As you know - the mindset, activity and sophistication of federal inmates often force Bureau of Prison (BOP) officials to make difficult, split-second decisions. These decisions are made under unique circumstances that only employees who deal with incarcerated individuals can truly appreciate.

This type of workplace unfortunately results in an environment that makes even the best employees vulnerable for prisoner lawsuits and investigations into alleged misconduct. These vulnerabilities are the reasons professional liability insurance (PLI) is necessary for all BOP employees. For coverage starting today, buy now.

There are three areas of exposure that a professional liability policy responds to: civil law suits, administrative and disciplinary matters, and criminal investigations. For instance, PLI becomes necessary when:

• An officer becomes involved in a misconduct or administrative matter/investigation for a job related action; or
• An officer is sued personally for a job-related action (i.e., Bivens action); or
• An officer is subject to a criminal investigation for a job-related action.

For detailed information on how FEDS protects you in the event of a prisoner or some other lawsuit or alleged criminal allegations, see Civil Exposures and Criminal Exposures. Listen to law enforcement issues on Audio.

The Administrative Benefits are important to BOP employees because the federal legal investigative process of defending against allegations of misconduct or other wrongdoing is complicated; having an attorney experienced in federal matters to advise you of your legal rights and obligations and also the parameters of the law under which you've been accused is imperative in the initial investigative stages.

Maneuvering the investigative process without legal counsel is not recommended by the leading federal employee associations and law firms representing federal employees. If you are an employee in a bargaining unit, the administrative defense provision of the PLI policy is necessary when union legal support is inadequate, terminates or is exhausted—moreover, union representation is generally not available for civil and criminal matters.

The civil exposure is the very reason that Congress enacted special legislation requiring agencies to reimburse all BOP officials up to ½ of the cost of professional liability insurance. This congressional action clearly demonstrates Congress’ official support and belief that officers have a sense of security while making the tough decisions that are part of the job. With annual costs at $270 and a net cost of only $135 a year after reimbursement for our minimum coverage limit, there is no reason for a BOP employee not to have career and financial security protections in place.

FEDS works with federal law enforcement communities and many other federal employee associations to ensure that we provide the protection officers need to do their jobs. Please read what these associations and other industry leaders have to say about professional protection and why they recommend FEDS in testimonials and endorsements.

FEDS founder is a former employee of a federal law enforcement agency and encourages all federal employees to be as informed as possible about the benefits of having PLI protection in place. Read more about how and why FEDS got started here. And if you can't find answers to your questions in FAQ's, please call us at 301-229-2481.