Minimum security prisons are often referred to as federal prison camps. Although these camps follow many of the same strict rules and regulations as other federal prisons, they do not employ the same security features. For instance, when you think of a federal prison, you may envision a facility surrounded by razor-sharp fencing. Prisoners assigned to federal prison camps are nonviolent offenders (usually white-collar criminals or drug offenders) and are considered to be less of a security risk. Thus, there is little need for fencing around the perimeter of the camps. Instead, "Out of Bounds" signs are placed along perimeters and inmates are expected to comply with the designated boundaries. Furthermore, the low-risk inmates housed in federal prison camps require less supervision as they are less likely to break the rules or act out violently. Thus, there is a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio. Inmates who exhibit consistent good behavior may obtain community custody status. This is the lowest level of custody and is reserved for those inmates who require the least amount of security and supervision. Inmates assigned to community custody may be eligible for work programs outside the institution in addition to furloughs. Furloughs are unsupervised absences from the institution and are authorized only in certain circumstances, such as a family emergency or funeral, for instance. Inmates at a federal prison camp may also earn good conduct time, which is accumulated at the rate of fifty-four days per year. Good conduct time is awarded yearly and counts toward the inmate's time served.
Low security Federal Correctional Institutions (FCIs) are similar to minimum security prisons with the exception of a slightly higher staff-to-inmate ratio and double fencing around the perimeter of the facility. These increased security measures address the concerns of housing a criminal population that poses an elevated risk to themselves, other inmates, and the general public. Like minimum security prisons, low security facilities offer inmates a dormitory-like setting as opposed to individual cells.
