Forbes Magazine has compiled a list of the five "best" federal prisons. It includes a slide show with a picture of the front of each facility and tells why it is supposed to be a good prison (if there is such a thing).

Here is a link to the list: http://www.forbes.com/2002/09/13/0913prison.html

Here is the list of the top five:
Elgin, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Nellis, North Las Vegas, Nevada
Morgantown, Morgantown, West Virgina
Otisville, Otisville, New York
Allenwood, Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Anybody know how accurate their descriptions are?

I can tell you that Federal Cure has fired off a response to them in answer to some of the things that were said in their article. Forbes is trying to make the federal prisons out to be country clubs and Federal Cure is livid about it. They are giving the wrong impression about what the prisons are really like.

I guess it is the old "Let's keep the public in the dark about what is really going on so that they will continue to think that everyone in prison is in a country club and shouldn't be complaining".

I had not heard anything from CURE. I actually heard about this list on "Wait, Wait" on NPR this afternoon.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing !

Andrés

instead they should publish a "WORST" prison list with descriptins and pictures and all!

Did anyone else notice that every single one of them is over the population capacity? I agrre with Amelia! I'd love to see that list.

Hey was any from Wisconsin on the list??????????

The article from Forbes is a joke. There is no such thing as a "best" federal prison. Granted, some facilities are better than others and it is due to the security level of the institution. Regardless of the location or security level, a prison is still a prison whether it be a camp or another security level.
I have to agree with the previous post from Oregonyellowros that this article is just another method of keeping the public in the dark. We were all in the dark at one time also, prior to the time that our loved ones were incarcerated. My fiance', who is in a low security federal facility, was told prior to his sentencing that he would be going to a facility that was like a "resort" or "summer camp". He was convinced that he could work out all day long and play on the computer. The pre-sentence officer failed to mentioned a concept called "timed movement". I honestly believe that some of these pre-sentencing officers have never visited these facilities given their descriptions of these institutions.
Even in the lowest security level institution, there are still rules and regulations, which by the way- seem to change daily depending on the Warden. The inmates are still isolated from the general public and their families. There is limited visitation as in the other facilities and limited movement within the compound.
This is not my idea of a "country club".
I guess ignorance is bliss and one wouldn't know unless they have been there. We have all been there, so to speak, and that is why we are posting on this site.
Cheryl in Louisiana