The Consequences of Breaking the Rules in Federal Prison Camp

">Because the inmates in a Federal Prison Camp are
Inside of Federal Prison Camp (a minimum securityrelatively comfortable, the simple threat of removing
federal prison) when an inmate breaks the prison rules,these comforts means that most inmates obey the
there can be a number of ramifications depending onrules. Another reason that inmates in Minimum Security
the severity of the rules that were broken. One thingFederal Prisons tend to obey the rules is the fact that
that can happen is that they get a "shot", which meanswhen one inmate breaks a rule, the whole camp is
a written warning or reprimand. The shot clearlydisciplined and punished for it. When two inmates fight,
relates the inmate's infraction and it goes into thethe entire Federal Prison Camp may lose their right to
inmate's Federal Prison Camp inmate file. Thewatch TV for a week. This kind of policy means that
disciplinary action that follows a shot varies dependingmost inmates behave themselves.
on the severity of the offense. One might find thatEvery federal prison camp in the nation is supposed to
they have been moved to a less desirable job, beenfollow a written set of guidelines from the Bureau of
stripped of their lower bunk bed rights (a real privilegeprison (BOP). These general rules and regulations are
in prison as it affords some privacy), lost their visitationwritten in detail and are posted in each Federal Prison
rights, lost their commissary days and even lost theirCamp library for every inmate to see. Unfortunately,
privilege to receive mail. In the most serious of cases,the rules as they are written and the rules as they are
an inmate can lose his Federal Prison Camp statusenforced can be two completely different things, a
and he can be sent to a low or medium securityfact that any former inmate can attest to. When you
federal prison, where life is much more difficult than infile complaints against the BOP staff for example, you
a Camp.may quickly find yourself in the hole under investigation
In more severe cases of inmates breaking the prisonfor some made up offense or even transferred to
rules, they may be placed in the Special Housing Unitanother prison for making imagined threats against
or The Hole. The hole is a separate building wherestaff.
inmates are confined to small one or two man cells forThe BOP material is organized with code numbers,
23 hours a day. One hour a day is permitted fortitles, sections and sub-section. It takes a while to get
outdoor recreation, which consists of pacing in a largefamiliarized with the information but worth the time to
enclosed cage. Fighting, possession of seriouslook through. It will let you know about a lot of
contraband , threatening another inmate or staffinformation that you may not be aware of so look
member or trying to escape are all good ways to getthrough it and make notes, but always keep in mind
yourself sent to the hole in a Minimum Security Federalthat the rules as they are written and the rules as they
Prison Camp. Unfortunately, the BOP can place you inare enforced can differ enormously.
the hole for "investigation" too. This means that if anyIn order to benefit from the rules handed down by the
officer has any suspicion, well founded or completelyBOP, is to follow what they tell you. It's ok to ask
imagined, you can find yourself moved to a tiny cell forquestions about the subject you are addressing but
an indefinite period. This move is sometimes enactedonly do it once to understand the administrations
by officers with a grudge against a certain inmate.position on the subject and then follow what they say.
Discipline in a prison camp is easier to enforce andChallenging a decision will only place you on a very real
follow because of the privileges and certain rightslist of Federal Prison Camp inmate trouble makers.
inmates do receive.