Incarceration in Federal Prison—The real nitty gritty!

Jan. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- Prison isn’t easy, it isn’t nice and it certainly isn’t a place you should take lightly, no matter how tough you think you are. Even the toughest person soon learns how tough he really is when he enters federal prison. Prisons in the United States are classified into two main types. The first type is a federal prison which incarcerates individuals convicted of federal crimes. Currently the population in federal prisons exceeds 207,000 inmates and is steadily increasing. The second and by far the largest group are state prisons and those offenders who violate state laws are detained in this group. It doesn’t matter which prison you are entering, you won’t like it, that I guarantee. You immediately lose all control, all freedoms, and you are at the mercy of the system.


Federal prisons are divided into four different levels based on security and custody classifications. If you are sentenced to prison and are a non-violent, first time offender, the chances are you will be going to a Federal Prison Camp (FPC) if the length of your sentence is under ten years. A Federal Prison Camp is a minimum security, community custody facility. It allows the inmate the most latitude and least restrictions of all federal facilities. ”Even though it is the least restrictive”, says Robin Stover, Federal Prison Consultant for the Prison Consulting Group, ”it is no Club Fed.” Stover explained that Club Fed, the tennis courts, and swimming pool do not exist anymore. Stover said the days of a slap on the wrist, probation, a trip to Club Fed, and/or home confinement are over for white-collar defendants. New laws, stiffer penalties, and more vigorous prosecution of white-collar criminals all combine for longer sentences and higher security designations for white-collar criminals.


The next level of confinement is a low security federal prison followed by a medium security and then a high or maximum security institution called a United States Penitentiary, USP. As you progress up the ladder several things occur. First, any control you may have had disappears. Second, your confinement becomes more intense and restrictive. Third, your quarters change from dormitory housing with 2, 3, or 4 man cubicles to very restrictive and small 2 or 3 man cells with mandatory lockdown times. Fourth, the overall make up of the facility increases in security and stature with cement walls, gun towers, electrified fencing, internal detection technology, and a larger guard to inmate ratio. Finally, as you progress up the ladder you increase your chances of getting raped, beaten, and assaulted by gangs and institutionalized inmates.


Prison is an extremely volatile environment with several different political, racial, and cultural groups ruling the compound on any given day. The warden of the prison is the ultimate ruler and authoritarian of the prison followed by the Captain who has complete say over all security issues. He can send you to the Special Housing Unit (SHU or HOLE) at his whim—he doesn’t even need a reason. His Lieutenants follow his dictates and should be avoided at all costs. As a matter of fact it is best to avoid the Warden, Captain, and the Lieutenants as best you can. ”Keeping a low profile and keeping under the radar is the best way to survive in prison”, comments Robin Stover. Stover has counseled and coached defendants headed to all levels of prisons although he specializes in counseling and preparing white collar criminals for their journey to prison.


Stover counsels criminal defendants on what to do, what to say, and how to act in federal prison. He keeps them educated, safe, and secure. He helps them make the transition from life on the outside to life inside a federal prison. He not only prepares them for prison life, but also prepares them for sentence reduction programs such as the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program also referred to as RDAP. He also teaches his clients the do’s and don’ts of prison life. He sums it up best in his fifteen Unwritten Rules of Prison Behavior which are available on his website www.prisonconsultinggroup.com and in the book, Jail Time, What you need to know…Before you go to federal prison! You can order the book or the Unwritten Rules by calling Stover at 727-678-4400 or emailing him at robin@prisonconsultinggroup.com.


Stover’s work doesn’t stop there though. He assists inmates already in prison with furloughs, transfers, Administrative Remedy Appeals, restitution issues, incident reports, Mother & Infant Nurturing Together (MINT) program, RDAP eligibility and admission, halfway house assistance, Second Chance Act placement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issues, as well as assistance and consultation on the Bureau of Prisons’ Compassionate Release Program and the Commutation of Sentence Program.


Defendants not yet in prison are assisted with Pre-Sentencing Investigation Interview preparation, judicial recommendations, letters to the judge, self-surrender assistance, designation choices (finding the best possible prison for the client), and setting up visiting, telephone, email, and letter communications before the defendant arrives at prison. This allows the inmate visits, mail, email, and telephone privileges almost immediately rather than waiting weeks.


Prison isn’t easy. There are gangs, factions, beatings, stabbings, and fights. You need to prepare, you need to be ready. The more you know, the better you will be able to survive and handle the situation. A good federal prison consultant like Robin Stover and a company like the Prison Consulting Group can prepare you for your time in prison.

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Robin Stover is a nationally recognized Federal Prison Consultant and the founder of the Prison Consulting Group (PCG). As a Federal Prison Consultant with PCG, Robin is recognized as an authority in pre-and post-conviction strategy, positioning, preparation, and education. Robin is knowledgeable in all facets of federal prison life and with the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) rules, regulations, and program statements.

PCG prepares clients for admission to the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program which offers up to a 12 month sentence reduction and a 6 month halfway house designation. We also provide assistance with designations, judicial recommendations, transfers, furloughs, A R Appeals, Second Chance Act submissions, MINT program requests, restitution, ICE issues, and the BOP's Compassionate Release and Commutation of Sentence Program.

Prison Consulting Group offers the prison preparation course titled, "How to Survive Federal Prison", go to http://prisonconsultinggroup.com.