Inmate
The federal inmate at the center. Their progress, their goals, their advocacy. Account belongs to them.
Federal prison information
for families, in plain language.
Weekly briefings, comprehensive guides, and first-person stories. No subscription required. No paywall. No spam.
This Week's Briefing
Inside Out is our plain-language briefing on the federal prison system — published every other Friday. Free. No subscription required.
Latest issue · May 14, 2026
Inside Out — Week of May 14, 2026: Circuit Splits on FSA Credits, USSC's 2026 Amendments, and a Death at FCI Sheridan
This week's briefing tracks three developments that affect federal defendants and incarcerated people directly. First, the Fourth Circuit's decision in Benson v. Warden — that First Step Act Earned Time Credits can accru
Start Here
Three guides we point every new family toward.
Federal policy
Schedule III rescheduling: what it actually means for federal inmates and federal workers
The April 23, 2026 DOJ order moved a narrow category of marijuana to Schedule III. Here's what actually changed — for BOP custody, furlough conditions, workplace drug testing, and security clearances — and what did not.
Legal basics
How the First Step Act actually affects your loved one
Earned Time Credits, PATTERN scores, and the 12-month halfway-house cap — decoded without legalese. Includes a decision tree for whether they qualify.
Family guidance
Visiting someone in federal prison
Getting approved as a visitor, what to expect at the gate, the rules that aren't on the BOP website, and how to make a two-hour visit count.
Stories
First-person accounts from people who've been through the federal system.
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Plain-language federal prison briefing, every other Friday. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Built Around a Three-Party Model
Inmate at the center. Sponsor on the outside. Coach inside the network. All three working together.
Sponsor
A trusted family member or friend. Creates the account, manages logistics, communicates with the coach.
Coach
DrPrison staff with lived experience and clinical training. Handles filings, advocacy, and federal-system mechanics.
A Note on the Word "Inmate"
We use "inmate" deliberately. It's the official term used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and federal law. It's also what families type into search engines when they need help. Using softer alternatives would make this platform harder to find for the people who need it. The word describes a circumstance, not a character. The clinical respect for the person inside that custody status is in everything else we do.
Read the full statement →