Florida’s High-Security Prisons
If you or a loved one is facing a federal prison sentence, you may be wondering what kind of prison you will end up in. There are five security levels for federal prisons: from minimum to high, plus 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.
Maximum security prisons, also known as penitentiaries, are designed to house the most dangerous and violent offenders in the federal system. Serious crimes, such as murder, terrorism, espionage, or sex offenses, have landed these inmates in long sentences or life imprisonment. Some of them may also be awaiting execution on death row.
The environment of maximum security prisons is the most restrictive and secure, with electronic surveillance, guard towers, razor wire, and high walls. For most of the day, the inmates are confined to their cells, with limited activities and movement. The security measures are strict, and the staff-to-inmate ratio is high.
Both of the maximum security prisons in Florida are located in the Federal Correctional Complex, Coleman Penitentiary (FCC Coleman). FCC Coleman Federal Correctional Complex is a United States federal prison complex for male inmates in unincorporated Sumter County, Florida, near Wildwood. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a division of the United States Department of Justice, operates it.
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. The complex is located at 846 NE 54th Ter, Coleman, FL 33521. The complex has 1,600 acres (650 ha) of space. As of 2010, the complex, the largest correctional facility operated in the nation, altogether houses 7,120 prisoners, and 1,300 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the county. Most prisoners, with the exception of prisoners housed at United States Coleman Penitentiary 1, are sentenced for drug-related crimes, and had not been convicted of violent acts. According to Rachel Monroe of The Atlantic, the prison has held several unusual or notable criminals.
They are all male, the prisoners at FCC Coleman Federal Prison Florida. On average, they have sentences of 10 years. According to press reports, staff had raped female prisoners, which previously were held at the adjacent satellite prison camp, and widespread sexual abuse has been tolerated. Prosecutors have been unable to prosecute cases against the employees due to lack of evidence.
Four facilities make up the complex: FCI Coleman Low (Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Low): a low-security facility. FCI Coleman Medium (Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Medium): a medium-security facility with a satellite prison camp for minimum-security inmates adjacent to it. USP Coleman I (United States Penitentiary I, Coleman): a high-security facility. USP Coleman II (United States Penitentiary II, Coleman): a high-security facility.
