02-6204. Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation

AGENCY:

Department of Justice.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, proposes to exempt a Privacy Act system of records from the following subsections of the Privacy Act: (e)(1) and (e)(5). This system of records is the “Inmate Physical and Mental Health Records System, (JUSTICE/BOP-007)”, as modified and described in today's notice section of the Federal Register. This system continues to be exempted from the subsections of the Privacy Act as previously promulgated.

The additional exemptions are necessary to preclude the compromise of institution security, to better ensure the safety of inmates, Bureau personnel and the public, to better protect third party privacy, to protect law enforcement and investigatory information, and/or to otherwise ensure the effective performance of the Bureau's law enforcement functions.

DATES:

Submit any comments by May 14, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Address all comments to Mary Cahill, Management and Planning Staff, Justice Management Division, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530 (1400 National Place Building).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary Cahill, [phone].

This order relates to individuals rather than small business entities. Nevertheless, pursuant to the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, this order will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 16

• Administrative practices and procedure
• Freedom of Information Act
• Government in the Sunshine Act, and Privacy Act

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Attorney General by 5 U.S.C. 552a and delegated to me by Attorney General Order No. 793-78, it is proposed to amend 28 CFR part 16 as follows:

1. The authority for part 16 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 552, 552a, 552b(g) and 553; 18 U.S.C. 4203(a)(1); 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 534; 31 U.S.C. 3717 and 9701.

2. Section 16.97 is amended by adding paragraphs (n) and (o) to read as follows:

§ 16.97

Exemption of Federal Bureau of Prisons Systems—limited access

* * * * *

(n) The following system of records is exempted pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j) from subsections (e)(1) and (e)(5): Bureau of Prisons Inmate Physical and Mental Health Records System, (JUSTICE/BOP-007).

(o) These exemptions apply only to the extent that information in this system is subject to exemption pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j). Where compliance would not appear to interfere with or adversely affect the law enforcement process, and/or where it may be appropriate to permit individuals to contest the accuracy of the information collected, e.g. public source materials, or those supplied by third parties, the applicable exemption may be waived, either partially or totally, by the Bureau. Exemptions from the particular subsections are justified for the following reasons:

(1) From subsection (e)(1) to the extent that the Bureau may collect information that may be relevant to the law enforcement operations of other agencies. In the interests of overall, effective law enforcement, such information should be retained and made available to those agencies with relevant responsibilities.

(2) From subsection (e)(5) because in the collection and maintenance of information for law enforcement purposes, it is impossible to determine in advance what information is accurate, relevant, timely and complete. Data which may seem unrelated, irrelevant or incomplete when collected may take on added meaning or significance during the course of an investigation or with the passage of time, and could be relevant to future law enforcement decisions. In addition, because many of these records come from sources outside the Bureau of Prisons, it is administratively impossible for them and the Bureau to ensure compliance with this provision. The restrictions of subsection (e)(5) would restrict and delay trained correctional managers from timely exercising their judgment in managing the inmate population and providing for the health care of the inmates and the safety and security of the prisons and the public.

Dated February 22, 2002.

Robert F. Diegelman,

Acting Assistant Attorney General for Administration.