Federal Inmates are people incarcerated under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, who we assist in navigating their way through its system of prisons and jails. Our firm helps people successfully navigate it.
Uncle Sam outsources some prison management to private firms; these Residential Reentry Centers or “halfway houses” serve to prepare inmates for release upon being released from incarceration.
Intake Process
Inmate intake refers to the process by which individuals entering federal prison are evaluated and informed of its rules, regulations, and programs. This step in the process can play an integral part of life inside prison – from housing assignments to phone privileges.
At intake, inmates meet with various staff members for interviews and forms fill-out. These forms help staff track inmates’ progression through the institution and will become part of his central file. Prisoners also must attend an A&O session and health services interview – inmates answering staff inquiries regarding mental health and drug abuse history at this session will answer questions from staff about themselves – this provides prisoners with the chance to show that they’ve made every effort at being forthcoming about themselves; lying could result in dire repercussions in the future.
After attending his A&O interview, an inmate will attend a Unit Team Meeting where members of their unit team will become familiar with his background and make any adjustments necessary for him to succeed within the prison system. This initial program review also serves as a baseline, or set of goals he should strive towards throughout his time spent behind bars.
Once an inmate has completed his initial classification and IFRP payment process, staff will create an individualized financial plan designed to encourage those incarcerated with outstanding debts to pay their fines and restitution obligations.
Inmates will also undergo an initial dental evaluation, giving them an opportunity to address any concerns regarding dental care and treatment in prison. Furthermore, all inmates must complete a Health Services questionnaire and undergo tuberculosis testing and receive an eye, ear, hearing and weight check as part of this evaluation process.
Once an inmate has completed the intake process, they will be endorsed and transferred to a federal prison based on various guidelines such as level of security, case considerations, cumulative case summary etc. Once accepted for placement at their new institution, transportation will be provided and an available bed awaits them at their new institution.
Housing Assignments
Once an inmate has been admitted into prison, staff members assign him or her living quarters that can either be cells or dormitories depending on the institution – with dorms being used at lower security facilities such as Federal prison camps and low-security Federal correctional institutions, while cells may be used at medium and higher-security institutions like Federal penitentiaries and Special Housing Units.
Most prisoners prefer living in a cell over dorms for several reasons. A bunk configuration can make people feel overcrowded while cells offer privacy and a sense of self-dwelling. Cell sizes vary widely but generally contain bunk beds (at USPs) or two-man rooms, a freestanding toilet/sink combination unit, as well as a frosted window through which no one can see out.
People living in shared cells may choose their roommates in order to help transition more easily into prison life. However, should staff members identify anyone as posing an unnecessary risk to society they may isolate them permanently.
Housing units will be allocated according to various factors and formulae. A judge’s recommendation does not always affect this process, though the Board of Pardons must take this recommendation into consideration before making its final determination.
As an example, anyone with a history of violence or gang affiliation could pose a potential threat to other inmates and will therefore be placed into an SHU by the BOP.
Prisoners can request specific locations within an institution; however, the BOP reserves the right to deny such requests as they could hinder its ability to ensure safety, security, and control.
Prisoners wishing to avoid proximity with known gang members, for instance, often request a far-off location within their facility. Unfortunately, however, this may not always be possible because these facilities tend to be overcrowded with limited staff resources available – this may force someone into an alternative facility which offers lesser services, or may force them into travelling greater distances for work or school related obligations.
Phone Privileges
Telephone calls between Federal inmates and their loved ones are one of the best ways for loved ones to remain in contact. Federal prisoners are permitted a maximum of 300 minutes of phone use each month (plus 400 during November/December due to holiday seasons), plus 400 extra minutes during November and December due to holiday seasons. Each inmate has access to a Smart card which can be used to activate calls and is linked with their ITS account so they can access money for calls. All calls are monitored and recorded for security. Calls placed from within prisons or jails by inmates to their attorneys are protected under attorney-client privilege, so calls initiated by inmates cannot be recorded or monitored. Calling providers that serve inmates must identify themselves to those receiving them, disclose rates before connecting calls and inform of them what might happen during a call if one were connected; should someone feel that an overcharge has occurred, they can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Prior to the introduction of pay phones in federal prisons, inmates had limited telephone privileges which were monitored on an individual basis by staff. Any calls made from outside sources attempting to request illegal drugs or weapons; or discussing criminal activities either inside or outside prison walls were often reported directly to law enforcement authorities – often for contacting outside sources for illegal drugs or weapons requests or discussing criminal activity within or without prison walls were often reported as necessary by prison administrators in order to maintain good order within their institution over any concerns of privacy from inmates over conversations they might have about outside contacts made from outsiders or discussing criminal activities within or without prison was seen as necessary in maintaining good order within institutions more than any such private conversations may cause individuals might feel.
In 1997, BOP headquarters distributed a field guide for wardens and SIS staff on how to monitor inmate telephone conversations. It advised institutions’ monitoring operations to identify individuals likely to use their phone privileges for illegal or disruptive purposes such as drug dealing or escape plotting through three-way calling or multiple calls at once; additionally it noted how inmates should be prevented from making multiple simultaneous calls that may be difficult to track.
Although some courts have upheld prisoners’ right to reasonable restrictions on their telephone usage, many continue to believe that under the First Amendment’s free speech clause they have unrestricted access to phones. Prisoners wishing to limit who they can contact must first seek permission from an associate warden, then sign an undertaking that calls will only be made for permissible reasons within institution policy or guidelines.
Education
Education is an invaluable asset in breaking cycles of criminal behavior and public assistance program dependency. The Bureau has long offered educational opportunities to people incarcerated; research shows that those who complete postsecondary degrees while incarcerated tend to experience lower recidivism rates upon release from prison, making their completion of postsecondary degrees an integral component of helping them build productive lives after being released.
At most BOP facilities, inmates have access to an extensive array of academic and vocational courses available to them, from basic literacy classes that aim to raise reading levels up to 8th grade level; GED preparation programs; career development classes which help prepare inmates for employment upon release; as well as targeted programs such as English as a Second Language classes or parenting education sessions.
Inmates may take correspondence courses through the United States Postal Service that deliver real credentials and valuable learning experiences – though these might not compare with on-campus college classes in terms of effectiveness. Furthermore, inmates can enroll in Advanced Continuing Education classes that count towards an associate’s degree degree.
The Bureau of Prisons is working to expand access to college courses within prison walls, with an eye on offering bachelor’s degrees through Second Chance Pell grants. Colleges provide financial aid at prisons across the country. A recent study discovered that many prisoners do not receive adequate information from their colleges regarding eligibility for Pell grants, how their tuition and fees are spent or cost of attendance calculations.
Educators and policymakers must make changes that ensure federal inmates have access to higher education that will empower them upon release and help lay a firm foundation for future success in their communities. By increasing opportunities to earn degrees while in prison, we can reduce recidivism rates as well as decrease society’s burden by the burdensome prison system. By developing evidence-based national programs we can enhance quality education while giving more inmates an opportunity for higher education during incarceration.