---identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s542.16"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "28 CFR § 542.16 - Assistance."title_number: 28title_name: "Judicial Administration"section_number: "542.16"section_name: "Assistance."chapter_name: "BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"subchapter_number: "C"subchapter_name: "INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT"part_number: "542"part_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDY"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-03-24"last_updated: "2026-03-24"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984, as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510."regulatory_source: "61 FR 88, Jan. 2, 1996, unless otherwise noted."cfr_part: "542"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t28/s542.16
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice
Authority
5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984, as to offenses committe... 5 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984, as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510.
# 542.16 Assistance.(a) An inmate may obtain assistance from another inmate or from institution staff in preparing a Request or an Appeal. An inmate may also obtain assistance from outside sources, such as family members or attorneys. However, no person may submit a Request or Appeal on the inmate's behalf, and obtaining assistance will not be considered a valid reason for exceeding a time limit for submission unless the delay was caused by staff.(b) Wardens shall ensure that assistance is available for inmates who are illiterate, disabled, or who are not functionally literate in English. Such assistance includes provision of reasonable accommodation in order for an inmate with a disability to prepare and process a Request or an Appeal.