Scary Truth The BOP Will Never Say or Admit
- thatbopguy
- Jun 17
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 20
Article 3 of 8 in the Surviving Federal Prison Series
You’ve probably already figured out one thing: the Bureau of Prisons won’t tell you a damn thing that actually helps you survive this journey. Policies may be public, but real advice.... Nah, that comes from the people living it, families like you and me.
We asked people who’ve been through it in our private Discord what they wish someone had told them before their loved one went in. This is the list we wish we didn’t have to make. But since no one else is talking about it, we will.
Get up to speed with the previous articles
Federal Prison Day One (Blog 1)
Prison Lingo & Culture Decoded (Blog 2)
Why The PSR Is So Important
The PSR is a investigative report produced by United States Probation Office. It's goal is to highlight certain things about the person for the judge to make his decision on the sentencing length. It's a summary of you as a person. Here is why it's important:
The judge will use it get to know you
The PSR will determine your criminal history points
CH Points determine security level
It will follow you the entire length of your prison term
The BOP uses it to calculate EVERYTHING. So if there is anything missing or wrong it will affect you forever.
Is a Pre-Sentence Report a Good Thing
A PSR is a required step before getting sentenced in federal and state court. Some people it helps and some people it works against them. The PSR means everything to the BOP. But when you understand how it's used you can use it as a tool to influence how the Judge, BOP, and case worker view you by how you frame it during the interview.
Here are two examples of how it will be used:
Example 1
Your wife, sister and step-mom are verified family in your PSI. Some how you forgot to mention your son in law. They also verified you have a high school diploma.
Result
When your family sends in a Visitor Form following the step-by-step guide in our Discord, they will be able to get approved easily because the PSR writer already verified them during your interview. But the son-in-law will need extra paperwork and proof since he is a minor. Since your diploma was verified you also get a -2 point reduction from your Custody Score (Security level). (very important)
Example 2
The judge orders RDAP, which will take 365 days off your sentence if completed. You have a sex crime in your past, so they include that in the report.
Result
While in the BOP you sign up for RDAP when you get down to 50 months. The BOP interviews you and reviews your pre-sentencec report and it shows you claimed to not have any drug use. We'll now your not eligible to participate in RDAP and get the yeast off because you don't have history of drug use. Plus you cannot use the email system (TRULINCS) because you have a Walsh conviction.
What's my point here? Make sure when they do the report to fight and dispute ANY inaccuracy you see before you get sentenced. It will take up time, but it can be the difference between ending up at a high security prison instead of a low security prison like your supposed to.
Want to learn more about RDAP, Custody Score, TRULINCS? We break it down simply in our Discord!
Sending Money To a Inmates
The BOP’s Official statement says: Use MoneyGram, Western Union, or postal money order to add money to a inmates account. But here’s what they don’t tell you…
Use the Inmate’s Register Number Exactly – One wrong digit? Money goes missing or gets rejected. You MUST use the suffix or apostrophe in the name. Verify their name using our inmate locator tool.
Avoid Sending Large Amounts at Once – Big transfers out of nowhere can flag accounts for review. The BOP will hold the money until you can prove the money came from a legal source. Crazy!
Third-Party Senders Can Cause Delays – If someone else sends money on your behalf, make sure their name and relationship make sense.
View a step-by-step guide (w/pics)
We have simple fool proof instructions on how to add money to a inmates trust fund account in our private Discord with photos. Plus more tips so want to know
Related: Federal Prison On Day One
Sending mail (letters, photos & books)
Back In the day when you sent mail to someone in prison it used to get there and be in the persons hand within a week. Your letters can now take up to a month to get there.
What the Bureau Of Prisons aren't telling you is that 92% of all incoming mail get routed to a 3rd party for processing and inspection. Companies like Securus Technologies are now offering Digital Mail Centers services to prisons to try to control the flow of drugs in.
We rarely get photos these days. All mail is scanned and either (a) copied and forwarded to destination prison or (b) scanned in and sent digitally to the inmates tablet for reading.
Can inmates get books in prison
Yes federal inmates can get books, newspaper and magazine subscriptions sent in ONLY DIRECT FROM DISTRIBUTORS. Books need to come directly from reputable sources like Amazon. Paperback is the preferred style, NOT hardback.
Key Takeaways
Expect mail to take longer than normal( both ways)
Save your money on high quality pictures. Your loved one will only get photo copies
Look for better ways to stay in contact (Inmate email)
The Drug Epidemic In Prisons
There are drugs everywhere, we know this. But when you mix drugs and people with very little to look forward to, nothing to strive for or even less to occupy their time things change for the bad. Inmates seek ANYTHING to pass their time and mentally take them out of prison.
Right now in Federal prisons and likely all prisons there is a K2 or "duece" Epidemic. People you would never think of as junkies are smoking stuff comparable to roach spray. They literally seize up, and get stuck in place like a statue. Or, they have a episode and their heart stops. It's not as addicting as other hard drugs like cocain, meth or Suboxone but just as damaging.
Inmates doing Suboxone are going to the point of dropping it in their eye to get high. The lengths people will go to get a "fix" is unbelievable. So you maybe be wondering why I'm telling you these harsh details. Here's why.
The person you seen go to prison may not be who you get back. The environment we are subjected to you can't imagine. So you when your thinking of ways to support someone in prison don't forget the emotional part because the Bureau Of Prisons is both incapable and unwilling to do anything about it.
Transfers Can Happen Anytime
One day they're there, next day they’re gone. Likely in Oklahoma somewhere traveling to the next facility. You won't get a heads up and neither will your loved one.
Lockdowns Happen Randomly
You may go days or weeks without hearing from your LO. Thinking they are mad at you, or worse they have gotten into a fight with another inmate and went to the SHU. In reality, the entire prison is lockdown for a inmate death, or for some other stupid reason. Just know this is very likely at many of the 122 Federal Prisons across the US.
The officers are NOT there to help you
Don't expect ANY officer to help you with anything. They aren't friendly or helpful. Besides, talking to the police is a easy way to get ran up like i mentioned in Federal prison lingo. All the info you will need or want you need to find in your own. From count time to Team review. From Visitation Information to First Step Act you will be in your own to get the essential info. Ask other inmates with your car like I said in the Surviving Federal Prison - a newbies guide
People go home sooner than expected
With the implementation of the First Step Actc FSA) people are going home much sooner than expected. Almost everyone gets 15% GCT off their sentence. When you add in earn time credits it's crazy! Some people are serving 50%-60% of the time the judge gave them.
Now with the recent announcement the BOP made about Expanding Home Confinement and making getting inmates out of Prisons a priority I only expect to see people going home sooner. Knowledge is power, learn everything you need to know and get out sooner with tips from current inmates. They know what's working NOW. We heard about a guy who had a 9 year sentence and went home in 3.5 years!
Don't Believe Case Managers
Case managers are either overworked good honest people or lazy federal worker used to slacking off. When a inmates goes into their office for answers they usually tell you anything just to get you out. DON'T BELIEVE THEM always get a second opinion. This in learned the hardway. Trust but verify.