Here is a list of questions people have asked me and my answers based on 2 years incarceration as an inmate of one federal prison camp in the United States.
How long does it take before you can use the commissary, make a phone call and have visitors?
Use of commissary, phone and having visitors happen within a week.
For example, I self surrendered on a Monday, purchased items in the commissary on Tuesday, called my wife on Thursday and she was able to visit on Saturday.
Do the federal prison camps have music equipment?
Yes, the prison camp I was in had a piano, a keyboard, 2 guitars, 1 electric guitar, and sound equipment which were kept in the chapel or recreation room.
Where do you keep your valuables and things?
You will be provided a locker to keep your things in but you will need to buy a combination lock from the commissary to secure it.
Do inmates have access to computers or email?
No computer access. (I was able to work on a computer for my work detail as garage clerk but there was no internet hookup for emailing.)
My handwriting is bad, my daughter asked if I will be able to send letters typed?
Yes, typewriters are available for use in the library. The way they had it set up where I was is that you purchased a type writer ribbon in the commissary to use on the typewriter.
Hi, I have a friend in camp, he is there 16 nonths now with about 6 ro go. He says he dosent feel like writing or calling ( he does call his kids and mom) is this normal? i write and write and he dosent respond until i get mad or he calls to thank me for books i sent and says he will call next week andnever does is this normal? does he want me to keep in touch ? or just get lost? thanks for yo help
Hi Joan,
To answer your first two questions “is this normal”, YES IT IS. But it has nothing to do with you, it’s a man thing.
You have made the effort to stay in touch but it’s clear that he does not.
To answer your last two questions, I would just ask him directly, then you will know for sure.
I was thrilled to get letters from friends, calls were limited and expensive but I always made sure to write and thanked them for their friendship and support. That’s a true friend!
Do wealthy inmates at federal minimum security prisons allowed to use their money to purchase items that are not available at the prison commissary?
Laptops, cell phones, book clubs, Walkmans, iPods, etcetera.
Is there an online site that lists allowed and disallowed priviledges?
An email response would be appreciated. codom19@bellsouth.net
The answer to the first question, the answer is NO, there is no special treatment.
To answer the second question, I would have to say NO because at present I do not know of any.
Rights and privileges along with rules are provided to each inmate at time of incarceration and applies to that specific institution.
There is a basic set of rules in the prison system but each warden has their own set of rules as well.
Do you think that an inmate would appreciate the fact that an officer treats them with respect - like saying good afternoon - hello and of course the normal please and thank you? Is it a good thing to for a correctional officer to be kind to the inmates and be themselves with caution of course? I hear so many horror stories about how inmates get back at officers but I think that it is because the officers treat the inmate like they are less human.
Hi Anna,
Yes, inmates do like officers who show them respect.
Yes, I believe it to be a good thing for officers to be kind and be cautious.
Your last statement is right on target, it’s no different than in society, people tend to stay away from people who mistreat them but it is equally true for those who respect each others, they will befriend you and help out when you need help.
Ricky
My brother is in the pre-sentenceing phase. I have been in contact with the federal probation officier and we still have an attorney engaged. What measures can I take to help him get in a minimal security camp….we where thinking Yankton, SD…do you know anything about this prison.
Thanks!
Hello Mary,
Prison camps are usually reserved for first time offenders, for those who only have a short sentence and also for some who are transfered from low and medium because of their sentence ending soon, that’s my understanding.
It also depends on the crime a person is convicted of because certain crimes and the BOP guidelines that follow dictate where and how a person is to be incarcerated.
As to what measures you can take, my suggestion is to just ask and when it comes down to the sentencing, ask the judge to be in a certain location. In my case I ask to be incarcerated in Louisiana close to my family and Praise God I was.
The location of where he will be depends a lot on availability, I say that because of the overcrowding in the prison system.
Regarding Yankton, SD. Sorry I have no knowledge of that facility.
Rickey,
What is the determining factor if a person gets to go to a halfway house?
I don’t think there is any determining factor, it’s just part of the BOP process.
Typically it works out to be one month half way house for each year an inmates is incarcerated.
Hi. From what I have read of your site (and by the way, thank you so much for the information you posted, it’s helped me feel a bit better) you are a religious man, and that’s fine by me. I want to ask a question and I hope you’ll indulge me even if perhaps your beliefs don’t agree.
I am gay and my partner just recently had to do a self turn in. I don’t think I need to say how devastating it was, for both of us. My question is in regards to visitation and letters. The lady at the front desk informed me, even after I stated that we were married, that he would have to mail the forms to me and then I’d have to have a background check done.
From what I understand in your blog post, that is the procedure for friends, not spouses. Does the BOP recognize gay marriage (I’m not here to make a civil rights case, I just want to know)? More importantly, if I do have to wait for him to mail this to me and then for the background check to be done, how long should I expect that to take? Does he have to earn money inside before he can mail me?
Thanks again for a very informative site. Though it’s not a great time in our lives, it does help my piece of mind.
Mike, each new inmate goes into the prison system with a file called a PSI, it’s a pre-sentencing report of information consisting basically of your immediate family like wife, kids, parents, siblings and where they live among other things. Now because they are on the PSI, they automatically become approved to visit. Anyone not on the PSI does have to submit a visitors form to be approved.
I have know clue about BOP policy regarding your unique situation.
The visitors form is usually processed within a week or so provided the Bop staff moves on it quickly.
In responce to mailing, if he had no funds going in then yes, he will have to waite for funds in order to buy stamps from the commissary and that can take a few months depending on work detail assignment and pay periods. But if he went in with some money it should only take a week or so.
Thank you for visiting and the words of thanks, greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your speedy response.
In fact, I was with him when that report was written (in our case, it was a Post-Sentence Report, which I hear is rather unique) and I believe I was included along with his immediate family.
The situation we ran into was the fact that Virginia does not recognize gay marriage of course, and so, if I was added on as a spouse, would I still be recognized.
Anyway, thank you again. I’ll be trying to send him some money here as soon as my job starts up, I just can’t stand the thought of him being so utterly alone, even among all the other inmates.
Thanks again,
-mike
It’s a sure bet that if the state or federal will not recognize it, neither will the BOP.
Well, luckily enough, New Jersey (where Fort Dix is) recognizes civil unions, so perhaps that’ll be good enough for the BOP.
Best of luck to you both!
Thank you again, I can’t say that enough, and the same to you!
Hey, me again, I was wondering, what do you think the other inmates’ perspective will be if and when they find out that he is gay? Are they as judgmental in there, as people are out here? Thanks in advance
Let me just say that he is better off in a prison camp than a prison. I say that because in a camp there are many rules and guidlines that inmates must follow in order to have that privilege, any violations and they are removed from camp and put in prison (fighting for example is an automatic removal).
When he is found out, the whole camp will know quickly because of gossip.
Yes, the other inmates will be just as judgemental, some will be mean (like high school behavior) and others will pay him no mind and leave him alone because camp inmates tend to keep to themselves.
I see. Well, I guess that’s to be expected. I don’t know if he’s in the camp or the main facility (which is low security). If I send mail to the main facility and he is in the camp, will it still get to him? Thanks again, for your help
I suggest that you wait for him to send you a letter first because each letter going into the prison has to have the correct address (prison camp or prison) and must have the inmate’s registration number, otherwise it will be sent back. If you happen to talk with him on the phone, ask for the mailing address and his registration number.
Certainly, but, I included all the necessary information, only thing I didn’t know was “camp” or “FCI”. I’m anxiously awaiting a phone call, but have not yet received one. So, I guess that’s all for now. Thanks for the response.
Always write Federal Prison Camp (full address) because acronyms and abbreviations are not always welcomed and may be rejected.
Oh, right, I should have clarified, I did in fact write out the full name “Federal Correctional Institute” but I still wasn’t sure whether it should have been the satellite camp or that. Anyway, I’ll find out soon enough.
Also, will they notify him that money has been put into his account, or does he have to ask?
Yes, do write camp on it, it speeds the sorting of mail for the officers.
When it comes to checking commissary accounts and funds, the BOP has something like a teller machine that each inmate has access to which provides them the basic information. Very convenient! Yes, they did provide a print out before the machines were installed.
Ok, then I guess I have no choice but to sit back and wait for a call. Thanks for your help. I’m going stir crazy over not hearing from him, but, once I do hopefully things will smooth out a bit. Thanks again
Yes, be patient, it’s not him delaying things, it’s the system.
Hi, me again, still haven’t heard from my partner. I had another question.
If, in the plea deal he took, he was supposed to pay the feds $100 dollars as part of some stupid fine, and he doesn’t have the money to pay it yet, will they take that money from his account?
In other words, if I sent him some money to be able to call me, would they just take all of it straight from his account, making as though I had never sent him a dime?
I wonder this because I still haven’t heard from him and stress is starting to eat away at my nerves. Please answer soon, if you know how that goes. Thanks as always
Yes, if any type of restitution is to be paid they will take a percentage out of his account but not all of it and he will be informed of it, sort of a payment plan.
So he should have at least something in there, okay. Thank you, once again
Mike, did he go in with some funds to start with?
No, not to start with. Two days later I transferred a fairly decent sum through the BOP’s recommended site (western union). Since then I’ve heard nothing.
Whoa, was his registration number included with the information?
Yes, I already have it memorized and it was definitely included when I submitted the funds.
Good! Another thing that could possibly be delaying him is isolation. I have heard that some prisons place new inmates in a cell for a couple of weeks or so for processing and medical testing before introducing them to the prison population. The only other thing I would suggest is calling the institution.
Man, that would be awful, I hope they didn’t do that. He does have a few medical issues, lots of medication he has to take for his back, but I don’t see how that might be delaying him. I was thinking of calling, but if they people who answer are anything like the lady at the front desk when we arrived, then it won’t be worth it.
We walk in, nervous, scared and depressed, and my partner hands the lady his letter that says he has to turn himself in, and she gives him this look, shifts her plate of food aside, and just stares. So he says, “do you need this?” and she goes, “yes, but you reached over my food…” like he had called her a dirty name or something.
Anyway, thanks for all your help once again, I have to head out so if I hear anything I’ll post (if only to make myself feel better). Take it easy, sir, and thank you once more.
Hi, just out of curiosity, you wouldn’t happen to know if I could check my partner’s account balance online, would you?
That would be a NO.
Ok
When I mail in my Visitor’s Information form, on the back where it has the mailing address, there is a line that says:
“Attn: Counselor__________, Unit__________”
What do I fill in here, or do I need to at all?
Normally inmates ask for a visitors form from the counselor and that area is already filled out. Inmates see a counselor in camp for paperwork and other general request if they need something. Unit can be “camp” or “area designation” depending on the size of the camp (careful, mailing information that is not complete can further delay things or possibly be discarded).
Ok, I will wait for him to write or call, I did ask him already so I think he’s going to try and find out. Thanks
If I send in my visitor’s info form, would I be allowed to send it to my partner and have him turn it in to his counselor for me, or does it have to be directly addressed to the counselor?
Mail it to the counselor.
Hi, my brother is self surrendering in another month and I just wanted to know if you know anything about the “drug program” that certain inmates are eligible to apply for. I hear that it knocks off about a year for the inmates sentence and six months halfway house. I would just like to know how it works and if it really takes off that much time. Thanks in advance. Your site has relieved me of alot of stress.
Charles, you are correct, the drug progams do reduce time considerably as you heard but there is a waiting list and requires a transfer to the facilities providing the program. The wait could be a few months to a year. Have your brother check into it during his first team review or when he talks with the case worker.
Rickey,
Thanks for the quick response. I would like to know if the waiting list cuts off on the time that will be reduced from the sentence, since Im sure it will be a pretty long line. And how hard is it to get into the program?
Charles, Sorry but the waiting list is just waitng for a spot to open and does not count on that time. Getting into the drug program is just a matter of asking but its up to the BOP, the case manager and camp administration to decide based on your personal case and behavior.