Despite the fact that 160,000 people are locked up in our federal correctional facilities, practical information about the federal prison system remains difficult to locate. While some information may be found scattered on the Internet, in directions given at court, or through shared personal experience, there is no single source available that is a collection of all available information. The U.S. Federal Prison System is the first comprehensive reference work that includes official prison policies, first-person accounts from prisoners, and information about each federal facility.

The book is organized into two parts. Part I is an introduction to federal prison facilities, including key statistics and "views from inside" provided by inmates of federal prisons. Part II is a look at the Federal Bureau of Prisons policies on various matters such as discipline, education, visits, and religious practices. The book also contains valuable Appendices that give a thorough listing and description of all Federal prison facilities, as well as the services and charities available to prisoners and their families. With the publication of this book there will finally be an up-to-date, comprehensive reference on the U.S. federal prisons that will prove to be of lasting value to families of inmates, researchers, and the general public.

Features of this text include:

• Comprehensive and up-to-date information—with a thorough overview of both prison policies and the federal facilities themselves
• Photos of selected prisons
• Part II is consistently organized with historical background information leading up to an account of the current policies. The specific federal rules and regulations governing the policies conclude each topical discussion.
• Appendix A is the first comprehensive listing of every Federal prison in the U.S., complete with facility details and service information
• Commentary from prisoners—first-person accounts take the reader behind the walls