In January 2000, the Department of Justice (through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)), USMS, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and Civil Rights Division issued a set of core detention standards that apply to all detention facilities contracted by the Department of Justice. The standards sought to ensure that detainees housed in these facilities are safe, secure, and such facilities provide the basic services needed by Federal detainees. The purpose for detention varies across agencies; accordingly, the standards adopted addressed only the most basic and critical elements common to all agencies. The standards are intended to supplement policies, procedures, and practices that were specific to the needs of each agency.

Following the establishment of the OFDT, OFDT initiated a working group comprised of OFDT, BOP, USMS, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) -- formerly the INS -- to address federal detention policies and procedures. As part of this working group, agency representatives reviewed and refined the core detention standards previously approved.

QARs will be conducted based upon criteria listed in the Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards (FPBDS). Initially, the reviews will be conducted at all private contract facilities that house Federal detainees to ensure these facilities are safe, humane, and protect detainees' statutory and constitutional rights. The FPBDS have been divided into nine functional areas that fully meet or exceed the requirements of the American Correctional Association Adult Local Detention Facility Standards.