DOJ Watchdog: Bureau of Prison 'Failures' Preceded Bulger Death

The Justice Department inspector general found in a new report that the Bureau of Prisons made multiple "management and performance failures" before the killing of inmate James "Whitey" Bulger in 2018, The Hill reports.

Bulger, a well-known figure in organized crime who spent time on the FBI's most wanted list, was convicted in 2013 on multiple charges, including playing a part in the murders of 11 people, and received two life sentences. He was murdered in 2018 after being transferred to Hazleton, a prison in West Virginia.

The inspector general's report on the incident and the Bureau of Prison's actions leading up to the event place the blame on the agency for how it handled his transfer.

Bulger, who was born in 1929, used a wheelchair after his arrest in 2011 and had been recommended for hospitalization by doctors, but BOP employees lowered his required level of medical care.

"In our view, no BOP inmate's transfer, whether they are a notorious gangster or a nonviolent offender, should be handled like Bulger's transfer was handled in this instance," the report states.

"Bulger's transfer to Hazelton and placement in the general population appeared unusual in view of his age, his health, his notoriety and history as an FBI informant, and the record of violence among inmates at that facility," it continues. "His violent death less than 12 hours after arriving at Hazelton highlighted these concerns."

According to the report, "The transfer specifically to Hazelton raised additional questions because of the record of violence among inmates at Hazelton, which housed gang members and inmates with connections to organized crime. Based on our review of incident records, Coleman was a safer facility."

"Subsequent to the events described in the [inspector general's] report, BOP initiated several improvements to its medical transfer system including enhanced communication between employees involved in the process, multiple trainings for personnel, and technological advancements," Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Donald Murphy told the Hill.

"The BOP appreciates the important work of the [inspector general] and will be working closely with the office on future action and implementation efforts."

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