What Are Indigent Federal Prison Inmates Provided?
The other day a Prison Law Blog reader presented a question. “My father is preparing to serve a sentence in a federal prison camp. He doesn’t have a lot of money or other resources. What will the Federal Bureau of Prisons provide him for his basic needs?” Obviously, a good question. In fact, it’s sad that the Federal Bureau of Prisons doesn’t make this sort of information available to soon-to-be inmates and their families. Regardless, the Prison Law Blog is here to help.
What Does the Federal Bureau of Prisons Provide to Indigent Prison Inmates?
Generally speaking, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, much like most state prisons, provides indigent inmates with the basic requirements for living in prison. Prison administrators are responsible for clothing, feeding, and providing medical care to all prisoners, and usually provide recreational opportunities, religious services, psychological counseling, and limited educational opportunities to the prison inmate population under their care as well. A federal prison inmate with absolutely no resources whatsoever will not starve or freeze to death, though their existence won’t be delightful either since there won’t be many luxuries.
Clothing for Federal Prison Inmates
The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides federal prisoners with several days’ worth of clothing including underwear, t-shirts, khaki pants, khaki shirts (both short-sleeved and long-sleeved), socks, and a winter coat. Federal inmates are also provided two blankets and two sheets. Depending on the local climate, long underwear, a knit hat, gloves, and other clothing or linen items might also be furnished.
Federal inmates with funds to spend can often purchase higher quality, or merely an additional quantity, of the existing clothing items. For example, while the Federal Bureau of Prisons will furnish prisoners with socks, prisoners with funds can purchase higher quality socks from the prison commissary.
