Kathryn Griffin, 53, leads an unconventional reentry program at the Harris County Jail in Houston for women who have been incarcerated for prostitution. Griffin’s mission to rehabilitate women who were living on the streets supporting their drug addictions by means of prostitution…
The Federal Bureau of Prisons houses approximately 188,000 inmates in over 200 federal prisons, prison camps, and private contract prisons. Tens of thousands more are housed in federal custody in jails and detention centers not directly operated by the federal prison system. Federal prisoners…
Prison can be a dangerous place, even in the best of circumstances. For inmates convicted of sex offenses, an ever-growing population within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, unique challenges and pitfalls exist beyond those experienced by the prison population as a whole.…
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers several vocational training and apprenticeship programs for inmates under their care. These programs are designed to teach inmates marketable skills they can use upon release to gain sustainable employment. While program offerings differ from institution…
People often use the terms “jail” and “prison” interchangeably in everyday conversation, but these terms refer to distinct types of correctional facilities with different purposes, administrative structures, and conditions. Understanding the differences between jail and prison can clarify how the criminal justice…
Federal prison inmates are now allowed to utilize an MP3 player service. This service operated through all Federal Bureau of Prisons’ institutional commissaries and the use of the Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System (TRULINCS), allows inmates to purchase 8 gigabyte MP3…
UNICOR — also known as Federal Prison Industries, Inc. — is a government-owned corporation operated within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). It utilizes factory plant managers who oversee inmate workers to produce products and provide services. For the most part, UNICOR…
This past February 25th, a panel of experts on solitary confinement converged at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to discuss the horrendous practice in our U.S. prisons that many call “cruel and unusual punishment.” While the panel detailed the disastrous effects such…
Civil libertarians and prisoner advocacy groups have expressed shock and outrage at the discovery that some Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices, used to monitor the movement and whereabouts of many pre-trial defendants, parolees, sex offenders, and other persons, function like cell…
Few things in this world anger me more than grown men who attack or torture small animals and think it’s acceptable. Sadly, I’m often reminded of how much I hate this occurrence due to the apparently large population of animal abusers who…
Perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of American society is our vast network of prison systems. Crime must be hindered, criminals must pay for their crimes, and prison is where we must confine them. But what if the person spending time in the…
Disciplinary infractions are a fact of life for inmates incarcerated within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Simply put, those incarcerated in federal prison will likely have to defend against incident reports at some point during their incarceration. Learning how to defend against…
An Australian named John Braithwaite wrote a book titled Prisons, Education, and Work. His book was published in 1980. In his book, Braithwaite presented a number of very cogent and persuasive ideas concerning prisoners and education. At the time Braithwaite wrote, the general consensus…
In an innovative move by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), federal inmates are now allowed to purchase MP3 players from their institution’s commissary and individual MP3 files through their housing unit’s Trust Fund Limited Inmate Communication System (TRULINCS) computers. This system…
Master the Word of God with Home Study that is Flexible and Affordable The Word of God is full of truth about unconditional love, overflowing joy, and perfect peace. But if you don’t know these Bible truths, chances are you’re not enjoying…
Mediation for victims of crimes, their families, and the offenders is a large part of finding restitution for the crime and having that crime reoccur. The Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, based in Fresno, California, is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides voluntary, non-fee…
The vast majority of inmates incarcerated within the Federal Bureau of Prisons will one day face a disciplinary proceeding. These proceedings could be the result of a serious allegation of misconduct (e.g., fighting or brewing alcohol) or a less serious allegation (e.g.,…
The New York-based Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) is one of the largest prison-based higher education programs of its kind. While serving their prison sentences, participants study rigorous coursework and work toward earning college degrees. The program offers access to higher education to…
After nearly 40 years of unprecedented growth, our nation’s expanding prison population has finally begun to sputter. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010 marked the first year since 1972 in which, taken together, state and federal correctional populations declined slightly…
By John Jay Powers Jack Powers is an inmate in the federal Bureau of Prisons convicted of bank robbery and escaping from prison. He spent more than a decade in extreme isolation at the ADX, where he amputated his fingers, earlobes, a testicle, and…
The concept of “criminogenic” is central to understanding what drives individuals toward criminal behavior—and, more importantly, how to prevent it. By exploring the meaning of criminogenic, identifying key criminogenic needs and risk factors, and examining the role of dynamic risk factors, we…
Following Sam Bankman Fried’s November 2, 2023, guilty jury verdicts, all eyes are turning toward his March 28, 2024, sentencing. Likewise, many are wondering where SBF will serve his time in federal prison. This article discusses the Bureau’s designation policies, likely facility…
Effective February 1, 2011, the Federal Bureau of Prisons instituted a national policy in regard to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) collection. This policy was promulgated under Program Statement #5311.01, entitled “Inmate DNA Sample Collection Procedures.” According to the Program Statement, “DNA analysis provides…
Everyone’s had frustrating work experiences. In those situations, it’s tempting to jump ship and work for someone else. In the heat of the moment, acquiring and redistributing closely held knowledge to a competitor can seem like a good idea. However, it constitutes…
Every post is written by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, Esq. and Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, and reviewed for legal accuracy by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, the firm’s principal attorney. How we verify →
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