The Highest Security Prisons in Florida
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. Federal prisons are classified into five security levels: minimum, low, medium, high, and 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. The Coleman Florida prison inmates have limited movement and activities, and are confined to their cells for most of the day. The staff-to-inmate ratio is high, and the security measures are strict.
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. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a division of the United States Department of Justice.
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. 846 NE 54th Ter, Coleman, FL 33521 is the location of the complex. The space of the complex is 1,600 acres (650 ha). As of 2010, the complex houses 7,120 prisoners altogether, and 1,300 employees, and is the largest correctional facility operated in the nation, making it one of the largest employers in the county. Most prisoners, except for those housed at United States Penitentiary Coleman 1, have been sentenced for drug-related crimes, and had not been convicted of violent acts. The prison has held several unusual or notable criminals, according to Rachel Monroe of The Atlantic.
Prisoners housed at FCC Coleman Florida prison are all male. The prisoners on average have sentences of 10 years. Female prisoners, which previously were held at the adjacent satellite prison camp, had been raped by staff, and widespread sexual abuse has been tolerated, according to press reports. Due to lack of evidence, prosecutors have been unable to prosecute cases against the employees.
The complex is made up of four facilities: A low-security facility: FCI Coleman Low (Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Low). A medium-security facility with a satellite prison camp for minimum-security inmates adjacent to it: FCI Coleman Medium (Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Medium). A high-security facility: USP Coleman I (United States Penitentiary I, Coleman). A high-security facility: USP Coleman II (United States Penitentiary II, Coleman).