Skip to main content

File a complaint about a state or federal prison

You can file a complaint about a prison, policy, procedure, or abuse of someone in prison. Learn where to direct your complaint and what steps to take.

Complain about a local, county, or state prison

To submit a complaint about a local, county, or state prison:

  1. File a formal complaint directly with the facility. Look up the prison contact information.

  2. If your complaint is not resolved by the prison, file a complaint with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) regional office that oversees the facility.

  3. If the issue still has not been addressed, contact BOP Headquarters or the Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General, which oversees the BOP.

Complain about a federal prison

To submit a complaint about a federal prison:

  1. File a formal complaint first directly with the state or local correctional facility.

  2. If the issue remains unsolved, contact the state department of corrections office.

  3. Contact your governor if the prison and the department of corrections office still have not addressed your complaint.

Give the complaint time to progress before going on to the next step. You can also seek qualified legal advice if your complaint remains unresolved.

LAST UPDATED: April 5, 2023

SHARE THIS PAGE:

Do you have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

talk icon Call and speak to a live USAGov agent.
chat icon Chat with a live USAGov agent.
Top