BOP Program Statement Update
BOP Program Statement 5522.03: Whole Body Imaging
This policy is used to help implement requirements and guidelines governing the use of Whole Body Imaging on inmates to reduce the risk of weapons and contraband within the prison system.
The Whole Body Imaging Program uses ionizing radiation to detect contraband. Each secure BOP facility is required to deploy a Whole Body Imaging scanner. Inmates are required to submit to testing. Inmates who refuse to be tested are subject to disciplinary action.
Since inmates receive radiation during each test, it is critical to ensure that the limit on the number of scans allowed per inmate is not exceeded. Supporters of Whole Body Imaging point out that the amount of radiation exposure per scan is microscopic. A typical chest x-ray has several hundred times more radiation exposure than a typical Whole Body Image scan.
Inmates are required to stand in front of the scanner with their legs spread slightly and arms extended. The scans take about eight seconds. The BOP has policies on who can view the images. Cross-gender viewing of scanned images is only permitted if the WBI system is equipped with BOP approved privacy filters. These filters protect images of the inmate’s personal anatomy from being viewed by members of the opposite gender. Investigative staff authorized by the Warden and of the same sex as the scanned inmate can look at images without the privacy filters. Also, any BOP staff can look at any images during an emergency.
Concerns:
Ionizing radiation can cause harm to humans. While small doses appear to be less harmful, there are no studies showing the impact of receiving Whole Body Imaging scans conducted on inmates leaving UNICOR facilities five days per week year after year.
While the BOP Program Statement requires Correctional Officers to use filtering software to prevent viewing of images of the opposite gender’s personal anatomy, inmates point out that many officers do not follow BOP policies in other areas. Why would they follow the BOP policies here? Recall that Whole Body Imaging scanners have been required at many U.S. airports since the attacks of 9/11/2001. Many TSA agents were caught making personal copies of the images they found during the tests. Many of these scanners were removed from airports because of the breach of trust by these federal agents.
