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Practical Information for Those Facing Time in Federal Prison

This guide provides practical information for individuals facing time in federal prison, including details about federal institutions, security levels, medical care, sentence computations, and eligibility for early release.

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Practical Information for Those Facing Time in Federal Prison

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  1. Practical Information for Those Facing Time in Federal Prison Mike Gorman Office of Federal Public Defender El Paso, TX

  2. BOP Quick Facts 122 Institutions 13 Private Contract Correctional Institutions Total BOP Inmate Population: 196,134 16 Designated for Female Offenders FPC Alderson, FCI Aliceville, FPC Bryan, FMC Carswell SPC Coleman, SPC Danbury, FCI Dublin, SPC Greenville, SFF Hazelton, SPC Lexington, SPC Marianna, SPC Phoenix, FCI Tallahassee, SCP Tucson, SPC Victorville, FCI Waseca

  3. Initial Designation Process • USMS sends designation packet that includes the J&C, SOR and PSR to DSCC. • Judicial recommendations are a factor considered during the designation process.

  4. Security Level Determination • Classification is used to place each inmate in the most appropriate security level institution. • BOP facilities are classified into Minimum, Low, Medium, High, & Administrative facilities based upon the level of security and staff supervision the institution is able to provide. • Initial security designation data is entered into Sentry based upon information contained within the PSR.

  5. Classification • Detainers/Pending Charges • Pre-Commitment Status (VS = minus 3 points) • Judicial Recommendations • Violence History • Escape History • Months to Release • Offense Severity • Criminal History Score - (derived from the criminal history points in final judgment & SOR. If not in either document, BOP uses points assessed by USPO in PSR.)

  6. Initial Designation ProcessUpon arrival at a BOP facility. . . After initial designation and provisional care level assignment by DSCC staff, BOP clinicians determine care level based on: • Treatment requirements; • Inmate functionality; and • Diagnostic categories (e.g., cancer, diabetes, etc.) Based on care level assessment, the institution may request a transfer if needed.

  7. Medical Care Levels Level 1- Generally healthy and under 70 Level 2- Stable outpatients (diabetes, epilepsy, etc.) Level 3- Fragile outpatients (cancer in remission, end-stage liver disease, etc.) Level 4- aired, may require daily nursing care (cancer in active treatment, dialysis, etc.)

  8. Medical Centers (Care Level 4) • FMC Butner, North Carolina • FMC Carswell, Texas • FMC Devens, Massachusetts • FMC Lexington, Kentucky • FMC Rochester, Minnesota • MCFP Springfield, Missouri

  9. Designation Issues Place of confinement Consideration of classification level and: • Inmate’s care level • Inmate’s release residence • Inmate’s programming needs • Population levels at appropriate institutions • Recommendations of the sentencing court • Increased security measures to ensure protection of victims/witnesses and the public

  10. Sentencing Issues Sentencing Court Determines: • The length of the prison sentence; • How sentence runs in relation to other sentences, e.g., concurrent, consecutive, etc.: 18 U.S.C. § 3584(a) & Setser v. United States, --- U.S.---, 132 S.Ct. 1463 (2012) Bureau Determines: • Date of sentence commencement - 18 U.S.C. § 3585(a) • Prior custody credit - 18 U.S.C. § 3585(b) • Projected good conduct time - 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b) • Projected release date - 18 U.S.C. § 3624(a) • Place of incarceration - 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b)

  11. Sentence Computations- Basics When does the Sentence Commence? • 18 U.S.C. § 3585(a) - when defendant is received into custody at (or awaiting transport to) “facility at which sentence is to be served.” Prior Custody Credit - Calculated by the Bureau • 18 U.S.C. § 3585(b): Credit given for time in “official detention” • (b)(1) as a result of the current offense; or • (b)(2) any other offense for which defendant was arrested AFTER commission of current offense which has not been credited towards another sentence • *Immigration detention is not time served

  12. Sentence Computation Good Conduct Time (GCT) 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b) Available only for sentences longer than 1 year BOP awards 54 days GCT at the end of each year actually served The 54 days of GCT is equivalent to 14.79% off of a one-year and a day sentence

  13. RDAP Eligibility for Early Release Prisoners who successfully complete the RDAP may, at the discretion of the Director, be eligible for up to a one-year early release. • Must have no prior or current convictions for disqualifying offenses; • Satisfactory behavior in prison; and • Successful completion of all 3 components of RDAP

  14. RDAP Eligibility for Early ReleaseReview of Current & Prior Criminal History Reviews of all inmates entering program are conducted by DSCC Legal Staff. • Current offenses reviewed under 28 C.F.R. § 550.55(b)(5) and (b)(6) and PS 5162.05. • Prior offenses reviewed under 28 C.F.R. § 550.55(b)(4) and (b)(6). • D.C. Offenders reviewed under 28 C.F.R. § 550.55(a)(1)(ii).

  15. RDAP Locations • Spanish RDAP is expanding. The Bureau now has 2 Spanish language RDAP’s. • 89 RDAP programs at 77 locations.

  16. Community Confinement Residential Reentry Centers (RRC) • 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b): “Any order, recommendation, or request by a sentencing court that a convicted person serve a term of imprisonment in a community corrections facility shall have no binding effect on the authority of the Bureau under this section to determine or change the place of imprisonment of that person.” • 18 U.S.C. § 3624(c)(1): “The Director of the Bureau shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that a prisoner serving a term of imprisonment spends a portion of the final months of that term (not to exceed 12 months), under conditions that will afford that prisoner a reasonable opportunity to adjust to and prepare for the reentry of that prisoner into the community. Such conditions may include a community correctional facility.” Home Confinement (HC) - 18 U.S.C. § 3624(c)(2) • “The authority under this subsection may be used to place a prisoner in home confinement for the shorter of 10 percent of the term of imprisonment of that prisoner or 6 months.”

  17. QUESTIONS??? Office of the Federal Public Defender michael_gorman@fd.org

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