I looked around for some of these answers but couldnt find them. Thanks for any help you can give.

1. Does every facility have the 500 hour drug program?

2. What is daily life like? Weekends any different? Do you have to work?

3. How awful is the food? Canteen?

4. At a minimum security place can you actually go outside when you want to?

5. Are the beds those little flimsy pads? My back is bad and they kill me.

6. How often do you meet good people inside who can help each other once you get out? Im a professional guy who is about to have his name forever dirtied. Would be good to have some other professionals who know Im not necessarily a dirtbag and could help out with work and stuff.

7. Anything else you can mention?

Thanks a lot. My time may be short here...

J

Lets see what I can do to answer you questions.



Originally posted by jdm
I looked around for some of these answers but couldnt find them. Thanks for any help you can give.

1. Does every facility have the 500 hour drug program?

No, there are facilities set aside for the drug program. If you are looking for a time reduction with the extended drug program, I believe there are two or three facilities you have to transfer to to take it. (guys are in Oklahoma & Florida, I believe) If you are required to take one of the other drug programs (40 hour etc), you can usually find an institution closer to home that offers it.

2. What is daily life like? Weekends any different? Do you have to work?

The only way you can get away with not working at all is to get the doctors to say you can't. Bad back, and other things can qualify you for this. I know a lot of guys that didn't want to work and got a pass. If you like to work you can do so. The top paying jobs are in the factory - UniCor. After you have been there for a while you can make around $200-$300 a month. I didn't want or need to work so I took a little yard job where I picked up trash on the grounds for maybe 5-10 minutes. It only paid $5.00 a month to start but I had better things to do and could make much more money in the law library typing briefs. All the jobs vary from institution to institution. Where I was there was close to a year wait on the UniCor entry list. Other places may be in need and start you off better due to that. The week and the weekends differ in the feds. If you work at the factory, you have the weekends off. Most of the other jobs are similar. Again, everything depends on the institution you are at.

3. How awful is the food? Canteen?

The food varies greatly by instituation. I was at the medium security institution in Beaumont, TX. It is one of the new "no frills" cookie cutter prisons where the food is ok but not great. I have heard that many of the East Coast and other older prisons have great food but Beaumont leaves a lot to be desired. BUT.. all the fed prisons are much better than what they feed someone in the state prisons. (Again, from what I hear. I have not been to the state joints but I know a lot of people that have) The commissary is alright. I think you coud spend a max of $375.00 per month there but this probably varies from one instituation to the next. Just because they are Federal Prisons does not mean they are all ran the same. The wardens decide on much of what you can have.

4. At a minimum security place can you actually go outside when you want to?

At the camps (which are the lowest security - and what you will most likely get if you have no criminal record & you aren't facing a LONG term.. Like 10 years.. ) you can leave the perimiter with permission. There are no fences surrounding them. This also depends heavily on the institution you are placed at but some campers may actually drive vans and vehicles from place to place depending on the area. My girlfriend worked on an Airforce base driving a fork lift. They would also leave the base escorted to do various things in the community. Being at a camp gives you much more freedom than being at a LOW, Medium and definitely a USP.

5. Are the beds those little flimsy pads? My back is bad and they kill me.

Again, these vary greatly based upon the institution. You have a much greater chance of getting a nice bed by being placed at a camp. At the medium security I was at we had those bed mats you often see in the county jails. They were a little better but not much. Guys I have spoken to at the camps tell me they have an actual mattress and a spring bed. When I was at the FDC in Houston, TX. we had material mattresses on top of steel bunks. I've heard the best about the East Coast Prison housing.. Often, if you have back problems, the doctors will write you a note so that you can get a special pad or bed.

6. How often do you meet good people inside who can help each other once you get out? Im a professional guy who is about to have his name forever dirtied. Would be good to have some other professionals who know Im not necessarily a dirtbag and could help out with work and stuff.

You will be surprised at how many white collared criminals are there. One of my better friends got popped for a $600 million SEC violation. You would never have guessed he would ever see the inside of a prison. Since he got 35 years, he was doing his time at the medium security. Don't consider yourself a dirt bag. Depending on what type of prof. you are, you may even be able to get back into the game. I love the moral turpitude clause. An attorney I was friends with got his license back after 5 years since he had already been a counselor. Myself on the other hand, can never get a law license.. I am sure that goes for a lot of fields. In time you will decide if there are people you want to hook up with on the outside. There are many that are VERY connected. They could help. Others could hinder.. You will have to decide that when the time comes..

7. Anything else you can mention?

There are a million things but the important ones are most likely already in this forum. What to take, etc.

Thanks a lot. My time may be short here...

J

Hope this helps.. Feel free to ask more in this thread, etc..

Thats a really great response. Thanks so much. I have a few follow-up questions.


1. Never heard of the 40 hour drug program. Whats the deal with it?

2. You were able to do paralegal type training in there? Thats what Im somewhat interested in since I am a computer guy charged with drug crimes and will probably be not so hireable when I get out. I dont really know for sure I am going, but from what I have read guilt or innocence means next to nothing and the hugely vast majority do time. Its my first offense, charged with about a level 16 offense right now, if they dont change it.

3. I know they have to keep me within 500 miles from home, but how much say do I really have in where I go? Someone told me in county that I can request a facility? Is Allenwood booked through 2012?

4. How can I find out about particular institutions in my area and the particularities of each? I ordered the 2000 guidebook but I might be going back inside before it gets here. Any resources online? I live in MA and would (I think) qualify for minumum since I have no priors, no violence, and its a max 5 year sentence.

Thanks very much... youre the only one really helping out without asking for $$$.

J

jdm...glad you found pto. this is a great place to find answers, support, and wonderful people! i don't know the first thing about federal prisons, but, as you can see from fed-xes response, many people here do! welcome!

jdm -
keep us posted on everything. we're here for you!

jdm ~
Just wanted to jump in and say my husband is in a similar situation as you are. He's sentenced July 19th to Federal. He's at a level 18 right now, but we're hoping for a 5 K to offset some of it. I've been doing as much research as possible, too, and found PTO to be an enormous resource.

Fed-X ~ your answers were great, helped us out, too! It's so hard not knowing what to expect, what you can and can't ask for, etc. Any and all information makes this road a bit easier to walk. THANKS!!

Good luck, jdm. Keep us posted on your situation. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Colleen

thank you David

JDM,

Davids answer was excelent. I've never done time in a fed pen, but I have a couple of friends who have. I asked them to read davids post to see if there was anything they could add, & they both said no, that he pretty much covered it all. David is right about the prisons inside a system (fed, state, or county jail) they vary from joint to joint, but with davids post you get the idea.-----Ken

Originally posted by jdm
Thats a really great response. Thanks so much. I have a few follow-up questions.


1. Never heard of the 40 hour drug program. Whats the deal with it?

2. You were able to do paralegal type training in there? Thats what Im somewhat interested in since I am a computer guy charged with drug crimes and will probably be not so hireable when I get out. I dont really know for sure I am going, but from what I have read guilt or innocence means next to nothing and the hugely vast majority do time. Its my first offense, charged with about a level 16 offense right now, if they dont change it.

3. I know they have to keep me within 500 miles from home, but how much say do I really have in where I go? Someone told me in county that I can request a facility? Is Allenwood booked through 2012?

4. How can I find out about particular institutions in my area and the particularities of each? I ordered the 2000 guidebook but I might be going back inside before it gets here. Any resources online? I live in MA and would (I think) qualify for minumum since I have no priors, no violence, and its a max 5 year sentence.

Thanks very much... youre the only one really helping out without asking for $$$.

J

Good luck jdm..I'm sure your relieved to find some of the answers you were looking for!

is there way to find out and how to get help my husband get proled

Originally posted by jdm
Thats a really great response. Thanks so much. I have a few follow-up questions.


1. Never heard of the 40 hour drug program. Whats the deal with it?

I believe the 40 hour drug program is usually court ordered during sentencing. You have to complete it prior to your release.

2. You were able to do paralegal type training in there? Thats what Im somewhat interested in since I am a computer guy charged with drug crimes and will probably be not so hireable when I get out. I dont really know for sure I am going, but from what I have read guilt or innocence means next to nothing and the hugely vast majority do time. Its my first offense, charged with about a level 16 offense right now, if they dont change it.

At most institutions you can get classes such as paralegal training. In most cases they are taught by other inmates but often they are attorneys that are doing time. You will ALWAYS find a lot of "legal begals" or "writ writers" at every institution that claim to know everything, or were professionals in the free world. Be cautious and take time to learn the facts.. There is a old saying that applies heavily in prison.. "Believe half of what you see, and nothing that you hear"... until proven anyways.. Back to being a Paralegal. You can get outside correspondence classes from a number of places in addition to any training on the inside. As for your Drug Charges, you would be surprised just how many employers don't sweat drugs as much as they do other things

3. I know they have to keep me within 500 miles from home, but how much say do I really have in where I go? Someone told me in county that I can request a facility? Is Allenwood booked through 2012?

First, they DO NOT have to keep you within 500 miles. They generally try to but I know of many guys who were from California that were in Beaumont, TX. because the B.O.P. had just opened the facility and wanted to put them there. Keep in mind also that if you get a disciplinary transfer, they like to move you across the country for punishment. In the Feds you are able to request a facility. The best thing is to get the Federal Judge to recommend it during sentencing. It does not mean you will go there but the B.O.P. does try and follow his recommendations whenever possible. Also, once you are doing your time, you can request a transfer every 18 months but the B.O.P. is getting a lot more stringent on people moving. The main reason you will get a transfer is to get closer to family. Why would you think Allenwood is booked through 2012?

4. How can I find out about particular institutions in my area and the particularities of each? I ordered the 2000 guidebook but I might be going back inside before it gets here. Any resources online? I live in MA and would (I think) qualify for minumum since I have no priors, no violence, and its a max 5 year sentence.

I have a the 2000 Edition Federal Prison Guidebook but I find the information inside very "general". I can look up some info for you if you like. I think you may also qualify for a camp but can't say for sure.

Thanks very much... youre the only one really helping out without asking for $$$.

J

Never a problem. My aplogies for the delayed response.

David

I'm sorry this might sound like a stupid question! But I'm curious since you see in alot of prisons like the toilet can be seen like with others and stuff! But what if people can't go cause of fear and stress and to releive themselves in such a way to the public like that! Some even has it as serious as death if they don't go cause of mental constipations (I know it's stupid but they do exist!) Just curious if it's like what he said above about doctors giving people better beds cause of bad backs and so on!

I want to thank Fed X for all of his helpful posts. They are extremely helpful.
My son is awaiting sentencing and we are hoping for a camp. I have read that others have had psychologicals done since they have small children to assist in downward departure? I don't understand how that would help with sentencing.
I do understand the importance of the pre-sentence report and the drug program but wasn't aware if there was any other means in which to assist with decrease sentencing time?
If there was a gun present during arrest with drug chrages..but not being charged with a gun charge it still effects the sentencing doesn't it?
Thanks for any assistance and words of wisdom! Tessa

Lets see what I can do to answer you questions.





Hope this helps.. Feel free to ask more in this thread, etc..
My husband said they lost his clothes in the laundry and he had to buy new ones. Is that really true? Don't they just issue you a uniform or something?