An Overview of Federal Prisons
Stephen Hayden
CRJ 101: Intro to Criminal Justice
Post University
4/19/15

Abstract Federal Prisons in the United States have evolved since 1930. The United States Federal Prisons range in security levels to house inmates that have been incarcerated on a federal level. Based upon the security level in a facility, inmates are given more freedom and have lower staff to inmate ratios. Inmates are required to work so long as their health is cleared, and some prisons offer inmate labor that can contribute to them returning to society. Prisoners are required to have their basic needs met while housed in a federal correction facility, which includes education, health care, and religious demeanor. While federal prisons are trying to maintain standards they face issues such as overcrowding, which can largely effect how the facilities are ran. Recommendations to overcome overcrowding and better facilitate a prisoners release to society will be provided.

History of Prisons in the United States
“Pursuant to Pub. L. No. 71-218, 46 Stat. 325 (1930), the Bureau of Prisons was established within the Department of Justice and charged with the "management and regulation of all Federal penal and correctional institutions." This responsibility covered the administration of the 11 Federal prisons in operation at the time.” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). Since correctional facilities were mandated they have grown and evolved to this current day, and still continue to increase in both size and inmates housed. Federal correctional facilities are located throughout the United States and range in severity of security from minimum to high security. As laws and regulations have changed throughout the United States history so have the facilities to house those incarcerated. For example, “The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 established determinate sentencing, abolished parole, and reduced good time; additionally, several mandatory minimum sentencing provisions were enacted in 1986, 1988, and 1990.” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). This Act has changed the way facilities were ran and changed the parameters for which both the administration, and inmates were controlled. With the increase of crime across the United States the growth of inmates has increased greatly, “from 2000 to the present, the population continued to increase reaching our current population of 208,842” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). There are currently 147 federal facilities throughout the United States.

Hierarchy within United States Federal Prisons
Federal prisons within the United States rank in order of severity of punishment, there are currently four different levels of security in prisons: minimum, low, medium, and high. A combination of these security correction facilities can be found in areas or complexes that house multiple level facilities on one campus. There is also a facilities for those inmates that suffer from medical issues, pretrial inmates, and those likely to escape; this type of site is known as administrative. Within each level security correctional facility there are different types of hierarchy from inmates to administration. “Inmates are confined in facilities spread out across the United States. Each facility reports to a regional office, who provides close oversight and support to that site. At our headquarters, national programs are developed and functional support is provided to the entire agency by each division” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). A chart of this organizational hierarchy can be found on page 10.
In minimum-security prisons there is a low staff to inmate ratio, and housing that can be similar to that of college dormitories. In this type of facility there typically is no strong fencing engulfing the parameter of the compound. In low security units there is an increase in staff to inmate ratio, dormitory inmate housing, and security fencing around the unit. In medium security units there is even a smaller gap between inmate ratio and staff, double fencing security and high internal control. High security facilities “have highly secured perimeters (featuring walls or reinforced fences), multiple- and single-occupant cell housing, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio, and close control of inmate movement” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.).
Inmate Labor and UNICOR “Federal Prison Industries (commonly referred to as FPI or by its trade name UNICOR) is a wholly owned, Government Corporation established by Congress on June 23, 1934” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.). The purpose behind this entity is to prepare inmates for work after their sentences have been fulfilled. Money that is earned by the inmates goes towards fines, child support, and other costs the inmate may have to ensue. Unicor (n.d.) states, “Inmate workers voluntarily participate in the program, and agree to the specific deductions made from gross wages to pay taxes, victim restitution, and to offset the costs of incarceration. Inmates must be paid at a rate 'not less than that paid for work of a similar nature in the locality in which the work is performed.”. This allows inmates to participate in an environment that helps them to gain skill, work towards their faults, and consume time while in the corrections facility. “On an average day, nearly 20 percent of all jail inmates work six or more hours. It could be argued that most jails could not operate without the efforts of inmate laborers” (The Economics of Inmate Labor, 2011, pg. 69). Within federal United States prisons, “Sentenced inmates are required to work if they are medically able. Institution work assignments include employment in areas like food service or the warehouse, or work as an inmate orderly, plumber, painter, or groundskeeper. Inmates earn 12¢ to 40¢ per hour for these work assignments.” (Federal Bureau of Prisons, n.d.)
Other Basic Needs Offered to Inmates In addition to working while under the supervision of one of the United States federal prisons, inmates may be offered the ability to receive education, can receive health care, and religious programs. Inmates are offered the availability to receive their General Education Degree (GED) by sitting for learning classes and taking the exam. In addition to receiving their GED, prisoners is some facilities are offered a variety of educational classes that can include parenting classes, and some basic college courses (which are not funded by the prisons). Prisoners are given the availability to receive “on the job training” through working inmate jobs. As an inmate individuals are entitled to medical, dental, and mental health care. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (n.d.) states, “Health promotion is emphasized through counseling provided during examinations, education about the effects of medications, infectious disease prevention and education, and chronic care clinics for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. The Bureau promotes environmental health for staff and inmates alike through its emphasis on a clean-air environment and the maintenance of safe conditions in inmate living and work areas”. Inmates that have chronic health issues or are in need of consistent medical care are housed in a separate administrative facility. Some federal prisons throughout the United States also offer different religious offerings, which can include worship and religious study. Inmates have the ability to read religious materials in their preferences as well as worship under the Chaplin. Inmates can observe religious holidays and wear religious items such as a cross. These offerings and availability to praise and worship are restricted to lower security facilities.
Life after Sentence Has Been Fulfilled After inmates fulfilled their sentences and are released back into society there are a number effects that can take place which include, trouble with returning to work, being re-sentenced to a facility, and mental issues. Many occupations filter out applicants if they have been federally convicted if it directly pertains to why they were incarcerated which can cause difficulties for past inmates to return to work. This can set off a domino effect leading the past inmate to get into old habits, hanging out in the wrong crowd, and eventually ending up back in a correctional facility. Due to the constraints and inmate environment within correction facilities inmates can face mental issues that can cause them to feel out of place in society, have trouble communicating with the outside world, or feel hardship due to lapse of time in the facility. A way to overcome these concerns is to offer counseling to inmates before their release as well as continued counseling throughout their parole once released. Once released an inmate will be put on parole and have to check in routinely with a parole officer. Depending on the type of crime committed, time served, and behavior within the facility that parole will help to keep the past inmate under control with being released back into society in the goal of not committed another crime.

Evaluation of Present Day Federal Prison Facilities While the United States strives to maintain, and uphold its federal prisons, there are various concerns that can affect the overall process to which these facilities run. Overcrowding is a huge issue that can affect all of the basic needs that the federals strive to provide. “The most significant and far-reaching effect of prison overcrowding is cost. The cost of housing a single prisoner typically ranges between twenty and eighty thousand dollars per year, but can range far higher under special circumstances” (Steiner, 2015). With rising costs, and no place to put many prisoners, they cannot fully offer UNICOR, on the job training, and education. Overcrowding is found in facilities at each of the different security levels. Overcrowding can be addressed by “These included reducing the number of people incarcerated for drug violations, shortening mandatory sentences for other drug offenses, allow judges more discretion in sentencing drug offenders and white-collar criminals, reducing the truth-in-sentencing requirement that inmates serve at least 85 percent of their sentence, and further reducing sentences for good behavior or enrollment in drug rehabilitation programs.” (Steiner, 2015) Taking a closer look at cases before individuals are incarcerated can reduce the yearly amount of individuals that are placed in prison every year.
Conclusion
In conclusion, federal prisons have evolved throughout the United States history. Prison facilities range in security in relation to the severity in which an obstruction of justice was performed. Prisoners are offered basic needs while incarcerated within one of the federal prisons. These basic needs include work, education, religious availability, and health care. While prisoners are offered basic needs their return to society can cause a number of difficulties and can ultimately lead to them returning to prison. A large concern that prisons face today is overcrowding which can largely affect the basic need provided to inmates. Addressing overcrowding can solve some of the concerns with funding and maintaining federal prisons.

Chart of Administration Levels in United States Federal Prison

(Holder, 2013)

References

Federal Bureau of Prisons. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.bop.gov/about/history/
Holder, E. (2013, May 16). Organization, Mission and Functions Manual: Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.justice.gov/jmd/organization-mission-and-functions-manual-federal-bureau-prisons
Steiner, B. (2015). Prison overcrowding. Salem Press Encyclopedia
The Economics of Inmate Labor. (2011). American Jails, 25(3), 69-72.