TITLE: SENTRY

ACRONYM: SENTRY

• Department/Agency Name: U.S. Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Prisons
• Major Organization Subdivision: Information, Policy, and Public Affairs Division
• Minor Organization Subdivision: Office of Information Systems
• Name of Unit: Systems Development Branch
• Street Address: 320 First Street, N.W.
• City: Washington
• State: District of Columbia
• Zip Code: 20534
• Country: USA
• Hours of Service: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Telephone: (202) 307-3065
• Fax: NA
• E-mail Address: NA

ABSTRACT: It is an online, real-time, database management system that monitors the system-wide movement and management of inmates, including sentence computations, work assignments, program assignments, institution designation, administrative remedies, discipline, and inmate financial responsibility. SENTRY resides on the Department of Justice Data Center mainframe in Dallas, Texas, and is accessed by about 200 Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and Department of Justice offices that need access to inmate information, including all BOP offices nationwide.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the system is to provide line staff with timely and accurate information for day-to-day management of the inmate population; to provide managers with accurate and timely information necessary to make decisions regarding management of resources, expenditure of funds, development of budget requests, and short- and long-range planning; to improve productivity by providing automated resources to replace manual processes; and to improve communications among Bureau components.

ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: A major part of the data contained in this system is exempt from release under the Freedom of Information Act under 5 U.S.C. § 552a (j). Moreover, there are many safeguards in place to ensure against unauthorized access through appropriate administrative, physical and technical shields.

USE CONSTRAINTS: Information will be made available to employees of the Department of Justice who have a need for information from the system in performance of their duties, to make information relating to federal offenders available to federal and state courts, court personnel, and probation offices. Information permitted to be released to the news media and the public pursuant to 28CFR 50.2 may be made available from this system unless it is determined that release of the specific information in the context of a particular case would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or in some way jeopardize the safety and security of the federal offender in question. Information contained in the system may be released pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552 and may be made available to a Member of Congress or staff acting upon the Member’s behalf when the Member or staff requests the information on behalf of and at the request of the individual who is the subject of the record.

AGENCY PROGRAM: SENTRY is the Bureau’s primary mission support system. It collects, maintains, and reports inmate information that is critical to the safe and orderly operation of Bureau facilities. SENTRY maintains and tracks the official count of inmates at each BOP site. It enables the Bureau to maintain proper custody of inmates, as well as keep information regarding sentence computations, programs, and assignments.

SOURCES OF DATA: Inmates, Department of Justice Employees, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, Courts and Attorneys.

• Major Organization Subdivision: Office of General Counsel
• Minor Organization Subdivision: Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Section
• Name of Unit:
• Street Address: 320 First Street, N.W.
• City: Washington
• State: District of Columbia
• Zip Code: 20534
• Country: USA
• Hours of Service: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Telephone: (202) 514-6655
• Fax: (202) 307-0828
• E-Mail Address: NA
• Order Process: The BOP maintains individual records, including staff records, in published systems of records retrievable by an individual’s name or other personal identifier. Privacy Act requests must be in writing, specifically describe the records being sought, verify the identify of the requestor and be clearly marked "Privacy Act Request". Individuals seeking their own records must provide date of birth, Federal register number where applicable, and must verify their identity in one of the following ways: having the signature on the request witnessed by a notary, include a statement just before the signature on the request letter: "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]."

• Major Organization Subdivision: Office of General Counsel
• Minor Organization Subdivision: Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Section
• Name of Unit:
• Street Address: 320 First Street, N.W.
• City: Washington
• State: District of Columbia
• Zip Code: 20534
• Country: USA
• Hours of Service: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Telephone: (202) 514-6655
• Fax: NA
• E-Mail Address: NA

DATE OF LAST MODIFICATION: May 1, 2001