Prison Discipline — Ask the Inmate
Every correctional facility operates under a disciplinary system that governs inmate behavior and imposes consequences for rule violations. Understanding how that system works is essential for anyone trying to navigate incarceration successfully, because a disciplinary record can affect housing assignments, program eligibility, good time credits, halfway house placement, and parole decisions. This section covers what types of disciplinary infractions exist and how they are classified, what the disciplinary hearing process looks like, what rights inmates have when facing a disciplinary charge, what sanctions can be imposed including loss of privileges, solitary confinement, and good time forfeiture, and how to appeal a disciplinary decision. The guidance here is written for inmates who want to understand the rules clearly enough to avoid violations and for families who want to help their loved one protect their record. See also our sections on Prison Violence, Survive Prison, and Sentence Reduction
There are no cell phones allowed in any penal facility in the United States, regardless of what the phone can or cannot do. This is not a facility-by-facility policy decision. Federal law makes it a criminal offense for an incarcerated person to possess a cell phone, and if one is found, the inmate faces the possibility of up to five additional years added to their sentence. No program, no custody level, and no facility type is exempt from this.
Read moreThe area called the SHU or Special Housing Unit is a high security area within a prison used for inmates who may pose a danger to others or be at risk if left in the general population. There is either Administrative Segregation or Disciplinary Segregation. Unfortunately the rules are the same for all inmates in the unit whether you're there awaiting a bed in the satellite camp, for your protection or if you got caught with a cellphone. All of
Read moreRestricted Housing Unit (RHU) blocks are isolation cells where the movement and the privileges are severely restricted. The Unit is used for administrative segregation or disciplinary segregation - inmates remain in their one or two-man cells virtually 24 hours a day. When taken from the cell, the inmate remains completely shackled at all times. The inmate is limited to 3 days of a one-hour recreation time in an outdoor cage. Only three showers per week. The inmate is also restricted
Read moreThe only real option you have for getting information, is to call the facility and ask to speak with his counselor and express your concerns in the most respectful and humble manner.
Read moreLos internos son movidos por muchas razones. Puede ser que hayan solicitado cambiar las células, porque no se llevan bien con algun recluso. El personal podría pensar que un cambio de escenario sería lo mejor. Cualquiera que sea la razón, no es necesariament algo malo.
Read moreThe "hole", also known as the SHU (special housing unit) is prison inside prison. The inmate is in a one or two man cell with zero access to the outside world except for two one-hour exercise periods where you are in a cage outside. It is strict, high security with 24/7 monitoring. Inamtes get three square meals per day and three showers per week, one 15-minute phone call per week and a very abbreviated commissary list. It is not the
Read moreThere must have been some evidence that you we asked by your boyfriend to smuggle contraband. Whether the letter was read or they overheard a conversation on the telephone (they listen to and record every call) you were singled out as a potential problem. They cannot arrest you for something that was asked of you, that you didn't actually carry out.
Read moreIt depends on what the restriction is for and how the facility structures its disciplinary consequences. Not all restrictions are the same. An inmate can be restricted from specific privileges while others remain intact. Phone access is often one of the first things pulled when someone receives a disciplinary infraction, but it is not automatic in every case. A minor infraction might result in limited commissary access or loss of recreation time without touching phone privileges at all.
Read morePunitive segregation allows only one 15-minute call per week, however, they may write as many letters that they want.
Read moreOur advice would be to speak with the chaplain first. Get a feel for the situation there, although the chaplain is an employee they usually have a level of empathy. If you find that the chaplain is helpful, then their advice should be followed. If you feel that the chaplain is not really listening, then you should take it to the next level and ask to speak to the warden. It is our experience that unless there is a mountain
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