the Warden must
re-authorize the restriction in writing on form BP-A0740, Request for Inmate Telephone or
TRULINCS Restriction. Trust Fund staff shall obtain the Warden’s approval for reinstatement or
continued restrictions every 30 days.
14.10

TRULINCS SERVICES

a. Account Transactions. Inmates are responsible for tracking their Commissary, TRUFONE,
and TRULINCS account balances. Inmates have access to view account information and
transactions for free. Inmates have the ability to print transactional information for a fee.
Inmates that have access to the Account Transactions Service are responsible for printing their
own account statements. In rare and unusual circumstances when an inmate demonstrates an
imminent need for an account statement and the inmate does not have access to TRULINCS, staff
may print the statement and charge the inmate the applicable print fee. Staff prepare the
statement and deliver it to the inmate in a secure manner within a reasonable timeframe from the
date of the request and at a time that does not interfere with the normal operations of the institution.
b. Bulletin Board. TRULINCS offers an electronic bulletin board for posting information for
viewing by the inmate population. Departments that opt to use this service are responsible for
posting their own documents and the documents’ content.
All postings must be in PDF format and may not exceed 2 MB in size.

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c. Contact List. Inmates may only communicate with approved persons on their contact lists
for the purpose of postal mail, TRUFONE, Public Messaging, and/or any person to whom they
want to send funds.
It is the inmate’s responsibility to maintain their own list with accurate contact information, to
include legal first name; legal last name; relationship; language; and postal address. Inmates are
subject to disciplinary action for lying and/or providing false or fictitious information regarding a
contact (e.g., when complete name is not used; when information is altered to hide the identity of
the contact; and any/all other attempts to mislead reviewing and monitoring staff as to the true
identity and contact information).
Ordinarily, inmates are limited to having 100 active contacts on their contact list.
Staff are not responsible for printing contact lists for inmates in SHU. However, if an imminent
need is demonstrated staff may print a TRULINCS phone list for inmates in SHU. Staff prepare
the phone list and deliver it to the inmate in a secure manner within a reasonable timeframe from
the date of the request and at a time that does not interfere with the normal operations of the
institution.
(1) Postal Mail. Inmates are limited to entering two postal addresses for each contact on their
list.
Ordinarily, inmates are required to place a TRULINCS-generated mailing label on all outgoing
postal mail. The Warden may exempt inmates from this requirement if the Warden determines
that an inmate has a physical or mental incapacity, or other extraordinary circumstances that
prevents the inmate from using the TRULINCS terminal, or the inmate poses special security
concerns prohibiting regular access to TRULINCS terminals (e.g., SHU, SMU).
The Warden may exempt inmates housed in SHU or other areas of the institution in which there
are special security concerns that limit regular access to TRULINCS.
If an inmate fails to place the TRULINCS-generated label on outgoing postal mail, the mail is
returned to the inmate for proper preparation, in the same way outgoing mail is returned for failure
to follow other processing requirements (lack of return address, etc.).
Mailing labels are only placed on outgoing postal mail to identify the recipient. Inmates are
prohibited from printing return address labels. Inmates who use mailing labels for other than their
intended purpose may be subject to disciplinary action for misuse of Government property.
Ordinarily, inmates are limited to marking for print five mailing labels per day. Inmates may be
authorized to print labels in excess of the parameter setting when approved by the Warden or
designee.
(2) Telephone Contacts. Inmates request that telephone numbers be added to their TRUFONE
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lists by creating a contact with a telephone number. Telephone number requests are processed to
TRUFONE within approximately 15 minutes.
Ordinarily, inmates are limited to having 30 active telephone numbers on their phone list.
(3) Public Messaging Contacts. Inmates request to exchange emails with a person in the
community by creating a contact with an email address. Ordinarily, inmates are limited to having
30 active messaging contacts on their list.
Inmates may only exchange emails with contacts who have accepted the inmate’s request to
communicate. Inmates may not exchange emails with any unauthorized contacts including, but
not limited to, victims, witnesses, other persons connected with the inmate’s criminal history, law
enforcement officers, contractors, vendors who make deliveries of physical goods to the institution
(e.g., Commissary, Food Service), and/or volunteers.
Note: Inmates may place attorneys, “special mail” recipients, or other legal representatives on
their public email contact list, with the acknowledgment that public emails exchanged with such
individuals will not be treated as privileged communications and will be subject to monitoring.
(a) Consent. If the contact consents to receive emails, that person is activated on the inmate’s
email contact list.
(b) Notices. Upon receiving the system-generated email, the contact is notified that:
■ The Federal inmate identified seeks to add the person in the community to their authorized
email contact list.
■ The person in the community may approve the inmate for email exchanges, refuse or ignore
the request for email exchanges, or refuse the current and all future Federal inmate requests for
email exchanges.
■ By approving, the person in the community consents to have Bureau staff monitor the content
of all emails and agrees to comply with program rules and procedures.
At any time a person in the community may choose to not participate in messaging. Each email
received from an inmate will provide the contact with guidance to remove him-/herself from the
specific inmate’s contact list or refuse all Federal inmates’ requests for email exchanges. The
guidance is provided within CorrLinks. In addition, each email received from an inmate notifies
the person that by utilizing CorrLinks to send/receive emails they consent to have Bureau staff
monitor the informational content of all emails exchanged and to comply with all program rules
and procedures.
(c) Blocking of Email Address(es). TRULINCS provides three types of email address blocks:
Bureau-wide, facility-wide, and inmate-specific. Supporting documentation for blocking email
addresses are scanned into TRUFACS using the document imaging process.
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Ordinarily, written requests from the Warden or Associate Warden for blocking an email address
are processed within one working day after receipt by Trust Fund staff. If specified, these blocks
are placed on a specific
inmate account; however, if a specific inmate is not identified or where the request specifically
states, a block can be placed to prevent any inmate at the facility from emailing a specific address.
Note: Requests for blocking may not be processed by deleting the contact from an inmate
account.
■ Bureau-wide Block. Request for Bureau-wide blocks should be routed to the Central Office
Intelligence Branch for approval. If approved, these blocks will be placed by Central Office
TRULINCS staff. These requests can be for a specific email address or an entire domain.
■ Facility-wide Block. Trust Fund staff place blocks by entering an email address on the
Facility Blocked Contact Management Screen in TRULINCS. The authorization of blocking
of an email address cannot be delegated below the Associate Warden level.
■ Inmate-Specific Blocks. The contact email address is blocked within the Contact List
administration in TRULINCS.
■ Removal of Blocks. When an email address is blocked at the recipient’s request, the System
Administrator removes the block by placing the contact’s status to Pending Contact Approval
when a written request from the contact is received.
(4) Inmate to Inmate Communication. An inmate may be permitted to correspond via Public
Messaging and postal mail with an inmate confined in any Bureau facility in accordance with the
Program Statement Correspondence.
Upon receipt of the approved correspondence from Unit team staff, Trust Fund staff are
responsible for entering the approval into TRULINCS and scanning the correspondence into
TRUFACS using the document imaging process.
d. Electronic Law Library. Inmates use dedicated TRULINCS workstations to access the
Electronic Law Library (ELL). Additional guidance regarding law library requirements can be
found in the Program Statement Inmate Legal Activities.
Trust Fund staff are responsible for ensuring the ELL software is accessible. The Bureau of
Prisons Librarian through institution Education staff is responsible for ELL content, functionality,
and training.
When inmates do not have access to a printer, Trust Fund staff are responsible for printing ELL
documents for inmates with funds. Education staff are responsible for printing ELL documents
for inmates without funds. Staff prepares the requested ELL documents and delivers them to the
inmate in a secure manner within a reasonable timeframe from the date of the request and at a time
that does not interfere with the normal operations of the institution.
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e. Manage Funds
(1) Send Funds (BP-199). Inmates wishing to send funds from their Deposit Fund account via
a Request for Withdrawal of Inmate’s Personal Funds (BP-199) must add the recipient to their
contact list. After the contact is approved, inmates enter a BP-199 and print the applicable
BP-199 Form free of charge. See Section 10.2 for additional information regarding BP-199s.
(2) Pre-Release Account. Inmates are responsible for managing their own pre-release
accounts. See Section 8.11 for information regarding inmate pre-release encumbrances.
(3) TRUGRAM Gift Funds. A TRUGRAM is an electronic funds transfer service provided by
the Bureau of Prisons through MoneyGram that allows Federal inmates to transfer funds and an
associated email to an individual in the public, who can receive the funds at one of MoneyGram's
locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Inmates may only send TRUGRAMs to approved TRULINCS messaging contacts (Receivers)
with active CorrLinks accounts. Receivers must be individuals with government-issued
identification. Transfers will not be paid out to companies.
Inmates must consent to MoneyGram’s Terms and Conditions prior to sending a TRUGRAM.
MoneyGram may report suspicious activity to appropriate law enforcement organizations or other
government agencies.
f. Management TRU-Units. Inmates are responsible for purchasing/transferring TRU-Units
and tracking their account balances.
g. Music Service. Inmates that have purchased an authorized MP3 player from the
Commissary access the Music Service to activate the player; revalidate the player; and purchase
non-explicit media. Inmates are required to accept the Music/Media Terms of Use before
accessing the service.
Inmates are authorized to have a maximum of one active MP3 player. Players must be connected
to TRULINCS and re-validated every 14 days or they will stop working. It is imperative that
MP3 players remain connected to TRULINCS while data is being written to them. The Bureau is
not responsible for any damage players receive while charging or while connected to TRULINCS
computers. Players may not be used at Bureau privatized facilities or contract holdover facilities.
Media are purchased by inmates within the system using TRU-Units and are priced in three tiers.
Many titles/songs have multiple versions and/or multiple artists. Inmates are responsible for
ensuring the accuracy of their purchases. All music sales are final; no refunds will be issued. All
purchased music/media files must be stored on the MP3 player. Inmates may print a list of their
media for a fee.

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The music library is automatically updated when made available to the contractor; the Bureau does
not control when songs are made available or the library content. However, songs that jeopardize
the safety, security, or good order of the institution or protection of the public will be removed
from the music library and MP3 players at the Bureau of Prisons’ discretion. TRU-Unit refunds
will be issued for songs that are removed by the Bureau of Prisons.
The Trust Fund Supervisor shall run the TRULINCS Security Event Report weekly and notify the
appropriate staff of potential contraband identified as unauthorized storage devices.
h. Prescription Refills. Through an interface with the Bureau Electronic Medical Record
(BEMR), inmates are provided with a list of their prescriptions that are eligible to be refilled.
Inmates follow established local procedures for picking up requested prescriptions approximately
24 hours after they submit a request.
i. Print. Inmates are responsible for printing their own documents and paying print fees when
applicable. Inmates are not authorized to possess other inmates’ print materials. Inappropriate
use of printed materials may result in disciplinary action.
j. Public Messaging. The Bureau provides a messaging option for inmates to supplement
postal mail correspondence to maintain family and community ties. Both inmates and their
contacts must adhere to the rules of this policy, and must not use TRULINCS for any purpose that
would jeopardize the safety, security, or orderly operation of the correctional facility, or jeopardize
the protection of the public and staff.
(1) Email Controls. The maximum number of consecutive minutes an inmate may use the
Public Messaging Service is 60 minutes; the interval between sessions is 15 minutes. The
Warden may adjust time parameters to ensure the secure and orderly running of the institution.
Emails may not contain attachments and may not exceed 13,000 characters.
Inmates are able to access incoming, outgoing, draft, deleted, and rejected emails for 180 days.
Emails older than 180 days are automatically purged from the system.
(2) Cost of Messaging. Inmates are charged a per-minute fee while in the Public Messaging
Service. Inmates may print their emails for an additional fee.
(3) Email Holds. All incoming/outgoing emails are held for a minimum of one hour. When
warranted, emails may be held longer. Staff must approve/reject an email while it is on hold or
the email will be sent when the hold expires.
(4) Monitoring. Emails sent/received by inmates are stored and are subject to monitoring for
content by trained staff. If it is determined locally that workload permits, all staff may be
assigned to monitor emails. Inmates identified as required monitoring in SENTRY shall have
their emails monitored and reviewed.
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(5) Rejection of Public Emails. TRULINCS allows inmate emails to be routed to staff for
review. If a determination is made to reject the correspondence the staff member managing the
email must place the email in a Rejected status.
(a) Authority to Reject Emails. The authority to manually reject emails is not delegated below
the Associate Warden.
(b) Reasons for Rejection. Emails that would jeopardize the safety, security, or orderly
operation of the correctional facility or the protection of the public and staff may be rejected for
reasons that include, but are not limited to:
■ The email is detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution, or a threat
to the public and staff, or it might facilitate criminal activity, including any email that:
Depicts, describes, or encourages activities that may lead to the use of physical violence or
group disruption.
Depicts or describes procedures for the construction or use of weapons, ammunition,
bombs, or incendiary devices.
Depicts, encourages, or describes methods of escape from Bureau facilities.
Encourages, instructs, or may facilitate criminal activity (e.g., introduction of contraband).
Constitutes unauthorized direction of an inmate’s business (see 28 CFR Part 541, subpart
B, regarding Inmate Discipline).
Contains threats, extortion, or obscenity.
Is written in, or otherwise contains, a code.
Constitutes sexually explicit material that, by its nature or content, poses a threat to the
safety, security, and orderly operation of Bureau facilities, or protection of the public and
staff.
Depicts or describes procedures for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages or drugs.
■ The email otherwise violates the established parameters of the TRULINCS Program.
(c) Notification of Rejection. When an email is rejected, the sender is notified that their email
will not be delivered and the reason(s) for the rejection. The intended recipient is not informed of
the rejection.
(6) Responsibility for Misuse of the Public Messaging Service. If either an inmate or a
contact attempts to send emails that are rejected, forward inmate emails to an unauthorized
address, or otherwise violate this policy, the Warden may remove the individual from participation
in this program. Both parties are notified of the removal by the Warden.
(7) Law Enforcement Requests for Public Emails. The Bureau’s TRULINCS System of
Records, and the Privacy Act of 1974, allows disclosure of TRULINCS transactional data and
email content as law enforcement uses, as defined therein. Subpoenas for these are not required,
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as compared to recorded telephone conversations.
Written requests from law enforcement for emails must demonstrate a need based on an ongoing
investigation. Reviews of such requests should be considered by SIS staff, Wardens/Associate
Wardens, along with legal staff. Once approved, Bureau staff are authorized to release both
transactional data (e.g., date, time, email address, email recipient and sender, and length of the
email) and copies of the emails.
k. Request to Staff. Inmates wishing to submit a written request to staff must do so using the
electronic Request to Staff Service. A written response, if necessary, will be provided. Inmates
are limited to submitting five requests per day. The Request to Staff Service will not be made
available to inmates located in Protective Custody Units (PCU).
Inmates may report allegations of sexual abuse and harassment directly to the Office of Inspector
General (OIG) via the Request to Staff Service.
The Warden may exempt inmates from this requirement if the Warden determines that an inmate
has a physical or mental incapacity, or other extraordinary circumstances that prevents the inmate
from using the TRULINCS terminal, or the inmate poses special security concerns prohibiting
regular access to TRULINCS terminals (e.g., SHU, SMU). Exempted inmates may submit a
request in accordance with the Program Statement Request to Staff, Inmate.
l. Survey. The Bureau has the ability to conduct electronic inmate surveys. Surveys are
managed at the national level in accordance with the Program Statement Research. Local Trust
Fund staff are required to activate the Survey Service on applicable workstations as needed.
14.11 RECORDS MANAGEMENT
The following documents are required to be scanned into TRUFACS using the document imaging
process:
a. Exclusions. Written requests from the Warden for program or individual service exclusions.
b. Suspensions and Restrictions. Documentation (form BP-A0740, Request for Inmate
Telephone or TRULINCS Restriction) from the Disciplinary Hearing Officer (DHO) or Unit
Discipline Committee (UDC), regarding Public Messaging or Music Restrictions.
In addition, Trust Fund staff must maintain a 30-day file to track temporary restrictions for
pending investigations or disciplinary actions submitted on form BP-A0740, Request for Inmate
Telephone Restriction or TRULINCS Restriction.
c. Public Messaging
■ Written approval from the Warden authorizing a Walsh Assignment override.
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■
■
■
■

Written requests from the Warden or Associate Warden for blocking an email address.
Written requests from the Warden or Associate Warden for rejecting public emails.
Requests from contacts for blocking an email address.
Requests for unblocking an email address must contain a minimum of the contact’s full name,
email address, inmate’s name, inmate’s register number, and the request for removing the
email address block.

d. Inmate to Inmate Communication. Documentation from Unit Managers
approving/rejecting inmate to inmate communication.
14.12 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
a. Emergency support. Support is available 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 7:00 a.m.−
9:00 p.m. EST. For emergency support call Trust Fund Branch, TRULINCS staff, at
202-514-2555 during office hours (7:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. EST); for after-hours emergency support
contact the TRULINCS duty phone.
b. Non-Emergency Technical Assistance. For non-emergency support use the trouble ticket
system or call Trust Fund Branch TRULINCS staff.
c. Hardware and Software Updates/Improvements. The Trust Fund Branch initiates the
implementation of improved hardware and software. Institution staff are encouraged to provide
input and ideas for improving the system and services.

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