You may be curious about the type of prison you or a loved one will be sent to if you are facing a federal prison sentence. Federal prisons are classified into five security levels: minimum, low, medium, high, and administrative. The features and restrictions of each level vary according to the inmates’ needs and risk. We will examine the highest security level in this article: maximum security prisons.
The most dangerous and violent offenders in the federal system are housed in maximum security prisons, which are also called penitentiaries. These Coleman federal prison inmates have committed serious crimes, such as murder, terrorism, espionage, or sex offenses, and have long sentences or life imprisonment. Some of them may also be on death row, waiting for their execution.
The environment of maximum security prisons is the most restrictive and secure, with electronic surveillance, guard towers, razor wire, and high walls. The inmates are confined to their cells for most of the day, with limited movement and activities. The security measures are strict, and the staff-to-inmate ratio is high.
In Florida, there are two maximum security prisons, both located in the Federal Correctional Complex, Coleman (FCC Coleman). FCC Coleman prison, near Wildwood, is a United States federal prison complex for male inmates in unincorporated Sumter County, Florida. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a division of the United States Department of Justice.
Approximately 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Orlando, 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Tampa, and 35 miles (56 km) south of Ocala, the facility is located in central Florida. 846 NE 54th Ter, Coleman, FL 33521 is the location of the complex. The space of the complex is 1,600 acres (650 ha). The complex, the largest correctional facility operated in the nation, houses 7,120 prisoners altogether, and 1,300 employees, as of 2010, making it one of the county’s largest employers. Most prisoners, except for those housed at United States Penitentiary Coleman 1, have been sentenced for drug-related crimes, and had not been convicted of violent acts. The prison has held several unusual or notable criminals, according to Rachel Monroe of The Atlantic.
Prisoners housed at FCC Coleman Florida prison are all male. The prisoners on average have sentences of 10 years. Press reports indicate female prisoners, which previously were held at the adjacent satellite prison camp, had been raped by staff, and that widespread sexual abuse has been tolerated. Prosecutors have been unable to prosecute cases against the employees due to lack of evidence.
The complex consists of four facilities: Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Low (FCI Coleman Low): a low-security facility. Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Medium (FCI Coleman Medium): a medium-security facility with an adjacent satellite prison camp for minimum-security inmates. United States Penitentiary I, Coleman (USP Coleman 1): a high-security facility. United States Penitentiary II, Coleman (USP Coleman 2): a high-security facility.