BOP Introduction To Correctional Techniques (ICT) Phase 2 Practice Test

Restrictive housing is used to manage inmates who pose safety or security concerns, and the BOP keeps three distinct types to address different situations. First is disciplinary segregation, which is used when an inmate violates prison rules; it removes them from the general population for a limited period as part of a disciplinary process. Second is administrative detention (often called administrative segregation), which handles safety or security concerns not tied to a disciplinary violation—things like protective custody or risk management, and it can last longer with different procedures. Third is the Special Housing Unit (SHU), a highly controlled space for inmates who require intensified supervision due to significant security or safety risks, typically involving longer or more restrictive housing conditions and specific oversight. So there are three main restrictive housing programs because each serves a different purpose and has its own rules and duration expectations.