Designations

• If you are voluntarily surrendering, know where you are going and how you will get there.  You should receive a designation notice from the U.S. Marshals Service within 4-6 weeks after you have been sentenced.
• Resolve all outstanding warrants and tickets.  Outstanding warrants or pending charges could impact your security rating.  Outstanding detainers or charges will make you ineligible for halfway house placement at the end of your sentence.  You will also be ineligible for any sentence reduction related to completing drug treatment.
• Obtain important documents:  birth certificate, social security card, drvier's license/identification.
• Seek medical attention for any pre-existing conditions.  Obtain documentation from your doctor for any required medications and/or eyeglasses. 
• Notify Child Support Services that you will be incarcerated.  If you fail to notify them, monies owed may continue to accrue.
• Consider drafting a Power of Attorney to a trusted person.
• Open a bank account to ensure you have money upon your release.
• If possible, pay any outstanding financial obligations.
• Keep your valuable property and important documents in a safe place with a trusted person.
• Be responsible in your departure.  If employed, resign when appropriate.
• Visitation:
  Prepare a contact list of people who may wish to visit you in prison.  Only immediate family (parents, siblings, spouse, children), if verified in the Presentence Report, will not be required to complete a visitor form.
  Provide your family/friends with information on how to stay in touch (phone calls, mail, email).
  Provide your family/friends with information on how to send money.
• Re-entry starts at the time of your incarceration.  Don't burn bridges with your family/friends/employment.

Types of Federal Prison Facilities

Female Inmates

Entering Prison

• Arrive as early as possible.  Late arrival may result in overnight segregation due to the screening process.
• Arriving intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances will result in segregation until you can be properly screened.
• What you CAN bring:
  Valid medications / prescriptions
  Eyeglasses; no contact lenses (you will be evaluated)
  Wedding ring (no stones embedded)
  Religious necklace
  Rubber/foam flip flops for the shower
  Legal paperwork
  Contact list of addresses and phone numbers for family/friends, attorney, etc.
  Contact the specific facility you are going to for specific information.
• What you CAN'T bring:
  Pictures
  Extra clothing (only arrive with what you are wearing)
  Cash - it depends on the facility so check with the specific facility you are going to.
  Anything considered unacceptable by Bureau of Prisons staff will be confiscated and disposed of (destroyed, mailed out of the institution at your expense, etc.).
  Contact the specific facility you are going to for specific information.
• You will be taken to the receiving area and strip searched.
• You will be issued clothing, linens, and toiletries.
• You will be fingerprinted, photographed, and given an identificiation card.
• You will be interviewed and screened by staff from the case management, medical, and mental health units.  Later, you will be assigned to the Admission and Orientation (A&O) Program, where you will receive a formal orientation/introduction to the programs, services, policies, and procedures at that specific facility.
• General Visiting Information

Inmate Information

Release Planning

• Specific release planning with your case manager begins 18 months prior to your release.  Advise your case manager if you plan on releasing to a different district.
• Discuss your options and ensure you have a support system in place.
• Release Preparation Program - includes classes for resume writing, job seach, and job retention.
• Make arrangements for a State ID if you don't already have one.
• Reentry Programs
• Residential Reentry Centers (RRC)
  Placed prior to release to help you adjust to life in the commnity and to find housing and employment.
  Typical stay is 6 months to 1 year.
  You are still classified as an inmate and therefore subject to BOP policies, procedures, and sanctions.
  Violations at the RRC may result in loss of good time or return to the prision facility.
  Home confinement with electronic monitoring may be available.

Supervised Release (TSR)

• Part of your sentence will be a term of supervised release after your incarceration.
• The supervised release is typically 2 to 5 years and is monitored by the U.S. Probation Office.
• The goal is the successful completion of your term of supervision, during which you commit no new crimes, are held accountable for victim, family, community, and other court-imposed responsibilities, and to prepare you for continued success through improvements in your conduct and condition. 
• Violations of the conditions of your supervised release are handled by the sentencing judge and could result in additional conditions imposed, or an addtional term of imprisonment or term of supervised release.
• You are expected to work and pay your financial obligations including any fines and restitution imposed.