Enduring life behind bars as a sex offender can be challenging. This holds particularly true for those convicted of crimes such as possessing, distributing, or creating child pornography, or engaging in sexual solicitation with minors. The thought can be quite frightening, but at Zoukis Consulting Group, support is at hand. Our page offers insight into this delicate topic, sheds light on the realities for sex offenders behind bars, and outlines the treatment programs available to them.
How Do Sex Offenders Fare in Prison?
Sex offenders, similar to all other convicts, grapple with common fears about prison life. Additionally, they face worries tied to their specific crimes. We delve into both these aspects here.
For all inmates, a key indicator of life quality is the security level of the facility. Higher security levels correlate with harsher conditions, whereas lower security generally means a better environment for inmates, including sex offenders.
For sex offenders, a primary concern is the nature of their crime. This is something that doesn’t affect other inmates. However, not all federal prisons consider this a major issue.
The culture of the prison plays a significant role in determining whether a facility is considered safe for those with sexual offense convictions. Therefore, understanding the culture of the institution is vital. The security level is a key factor in determining what life will be like for sex offenders in custody.
Low-Security Federal Prisons
As a basic guideline, sex offenders are usually safer in low-security federal prisons. These prisons often have dorm-like accommodations and house mainly non-violent offenders. Consider that if an inmate is involved in violence, they’re generally moved to a higher-security facility.
These inmates might face some shunning but rarely face physical harm. Even though it may be unpleasant, it seldom escalates to a serious safety issue. For instance, they might be told to sit elsewhere in the dining area.
Concerns about assaults from other inmates are less likely if you’re in a low-security federal prison or at a SOMP facility. Inmates at these institutions are often nearing their release and wish to avoid jeopardizing their chances for transitional housing. In SOMP facilities, the presence of a large number of sex offenders (sometimes over 40% of inmates) means that interactions are less tense, and the associated stigma is less intense.
Medium-Security Federal Prisons
Navigating through medium and high-security federal prisons can alter the equation significantly. The level of difficulty varies among medium-security prisons, presenting challenges for the incarcerated sex offenders.
Take, for instance, FCI Beaumont Medium and FCI Victorville Medium; these are considered risky environments for sex offenders. Conversely, FCI Petersburg Medium is known to be a safer option for these individuals. Recognizing these distinctions is crucial for sex offenders trying to cope with incarceration. Such factors are pivotal in determining the experiences of sex offenders in prison.
At medium-security institutions, the treatment of sex offenders can differ greatly. At FCI Petersburg Medium, for example, being a sex offender is not a big deal. Yet, in the tougher medium-security federal prisons, these inmates must tread carefully.
In the more violent facilities, it’s not uncommon for sex offenders to face aggression from their peers. Our intention isn’t to alarm, but rather to ensure preparedness and safety.
For those in non-SOMP medium or high-security prisons, the threat of violence can increase, largely influenced by the complex dynamics of prison life. In some of the less harsh medium-security prisons, you might manage to keep to yourself and face exclusion, though this approach carries its own risks.
High-Security Federal Prisons
The dynamics shift again within high-security prisons. It’s widely assumed that sex offenders find safety only at USP Tucson. Reports have also indicated that USP Coleman 2 might be secure for sex offenders, provided their charges remain unknown (i.e., their sexual offenses are not public knowledge among inmates). Generally, high-security federal prisons, apart from these exceptions, are not safe for individuals convicted of sexual crimes.
At this level of security, the reaction towards sex offenders tends to be more uniform. If an inmate’s status as a sex offender is revealed or known, they are typically “checked-in,” meaning they are either advised to seek protective custody or face hostility from other inmates.
Given the high-risk situation for these inmates in high-security, we strongly recommend against joining the general population, USP Tucson being the only exception.
The high-security federal prison environment is fraught with challenges. Opting to “check-in” (request protective custody) and waiting for a transfer to a more suitable, preferably SOMP, facility is advisable. Some may choose to confront the issue head-on, but this poses a serious risk. This approach does not constitute a wise strategy for sex offenders seeking to survive their prison term.
The Perils Sex Offenders Face Behind Bars
It’s a hard truth, but the tales are accurate. Sex offenders often endure a tough time behind bars, and figuring out how to navigate prison life can be especially daunting for them.
In the more secure facilities (like high- and medium-security federal prisons), sex offenders are typically subject to harassment, assaults, and even severe beatings. This kind of treatment, whether officially endorsed or tacitly allowed, is part of the prison culture, leading to serious issues for those inmates. Often, the only recourse for sex offenders is to “check-in” to the Special Housing Unit (that is, solitary) for their own safety.
Without checking in at the tougher institutions, sex offenders can be “beat off” the yard. This brutal practice involves a group of inmates taking down a sex offender (usually in the dining area or near the lieutenant’s office) and beating them, sometimes within sight of guards. This violent act signals to the staff that it’s time to isolate the sex offender in the hole (that’s Protective Custody) and perhaps move them to another facility.
To safeguard these vulnerable inmates, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has designated nine prisons specifically for sex offenders. Known as SOMP facilities, they house a significant percentage of sex offenders – some estimate between 40 to 60 percent. Such facilities are generally less harsh, allowing inmates with similar convictions to do more than just survive—they can often flourish.
For those pondering how to make it through a sentence as a sex offender, prioritizing SOMP placement is essential. It effectively removes the perennial worry over the treatment of sex offenders in prison.
Tips for Sex Offender Prison Survival
Getting through a prison term as a sex offender is tough, especially in the harsher medium-security and most high-security federal prisons. At Zoukis Consulting Group, we’ve pinpointed strategies that aid our clients.
SOMP Placement via Judicial Recommendation
Judges can recommend particular placements and program involvements during sentencing. We always advocate for SOMP facility recommendations for our clients with sexual offense charges, enhancing the odds of a gentler and safer incarceration.
Discuss with your lawyer the possibility of a SOMP placement recommendation. Lawyers typically include such requests in the sentencing memorandum. If your lawyer needs guidance, Zoukis Consulting Group can provide model requests for judicial recommendations, drawing from our policy expertise.
The fundamental question isn’t what happens to sex offenders in prison, but rather how judicial recommendations can strategically benefit your case.
Handling the Inevitable Question
Survival as a sex offender in prison is a stark reality. The issue of how sex offenders are treated is a grim one. You can’t change your past, but you can manage the conflicts that arise from it.
When confronted, some opt for defiance, retorting with “What’s it to you?” or “You looking for trouble?” This approach can sometimes end the interrogation.
Denial and deceit rarely solve these problems because your records can reveal your conviction reasons.
However, we’ve helped clients stay off the radar, which can be effective temporarily. Say you’re in a federal detention center awaiting transfer to a SOMP facility; staying under the radar might be a viable strategy for those few months.
Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has established the Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) to tackle the challenges of managing sex offenders. It’s a type of institutional label which signifies the prison’s got a beefed-up Psychology Department, some kind of Sex Offender Treatment Program (be it residential or non-residential), plus a heftier ratio of sex offenders among its general inmate crowd.
The Bureau’s got its own way of justifying the need for SOMP-designated prisons. They say these places are crafted to cater to the distinct requirements of locked-up sex offenders, which includes:
- Better surveillance on offending behaviors
- Defense against other prisoners
- The often intricate criminal savvy of these inmates
These unique aims make SOMP prisons a bit of a safer harbor for sex offenders. These facilities let offenders serve their time without their lives hanging in the balance. With these offenders all in certain spots, the prison staff can keep a closer eye on them, too. So, if you’re wondering what goes down with sex offenders in SOMP prisons, it’s pretty straightforward: zilch.
Now, the Bureau’s perspective ain’t quite the same as what our sexual offense clients experience. Take for instance, the Bureau suggests, “Having more sex offenders together in [SOMP] institutions helps them to be more at ease with opening up about issues and pursuing help.” Though that might be true for some, more likely than not, sex offenders are just glad to be somewhere they aren’t in constant danger of getting beat up or offed because of why they’re in there.
Sex offenders in SOMP digs don’t really need to sweat the usual prison drama or threats to their well-being. But for those in non-SOMP spots, especially the ones with tighter security, the odds of getting roughed up or worse are real. If you’re in a lesser-secured place, not being in a SOMP isn’t such a big deal; there, sex offenders are more likely to get the cold shoulder than physical damage.
Sex Offender Treatment Programs in Federal Prisons
In the federal prison system, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has special Sex Offender Treatment Programs (SOTP) which are available only at SOMP-designated facilities. These treatments come in two forms:
- The Non-Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-NR)
- The Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-R)
The main distinctions between these two are the level of intensity of the treatment, whether it’s a live-in or day program, and who’s eligible to join these voluntary treatments. The non-residential option takes 9 to 12 months, while the residential one goes for 12 to 18 months. Most SOMP spots have the non-residential type, but a few, like FMC Devens, also got the residential kind.
Low-risk sex offenders get to do the non-residential program, but the residential one is just for those seen as high-risk. Being in these programs can help avoid civil commitment, but what you say in treatment can be used to show you need that commitment.
For more info, federal prisoners should talk to their prison’s Psychology Department folks. Each program’s finer details are laid out further below.
Non-Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-NR)
The Federal Bureau of Prisons runs the Non-Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program at all SOMP facilities, except for FMC Devens. It’s aimed at “offenders judged to have a low to moderate chance of reoffending.”
This program goes for 9 to 12 months and involves meeting up a couple or three times a week for sessions in the Psychology Department. The BOP says that in this program, inmates “pick up basic skills and ideas to understand their past crimes and chop down the risk of doing it again,” with different levels of therapy.
Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-R)
The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program is currently only at FMC Devens. It’s for “offenders who are more likely to reoffend.”
This one lasts from 12 to 18 months, with daily therapy sessions five days a week. The residential nature means more watching, more control, and more in-depth therapy.
The BOP points out, “Participants get the advantage of living in a therapy-focused community where they work on lowering their chance of reoffending.” Plus, these housing units for the program have stricter rules, like bans on certain media and no role-playing games.
It might not be fun, but for sex offenders, getting into the residential program is a straightforward way to make it through prison. It’s because everyone in the program is in for sex crimes.
Sex Offender Therapy Program Safety Concerns
Prior to diving into the Sex Offender Treatment Program, it’s critical to ponder whether you’re really in need of support. These programs might offer a solid chance for assistance. However, there’s a flip side – risks can tag along when you sign up for such therapy.
Most of the staff in the Psychology Department who run the SOTP are genuinely there to lend a hand to the folks in their care. But, it’s no secret that the Federal Bureau of Prisons has had its share of misusing these therapy groups in the past.
In some cases, staff have exploited these sessions to squeeze out confessions used to lock up offenders through civil commitment. The infamous Butner Study, followed by numerous studies and articles, lay this out. Nowadays, over ten years on, it seems like the BOP has cut out using SOTP for these shady ends.
If you’re aiming to keep safe yet still want in on the SOTP, go ahead and join the sex offender treatment. But, steer clear from confessing new offenses or indicating you’re powerless to stop future crimes.
Getting help is vital, but spilling about new victims can land you in hot water. If that’s a concern for you, the residential program might be worth considering, just watch what you confess.
Civil Commitment
The likelihood of a sex offender getting civilly committed is pretty low. Civil commitment’s really for those with direct contact offenses, either current or in the past. Plus, the government’s got to show you’ve got a mental issue that makes staying offense-free tough.
If you’re found with risky items in prison, like kiddie pics, that’s when you should sweat civil commitment. To gauge if you’re in the danger zone for civil commitment, have a chat with a Psychology Department pro about the Non-Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-NR). That program’s reserved for the low-risk crowd.
If you get the green light for the non-residential program, you’re likely in the clear. And even if you’re pointed towards the residential program, chances are you’re still safe.
For those staring down a higher civil commitment risk, playing it smart means showing progress in treatment. Not only does it act as a buffer against slipping back into abuse, but it can also dial down the civil commitment threat.
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