I have heard that the USP at Terra Haute is a new or redone compound within the last 3 years or so? Is this true? The info I got was they turned the old USP into a medium level and built a new USP. Anyone familiar with this? What is the new compound like? Any info on the USP Terra Haute and what its like there for inmates would help me. I am stressing big time! My fiance just told me that he heard there were like 3 stabbing incidents there per week :eek: :confused: :(

Bree

The compound at Terre Haute consists of three facilities. My guy just got released from the camp there a few days ago. There is also an older prison, which used to be a maximum and is now a medium facility. The new maximum just opened this year and has had a lot of problems according to my fellah. He worked with the electricians and was at the new place several times before it opened, including to death row. It's huge. He has heard of lots of problems there with the inmates, primarily because of other federal prisons changing ranking from max to medium and shipping their inmates to Terre Haute, so there are the regular Terre Haute guys as well as gangs from other prisons. There was an inmate death there shortly after it opened, but I believe it's been largely on lock down since then to prevent it happening again. Not a happy place. If there's anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

I was in the 'old' Terre Haute during a transfer. Spent 2 weeks there, including a week in what they said was the old death row unit. NOT a happy place at all. Even being in cells with just those of us that were transferring, I did not feel safe. They had to call the ninja team in on one guy causing problems, and I NEVER seen action like that before - no regard for the normal rules (cameras, med. staff, etc.) - They just popped the door and beat the crap out of him ... he left on a stretcher afterwards - all for spitting at a female guard that was making fun of him while he was on the toilet. Not a fun place at all.

I'll add this...my fellah's PO came for his home visit and when he heard my boyfriend was at Terre Haute, he said the camp wasn't bad, but the maximum there (now the medium) was the worst facility he'd ever seen.

How about the new USP?

My first cellie in the feds did time as the older USP Terre Haaute and he shared some interesting stories.. No, it didn't sound like a very nice place but neither are many of the other USP's in the federal system.

I'll add this...my fellah's PO came for his home visit and when he heard my boyfriend was at Terre Haute, he said the camp wasn't bad, but the maximum there (now the medium) was the worst facility he'd ever seen.

The new USP has been on lockdown practically since it opened this year. Lots of problems with gangs and trouble. An inmate was killed there shortly after it opened, and the staffing is a bit low because of the three facilities.

What does lockdown mean in a USP? Cell 23 hours a day? What month did it open this year? Can they use the phones on lockdown? This is all making me so nervous I am sick to my stomach :( :confused:

Very interesting stuff on the new USP TH. We did five years there, from 1996-2001, at the old one, and it really wasn't all that bad. There were a few fights, a stabbing, and several lockdowns, but overall better than one would think. They, (the staff) got a little weird when the death row prisoners came, but we were able to transfer just before McVeigh's execution.

To tell you the truth, there have been many times I miss that place and we have both had some regrets about leaving. Guess fate was just on our side this time and we aren't there in the new one.

We do know a lot of guys who wanted to transfer back there when the new one opened, and some did get get transfers. Wonder how that's working out for them?

mrslmw

I'm not trying to make things all gloom and doom. If your guy just keeps to his own business and does his time while staying positive, I'm sure he'll be fine. I haven't heard anything on the new USP in quite a while, which leads me to believe things are settling down there. I really doubt it's worse than any other facility, and at least it's brand new, so there won't be a lot of the problems of the older prisons. It will be ok, and we're all here to help you through.

My brother was sent to Terre Haute a few years ago to go to the SHU for disiplinary reasons. He said he needed an attitude adjustment, and they gave him one. Don't know what happened there, but he has stayed out of trouble for the last six years. I do know he was in a cell with another person, and they were lockdowned 23 hours a day, ate in their cell and even took showers in the cell. He said it was as small as a closet and with two people it was really tight.