The complex combines a maximum-security facility, known as a United States Penitentiary (USP), with a minimum-security camp on the same premises. This arrangement allows for the sharing of services and resources, contributing to efficiency and emergency preparedness. Staff members have the opportunity to gain experience across different security levels, enhancing their skills and knowledge. Each institution within the complex maintains unique security protocols tailored to its specific mission and inmate population. High-security USPs within the complex are characterized by tightly controlled conditions and heavily secured perimeters. These facilities feature walls or reinforced fences, guard towers for surveillance, and restricted inmate movement. Housing typically includes both multiple-occupant and single-occupant cells, with the highest staff-to-inmate ratio among all facility types, enabling close supervision and control over inmate activities. Rigorous enforcement of security measures ensures the safety and security of both inmates and staff. In contrast, minimum-security Satellite Prison Camps (SCPs) on the premises focus on dormitory-style housing and emphasize work and programming for inmate rehabilitation. These facilities may have limited or no perimeter fencing, reflecting their lower-security classification. Additionally, some SCPs provide inmate labor to both the main facility and off-site work programs, further supporting rehabilitation efforts and extending their impact.
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This USP Big Sandy and Satellite Camp is a secure facility overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP is a division of the US Justice Department whose main function is to protect public safety by ensuring that federal offenders serve their sentences of imprisonment in facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and provide reentry programming to ensure their successful return to the community.
The prisons or institutions located throughout the US are operated at five different security levels in order to confine offenders in an appropriate manner. Security levels are based on such features as the presence of external patrols, towers, security barriers, or detection devices; the type of housing within the institution; internal security features; and the staff-to-inmate ratio.
Facilities are designated as either minimum, low, medium, high, or administrative; and facilities with different security levels that are in close proximity to each other are known as prison complexes.
Inmates are designated/re-designated to institutions based on several factors
After arriving each inmate is interviewed and screened by staff from the case management, medical, and mental health units. Later, an inmate is assigned to the Admission and Orientation (A & O) Program, where he or she receives a formal orientation to the programs, services, policies, and procedures of that facility. This program provides an introduction to all aspects of the institution.
For security, safety, and sanitation reasons, the Bureau limits the amount of property (jewelry, photographs, books, magazines, etc.) inmates may have and the types of publications inmates can receive. The institution issues clothing, hygiene items, and bedding; and provides laundry services. Inmates may purchase other personal care items, shoes, some recreational clothing, and some food items through the commissary. Civilian clothing (i.e., clothing not issued to the inmate by the Bureau or purchased by the inmate from the commissary) ordinarily is not authorized for retention by the inmate.
Inmates may only possess those items they are authorized to retain upon admission to the institution, items issued by authorized staff, items purchased by the inmate from the commissary, or items purchased or received through approved channels (to include that approved for receipt by an authorized staff member or authorized by institution guidelines). All other items are considered contraband and will be seized and disposed of (destroyed, mailed out of the institution at the inmate's expense, etc.) in accordance with Bureau regulations. Contraband that threatens the security of the institution may result in disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution for the inmate.