Why the BOP Denies 97% of Grievances — and Why That Doesn't Mean You Shouldn't File

The Numbers

According to BOP data, the Bureau of Prisons denies approximately 97.4% of all administrative remedy requests at every level of review. Only about 2.6% of grievances result in any favorable outcome for the inmate.

Why the BOP Denies Almost Everything

The BOP has every structural incentive to deny grievances. A denial costs them nothing. A grant costs them accountability, policy changes, or money. The 2.6% favorable outcome rate is not a surprise — it is the expected result of a process run by the institution being complained about.

So Why File at All?

Here is the critical distinction: the purpose of filing a grievance is not to win the grievance. It is to preserve your right to go to court.

Under the PLRA, no federal prisoner can file a lawsuit about prison conditions until they have exhausted all available administrative remedies. A grievance that is filed correctly and denied at every level is not a failure — it is a completed process and the legal foundation you need to take your complaint to a federal court.

The Bottom Line

The 2.6% favorable outcome rate is a reason to be precise, not to give up. The administrative remedy process is the mandatory gateway to federal court. Complete it correctly — every step, every deadline, every form — so that when the BOP says no, you are ready to take the next step.