---identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s549.61"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "28 CFR § 549.61 - Definition."title_number: 28title_name: "Judicial Administration"section_number: "549.61"section_name: "Definition."chapter_name: "BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"subchapter_number: "C"subchapter_name: "INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT"part_number: "549"part_name: "MEDICAL SERVICES"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protected]"authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 10 U.S.C. 876b; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3524, 4001, 4005, 4042, 4045, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), Chapter 313, 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510."cfr_part: "549"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t28/s549.61
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice
Authority
5 U.S.C. 301; 10 U.S.C. 876b; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3524, 4001, 4005, 4042, 4045, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), Chapter 313, 5006-5024 (Repealed ... 5 U.S.C. 301; 10 U.S.C. 876b; 18 U.S.C. 3621, 3622, 3524, 4001, 4005, 4042, 4045, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), Chapter 313, 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510.
# 549.61 Definition.As defined in this rule, an inmate is on a *hunger strike:*(a) When he or she communicates that fact to staff and is observed by staff to be refraining from eating for a period of time, ordinarily in excess of 72 hours; or(b) When staff observe the inmate to be refraining from eating for a period in excess of 72 hours. When staff consider it prudent to do so, a referral for medical evaluation may be made without waiting 72 hours.