The federal "hole" is known as the SHU (Special Housing Unit). The length of time for administrative segregation is usually determined by a single staff member called the DHO (Disciplinary Hearing Officer). Your inmate will be allowed to have one BOP staff member "vouch" for your inmate's character. The DHO's decision is final. It can be as little as "time served" or as much as 6-12 months depending on the severity of the offense and the information that the others involved provide along with the level of your inmate's informational input. Additional penalties could be loss of telephone time, commissary, visitation or transfer to another facility (change in custody level).
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Accepted Answer Date Created: June 18,2014