Since we live in a police state, the transition from “freedom” to a LOW LEVEL – Bureau of Prisons (BOP) -prison is surprisingly easy for working & middle class people. (Note: MEDIUM & HIGH security prisons, I’m told, are a completely different story).
As far as I know there are no LOW or MINIMUM level prisons in non-police states; because, there is no legitimate “safety” reason for anyone to be confined to one, because everyone there was actually assessed to be a minimum or a low safety risk; thus only a police state would imprison this category of offenders.
Minimum level prisons in the BOP are labeled “Prison Camps” (seriously!). And all other prisons are labeled LOW, MEDIUM & HIGH. Where you get placed is decided by a computer program called SENTRY. It assigns arbitrary points for various facts about you. Usually, a first time middle aged offender is going to get 0-11 points and be labeled MINIMUM. Someone below age 30 will probably get 12-15 and be labeled a LOW. If you are labeled MINIMUM, you will likely be allowed to self report. If you are labeled LOW, then you will often be allowed to self report, especially if you’ve been out on bail until sentencing; unless you piss off the judge or they are evil.
Since I pissed off the judge (like Trump will), I can write about the experience of being immediately kidnaped after sentencing. I was persecuted in Nebraska because Keith A. Becker “judge shopped” a place that would accept his malfeasance. So after I was railroaded, I was arbitrarily sentenced to 72 months and kidnaped to a County Jail in NE, where I waited to get shipped to my unknown at that time federal prison. In County I was in a minimum security dorm – for about 6 weeks – with other minor offenders from Nebraska who I “celebrated” Christmas 2015 & New Years 2016 with, wondering how this happened to me.
Then I was shipped – like cargo – in the back of a van to Leavenworth, Kansas; where a private prison – run by some private company – is located. I stayed there for about 2 weeks before I was placed on “ConAir”. It was an old 737 supposedly confiscated from El Chapo. Regardless, it was just like flying on South West, only chained up (both hands and feet). But Minimims weren’t “black boxed”, so it was more of an inconvenience than uncomfortable. And the service was about as good as South West’s. Our first destination was Oklahoma City. Where I watched the superbowl with another prisoner that had no business being in prison. While in Oklahoma, you find out where you’re going. My new friend was going to a CAMP in California & I was going to a LOW in Ohio. A few days later (after the 2016 Super Bowl) I was on ConAIr again and after about 8 hours of flying (we went to NYC first), we landed somewhere outside Pittsburgh where we were loaded onto busses. My bus took me to FCI Elkton in Ohio, where -because of population limits – I was placed in the FCI Low, instead of the FSL “Camp” my points required.
The FCI subjects you to a much higher number of hoodlums, who (at a LOW) are more annoying than dangerous. You are really in no danger at a MINIMUM or LOW security BOP facility. It really is “Club Fed”. Not going to lie, the food before you get to your prison is going to be awful and you will lose weight; but, once you’re at prison, it’s actually diner quality, think Denny’s. The sleeping quarters are dorm, like what you saw in Full Metal Jacket. Bunks, sparsely furnished and cleaned daily. How clean everything is will be your second surprise after the quality of the food.
Your next surprise will be how friendly everyone will be, even most of the guards. To be sure, some inmates are just being friendly to see if they can get something from you, but they are the exception not the rule at Elkton. This is even more so at the FSL (I was housed in both during my kidnapping) where life is more like a bizarre summer camp than prison. Hoodlums aren’t allowed at the FSL, so everyone just serves their time like they’re trapped at a kid’s summer camp, exercise (treadmills, steppers), playing sports (baseball, kickball, pickle ball, basketball, volley ball (in a sand pit) and Frisbee golf & soccer on a soccer field) in addition to card and board games, watching TV and movies. Reading books and doing arts and crafts (painting, crochet & ceramics – yes they had a kiln).
Your next surprise will be how many people readily admit their guilt to you & just complain about their absurd sentence. For an example of this absurdity, I met a guy who told SSI that his mother died; but, they failed to stop the direct deposits to her account (which he had power of attorney over). So, he used the money to pay for her funeral and other expenses. When he got caught, he wanted to just pay the money back, nope US Gestapo wouldn’t accept that, they wanted prison time, so he got 30 days! Talk about a phenomenal waist of time & money!
Anyway, when Trump goes to federal prison, he’ll go to a CAMP or a LOW, where he’ll be with his constituents (A majority of both Guards and Inmates loved him in 2021). So, he’ll get special treatment & better food than the other inmates. Although, he’ll hate it because he’s used to being pampered and you definitely don’t get pampered in prison (there are no soft surfaces), but I’m told it’s way better than being homeless. Some sad sacks told me Elkton’s meals were the best they ever had. Imagine if Denny’s was your best ever meal. WOW just WOW. Of course since Trump claims to love McDonalds he might love Elkton’s food too.
Trump, like me, will also soon decide that none of the people at his prison actually need to be there for any legitimate safety purpose and are actually there because people don’t like them or what they did, not because they’re dangerous. And that’s what makes America a police state. Police States lock up people they don’t like, non-police states only lock up people who are actually dangerous.