Pizza,

I served eight years on a 20 year sentence for a bogus rape charge in the most violent medium security prison in Oklahoma a few years ago. So, yes, I have been there.

You said he had two counts of child pornography. What was his sentence?? How many years did he receive to serve in prison?

Give me some more details and I can give you some answers. I work in prison reform and in support for families whose loved ones are sex offenders. I know prisons very well and there is not much that I have not already heard.

rewdiazepam

OK, I saw where he has two three year sentences running consecutively out of the state of Florida. And on another forum you wondered about his possible release date.

Let’s address the release date first. Florida requires an inmate to serve a minimum of 85% of his sentence before being considered for release. A three year sentence is 1095 days. If he has a good work record and stays free from misconducts, he should discharge the first three year sentence in approximately 930 days. At that point, he will roll over to the second three year sentence, which will be another 930 days.

Adding the two sentences computes to approximately 1860 days that he will actually be incarcerated, which is 62 months. Now note that this is the earliest he can get out. Sixty two months is a little over five years. If he is a well behaved inmate, he can be out in a little more than five years. I think I have done my computations correctly.

As far as his safety is concerned, unless he does something monumentally stupid such as snitch, disrespect other inmates, or borrow---get in debt---and be unable to pay, he does not have a lot to worry about. A six year sentence is a very short sentence and inmates serving such short sentences are classified as minimum eligible, which means he will be sent to a prison where the inmates are not murderers or violent individuals.

A minimum security prison is much safer since many of the guys there are short timers and close to their release date. Since their main objective at this point is to go home, they follow the rules very closely. The last thing they want to do is assault another inmate b/c of his crime and possibly delay their release or worse yet, be sent to a medium security facility where all the “bad guys” are.

He will do fine if he keeps a low profile, minds his own business, is not a loud mouth, respects the other inmates, does not advertise his charges, does not talk excessively to prison staff, and just does his own time.
Gambling, fooling around with the gays, borrowing and not being able to pay, being disrespectful to the other inmate, getting into the drug scene there in prison, snitching, or being a pain in the ass are ways to experience problems in prison.

He should not be talking about his charges, but I don’t think they would ever be a problem at a minimum security prison anyway. Nobody at a minimum security prison cares about a couple of CP charges. They might shun him to a degree if they find out his charges, but I doubt that he will be physically confronted.

And mama, prison is NOT like you see on TV and in the movies. If you believe the stories and programs, you would be led to believe that inmates just go around on a 24/7 basis raping and robbing each other. That is not true at all, especially at a minimum security prison. Actually, most of the time prison is boring with men just sitting around watching TV or playing cards and waiting to go home.

He should have no problems with his short sentence. If you have any questions, message me and I will be glad to help.

rewdiazepam

To add to my above post, there are programs he might be able to enroll an complete---GED, Vo tech, anger management, etc.---which would also give him a few extra days good time credits. He can ask around to the other inmates; they will know which programs are available which might give him some extra good time credits.

And, don’t forget, he should receive credit for time served in the county jail.

I would advise him to go to the law library at the prison where he is incarcerated. Have him tell one of the law clerks his situation and they will usually add some clarity. I worked in the law library as a law clerk for years and most are willing to help.

rewdiazepam

Rediazepam, unfortunately sex offenders are not allowed in a minimum security prison. That's what scares me. He is medium custody and will be shipped off in a week or two. Inmates are already bothering him now saying hes a baby resort cause he doesn't keep paperwork in his bin.

Also we got a new lawyer and we are trying for mitigation of sentence. Our lawyer wasn't prepared for this type of case AZ and really dropped the ball. Charlie has an IQ in the 70s and 2 years of doctor documentation of severe depression and the lawyer didn't even show the documentation. Also all deleted pictures are and no saved files. Lawyer negotiated nothing.Ended up scaring us 5 minutes before pleading to the judge to take 6 years or we can get 25.

Pizza,

Many prison systems classify prisons as maximum, medium, minimum, and work release or work camps.

Florida classifies their prisons a little differently, which can be confusing. They have maximum security prisons, closed security (which is roughly equivalent to medium security in most states), medium security (much like closed security but with less restrictions), minimum security, and community security. Florida sort of blurs the classification of minimum and medium.

These security levels are terribly confusing to someone new to the system.

You said, “He is medium custody and will be shipped off in a week or two.”

I need some more information. He will be shipped off in a week or two? Where is your son at now?? Is the prison he is currently at the first place he was transferred from the county jail?

Here is why I asked. I think he is probably at one of Florida’s assessment and reception prisons, which would make sense since you said he will be shipped off in a week or two. In a week or two---after he is classified---he will be shipped to his destination prison, which will not be a high security prison.

I THINK this is what is happening, but do not have the facts to say for sure.

In almost all the DOC state systems, here is the procedure they follow. Once an inmate is sentenced, he is remanded back to the county jail. After a period of time, he is officially shipped into the Florida DOC system and sent to a prison where he is classified. After he has been at the classification prison for a few weeks, he is then shipped to his destination prison.

Since I don’t know at what process he is currently in, I asked you.

If he is at a reception / assessment prison to be classified, he will be around all types of inmates, even those headed to medium or closed security---or even a maximum. The reason for this is that at these reception centers or prisons all the inmates are placed in the same area since they have not had a custody classification assigned yet. They don’t know where to place them yet.

This would explain any problems he is having.

Once they classify him, I highly doubt they will place him with murderers or other inmates with violent crimes who are serving lengthy sentences. That just does not happen in prison as it would be a huge security problem. If they placed first timers with short sentences with seasoned convicts with lengthy sentences, the older inmates would be harassing the newer inmates all day and night.

I agree that sex offenders will not be placed at work centers, but that does not mean he will be sent in with the “bad guys.” He won’t.

I JUST CANNOT IMAGINE ANY DOC PLACING AN INMATE WITH ONLY SIX YEARS IN THE SAME PRISON AS A VIOLENT OFFENDER WITH A 20 YEAR SENTENCE.

So give me some more information and I can help. Right now I have no idea where he is or why he will be shipped in a couple of weeks.

So if he says he is at a medium security prison right now, he probably is as all the assessment / classification are much like medium security prisons.

You said, “Inmates are already bothering him now saying hes a baby resort cause he doesn't keep paperwork in his bin.”

He just needs to keep his chin up. If he is at an assessment / reception prison, when he is sent to his destination prison, it is unlikely he will be asked for his papers. The prison he will be sent will be filled with inmates who just do not care about his charges.

So, I think you may be worrying for no reason, but b/c you are not familiar with how the prison system works.

Give me the facts so I know where we are at and I can help.

rewdiazepam

Hey, Rew, IDOC has 1st-timers with 2 years in medium security with lifers with murder charges. It does happen here.

My son was 20 when he plead guilty to 1 count cp that was an accidental download. He got 30 months in federal prison. He's quiet and shy as well. He went to minimum security in Floriduh.
I worried about him as well, If anyone asks why he went it he should lie and tell them he was busted for drugs. Tell him to make up a story and stick to it. He wasn't in a prison that separates SOs from others . He found things to do, got his GED, took classes when he got into the federal prison.
He even joined a band, because he's a musician. My son having someone on the inside he could call his friend helped him a lot. He was motivated to work out daily in the gym and kept himself busy.
He had issues with a roommate or 2 but he just spent more time out of the cell. It all depends on where your son is going, if it's federal, I would assume it's not just county jail, which is horrid.. he can find things to keep him busy.
The other inmates really don't want to going around beating people up, they want to get out as soon as they can as well, so if they hit your son they get more time and they don't want that.
Also tell him to not get friendly with the guards or any other person of authority there.. they are not his friends even if they tell them they are.

Oh, if he's in county jail now then you know the horrors.. Federal prison is a lot more sane. jail is one big free for all

oh, one last thing.. my son went to a Floriduh jail and prison. Coleman and it was minimum. When you get more info on where he's going we could probably help you more to understand what all goes on. Nak

My husband was convicted of possession/distribution of CP in 2016. He received a 7 year sentence in Arizona. He is currently at a low security prison that does not have a separate section for SOs. When he went in, the guards said he can lie about his conviction or be honest, up to him. He decided to be honest (he's not a very good liar) and so far he has been fine. It may help that there are a significant amount of SOs at that facility, but everyone (mostly) keeps to themselves. Another reason he was honest is because he is in the middle of appeals process and according to him, if you are appealing, other inmates are able to see your conviction.

I know it's hard not to worry, but he will be okay. If he is at a federal prison, all inmates must work, so they will find a job for him. He can take classes, go to the gym ... keep himself busy. You can send him books and subscribe to magazines if he likes to read.

Are you nearby and able to visit? My girls and I visit my husband every Sunday; it helps him get through the week. As for you, take it day by day. Keep yourself busy too and try not to stress too much. 6 years seems like eternity, but before you know it the first year will be down, then the second, etc.

Everyone in here is in or has been in your position, so remember you are not alone in this <3

Scaredkitty,

You said, “Hey, Rew, IDOC has 1st-timers with 2 years in medium security with lifers with murder charges. It does happen here.”

Mixing security levels like that is one of the craziest things I have ever heard. If a younger inmate is killed by one of the medium security inmates, they would have a civil suit on their hands, since they should have known the risks.

I do know that mixing the security levels is certainly not the norm. IDOC is the first prison system I have ever heard of doing this.

rewdiazepam

He did not get charged for a Federal crime. Right now my son is at Orlando reception center. Headed to his permanent prison in a week or two. His first roommate was an attempted murderer and kidnapper with two life sentences who masturbated at the window all day. My son was terrified. Luckily he went to lockdown because he masturbated to the wrong deputy. Orlando has made him medium custody for some reason. Who can I contact to ask why he isnt minimum custody. He has documentation from a forensic Psychiatrist stating he is not a flight risk or has no potential for recidivism. He is already getting harassed by some gang banger and called baby raper cause he has no paperwork in his bin. He told them he is in there for burglary and gun charges but a few of the inmates don't believe him. He is a horrible liar.

OK, this is what I thought was happening.

He is at a reception center and these reception centers place all the inmates---murderers, serial rapists, bogus check writers, and first timers----in the same pod or area. They cannot separate them into groups since they have not even been classified yet. At this point, they don’t know if they will be minimum, medium, or maximum eligible, so they would not know where to place them. Once they are classified, they are shipped to their destination prison.

You said, “His first roommate was an attempted murderer and kidnapper with two life sentences who masturbated at the window all day.”

B/c my sentence was so lengthy, I had all types of cell mates. One cell mate of mine had kidnapped two teens, shot them in the back of the head, stripped them, and placed them in the trunk of a car. Then he set the car on fire. These are the types of people you meet in a medium security prison.

I don’t think your son will ever see these types of inmates once he is classified out at lower security and sent to his destination prison. So having to put up with these more dangerous inmates is something he will only have while he is in the reception center.

If he still has problems at his destination prison, we will try to get him sent to Protective Management. Protective Management in Florida is sort of like protective custody, but it has more freedoms. I am not sure they will take him with such a short sentence, but it is an option we can try if he continues to have problems. But I don’t think he will have any problems when he gets to his destination prison. I helped another mother from Florida get her son placed in Protective Management about a year ago and he is doing fine.

Here is a link to Protective Management----

http://tinyurl.com/ycdbztco

You said, “Orlando has made him medium custody for some reason. Who can I contact to ask why he isnt minimum custody.”

Again, please allow me to explain. Orlando is a reception / assessment center. THERE IS NO MINIMUM SECURITY THERE. THERE IS ONLY ONE SECURITY LEVEL AND ALL INMATES ARE ASSIGNED TO THAT LEVEL. They cannot assign inmates to a security level at Orlando b/c none of them have been classified and they would not know where to send them, Everyone at Orlando is at the same security level, but that will change once he is classified and sent to his destination prison.

There is no reason to call and talk to anyone at this point, as there is nothing they can do while he is at Orlando.

You said, “He has documentation from a forensic Psychiatrist stating he is not a flight risk or has no potential for recidivism.”

These are good facts to know for his classification. They will help him to get classified to a safer prison.

Mom, I know you are worried sick---and I certainly understand. Prison strikes fear in people, especially first timers, but we WILL get your son through this if he just acts normal.

I was in prison for a long time, and I have been dealing with prison issues for two decades; I think I know what I am doing here.

For now, just tell him to lay low. Just ignore those ignorant inmates. If they were going to attack him, they probably would have already done it by now. Most inmates who talk tough are all talk and they don’t usually go through with anything.

Message me the very minute he goes to his destination prison. We can then go from there. If you need me before then, do not hesitate to message me and we can talk.

I am around this forum and a few other forums a couple of times a day. If or when either of you need some help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Until then, try to relax.

rewdiazepam

Rew is correct. My son was in reception, which was county prison for 3 months before they found him a bed.

He has a cell mate but the cells there are more like open pods, where the walls are only about waste high.

I know you're worried. I worried my son wouldn't make it the first night. When he was taken in at sentencing my lawyer told the judge he was worried my son would commit suicide. and they put him in solitary for 24 hours.. not a place you want to be when you're depressed. But he made it and now is out and living here in PA. On his 5th year of probation. It's hard inside but it's also hard outside. Inside your son will find a schedule to keep him busy and as long as he shows respect to the other inmates, doesn't speak with the guards or others in charge, he'll be ok.

Nak