Public Law 101-509 established that mandatory retirement age of 57 for persons in federal law enforcement  positions.  5 U.S.C. 3307 specified that the head of an agency may determine and fix the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a law enforcement officer.  Therefore, the Attorney General has determined that the initial appointment of employees into the Federal Bureau of Prisons' law enforcement positions must be prior to their 37th birthday.  Exceptions include:

The above exceptions to the maximum entry age requirement pertaining to law enforcement positions have been granted by the Attorney General based on the determination that a shortage exists in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for qualified applicants under the age of 37.