Sacramento Federal Criminal Consultant

Sacramento Federal Halfway House (Residential Re-entry Center - RRC)

Sacramento is finally getting a federal halfway house after years of going without. Pride Industries, Inc. will be operating the facility on Auburn Blvd. It is currently scheduled to open August 1, 2009.  The BOP inmates from the Sacramento area have been going to the RRCs in Oakland, San Francisco and Fresno, California since April 1, 2001 when the Volunteers of America closed their federal halfway house operation. It will be a welcome relief for Sacramento area inmates releasing after the August date.

Most federal inmates experience RRC before they are released back to the community. Generally speaking, they will complete 90-120 days in an RRC before released on a Term of Supervised (TSR) supervision. There are exceptions to the amount of pre-release days depending on the length of sentence and some may get more, up to 180 days, if they have served lengthy sentences and are deemed in need of a longer pre-release period.

Inmates participating in release programming at a RRC remain in Federal custody while serving a sentence imposed by the U.S. District Court. Accordingly, RRC staff monitor an inmate’s location and movement 24 hours a day. The contractor authorizes an inmate to leave the RRC through sign-out procedures for approved activities, such as seeking employment, working, counseling, visiting, or recreation. Staff continue to monitor inmates by visiting the approved locations (home or work) and/or making random phone contacts at different times during the day. Staff also administer random drug and alcohol tests for those inmates returning to the RRC from an approved activity and conduct random in-house counts throughout the day.

RCC have levels of time away from the facility. For those who are there in lieu of a BOP facility placement, their stay is for punishment so they are more restricted during their time at RRC.  Generally these placements are as a condition of TSR or probation, although the BOP may designate RRC’s as places of confinement for those serving short sentences (12 months or less). Those who are pre-releasing from a BOP facility the time away from RRC gradually relaxes the longer the inmate is in the facility. That is, when they first arrive, there may be a “black out period” or limited communication with family and friends. As the days and weeks progress, they are allowed visitors in and away from RRC. Toward the end of their stay, most inmates are placed on “home confinement”. This allows the inmate to remain at home when not working except for a once a week or more contact visit to the RRC. The RRC staff will also make announced and unannounced home visits to make sure the inmate is at the residence during proper times.

Ordinarily, all offenders are expected to be employed 40 hours/week within 15 calendar days after their arrival at the RRC. Staff are available at the RRC to assist inmates in obtaining employment through a network of local employers, employment job fairs, and training classes in resume writing, interview techniques, etc.

During their stay, inmates are required to pay a subsistence fee to help defray the cost of their confinement; this charge is 25 percent of their gross income, not to exceed the average daily cost of their RRC placement. The contractor assists inmates in locating suitable housing (if necessary), to which they can release from the RRC. In cases where an inmate will be released with supervision, the contractor verifies the proposed address and forwards their comments to the U.S. Probation Office.

All RRCs offer drug testing and counseling for alcohol and drug-related problems. Contractors provide treatment and/or counseling based upon the offender’s needs and substance abuse history.

Ordinarily, inmates are expected to be responsible for their own medical expenses while residing in a RRC. Contractors usually maintain a network of social service agencies to assist inmates, if the need arises during transition. In an emergency and on a case-by-case basis, the contractor is responsible for obtaining the necessary treatment required to preserve the inmate’s life. The Bureau provides a 30-day supply of medication to cover the first 30 days of an inmate’s stay at a RRC (under limited circumstances, more may be provided).

Although not currently known, the RRC in Sacramento could also double as a BOP  Comprehensive Sanction Center (CSC).  CSCs  require that inmates participate in more programs. They may include an intensive treatment component consisting of substance abuse education, life skills training, mental health counseling, education, employment assistance, and monitoring. The inmate’s progress is systematically reviewed by a Program Review Team (PRT), with representatives from the Bureau, U.S. Probation, and the contractor. The U.S. Probation Office is also formally involved in the release planning process.

Each RRC is operated by different contractors but the rules are generally consistent and conform with BOP standards.