Criminal Defense Lawyers

Minimum Security Camp Qualification

Minimum Security Camp Qualification: Can You Get Federal Prison Camp Placement?

Your facing federal prison time, and the next 60 days will determine whether you spend your sentance in a minimum security camp or a harsher facility with fences, guards, and violence. If you’ve been convicted of a federal crime—or if sentencing is coming up—you’ve probly heard people mention “federal prison camps” or “Club Fed.” These minimum security facilities are real, and they’re alot different then medium or high-security prisons. But who actually gets to go their?

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) makes this decision based off a complex point system, your criminal history, and factors that many defendants don’t even know about untill its to late. This article explains exactly how BOP decides who qualifies for minimum security camps, what automatically disqualifies you, how you can maximize your chances of camp placement, and what to do if you don’t initially qualify.

Look, here’s the thing—this isn’t something you can leave to chance. The designation process happens fast, and once BOP makes their decision, changing it is extremly difficult. You need to understand this process now, weather your attorney has explained it or not.

Understanding BOP Designation: What Happens After Sentencing

After the judge sentences you to federal prison, the Bureau of Prisons has the authority under 18 U.S.C. § 3621 to designate were you’ll serve your sentance. This isn’t the judge’s decision—its BOP’s. And irregardless of what you or your attorney prefers, BOP makes the final call based on there internal guidelines.

Real talk: Most defendants think this process is random or that you just get sent wherever has space.

That ain’t true. BOP uses a specific security designation system laid out in BOP Program Statement 5100.08, and understanding this system is crucial for your case.

Here’s what actually happens. If your in custody when sentenced, BOP typically designates you within 2-4 weeks. If your out on bond and the judge granted voluntary surrender, BOP designates you before you’re surrender date. This timing matters becuase your window to influence the designation is during this period—not after.

The designation process starts with your Presentence Report (PSR). This document, prepared by a probation officer, contains not just you’re offense of conviction but also what’s called “relevant conduct.” Here’s were alot of defendants get blindsided: BOP doesn’t just look at what you pled guilty to. They look at everything in you’re PSR, including conduct you wasn’t convicted of, charges that was dismissed, or even acquitted conduct that the probation officer included.

For example, you might of pled guilty to wire fraud. But if your PSR mentions that the fraud scheme involved threats, or that investigators found a firearm during there search (even if you wasn’t charged with a weapons offense), BOP sees that. And it effects you’re security designation. Based off the case United States v. Watts, relevant conduct can include even acquitted conduct for sentencing purposes—and BOP relies on these sentencing documents.

One thing that nobody talks about enough: whether you voluntarily surrendered or was taken into custody makes a huge diffrence. Defendants who voluntary surrender have a much better chance of recieving minimum security designation, even in borderline cases. The BOP staff sees voluntary surrender as a cooperation indicator and a sign you’re not a flight risk.

If your currently out on bond, you need to stay out on bond and preserve that voluntary surrender status. Don’t violate you’re conditions. Don’t give them any reason to remand you before sentencing.

Bottom line: The designation happens weather you understand it or not. You can’t stop it, but you can try to influence it if you act fast and know what BOP is actually looking at.

The Security Point System Explained: Can You Qualify for 0-11 Points?

BOP assigns security points based on several factors, and you need 0-11 total points to qualify for minimum security placement. Anything above 11 points typically results in low-security or higher placement. Here’s how the scoring works, based off the security designation manual:

1. Severity of Current Offense (0-7 points)
The “greatest severity” offense your convicted of determines this score. Non-violent offenses like fraud, embezzlement, tax crimes, and drug possession typically score low (0-2 points). Drug trafficking, even without violence, might score higher (3-5 points). Any offense involving violence, weapons, or serious harm scores 6-7 points. If you scored 7 points here, your probly not getting a camp regardless of you’re other factors.

2. Criminal History (0-10 points)
This is based off you’re Criminal History Category from the sentencing guidelines. Category I (no or minimal criminal history) = 0 points. Category II = 1-2 points. Category III or higher starts to make camp placement difficult. If you have extensive prior convictions, especially violent ones, this category is were you’ll loose you’re camp eligibility.

3. History of Violence (0-7 points)
Any violent offense in your past—even if it wasn’t you’re current conviction—adds points. Assault, robbery, weapons charges, domestic violence convictions all count. This is seperate from your current offense severity. So if you’re current federal crime is non-violent but you have a 10-year-old state assault conviction, that old conviction still effects you’re security points.

4. Type of Detainer (0-4 points)
If you have any active detainer—immigration hold (ICE), state warrant, probation violation in another jurisdiction—BOP adds points. More importantly, these detainers often result in automatic denial of minimum security irregardless of you’re total points. We’ll get to this in the next section.

5. Escape History (0-10 points)
Any prior escape or attempt to escape from custody adds major points. Even a “walkaway” from a halfway house or home confinement years ago counts. If you have escape history, you’re not going to a camp.

6. Sentence Length (0-5 points)
Longer sentances add more points. Sentances under 5 years typically add 0-1 points. Sentances of 10+ years add 3-5 points. Life sentances or sentances over 30 years basically garauntee you won’t qualify for minimum security.

So here’s were it gets tricky. You need the math to work out to 11 points or less. Let’s say your convicted of tax fraud (1 point for severity), you have no criminal history (0 points), no violence (0 points), no detainer (0 points), no escape history (0 points), and a 36-month sentance (1 point). That’s 2 total points. Your going to a camp unless something else disqualifies you.

But what if you scored 11 points? Or 12?

This is what I call the “death zone”—the borderline cases were BOP has discretion. If your at exactly 11 points, you should get minimum security under the guidelines. But if your at 12 or 13 points, BOP regional offices have some discretion to still place you in minimum security if other factors look good (community ties, health issues, specific program needs, family proximity). However the reality is most 12-13 point defendants don’t get camps without a strong designation packet from there attorney.

I mean, think about it: BOP is reviewing hundreds of designation cases. If you’re PSR has negative language, mentions of uncharged conduct, or anything that makes you look like a risk, and you scored 12 points, there gonna send you to low-security. You need you’re attorney to submit a detailed designation packet explaining why you should get the benefit of the doubt.

Automatic Disqualifiers: What Destroys Your Camp Chances No Matter Your Points

Even if you calculate you’re security points and come up with 8 points or 5 points or even 0 points, certain factors will automatically disqualify you from minimum security placement. These are called Public Safety Factors (PSFs) in BOP terminology, and there listed in the security designation manual as “management variables” that override the point system.

Here’s what will disqualify you irregardless of you’re points:

Sex Offender Registration Requirements
If you’re required to register as a sex offender upon release, you can’t go to a camp. Period. But here’s the nuance that alot of attorneys miss: it’s not about weather your offense involved sexual conduct—it’s about weather you’ll be required to register under the Adam Walsh Act or state law.

Some defendants plead guilty to non-sexual federal charges (like transportation of obscene materials or computer crimes) that arose from sexual allegations, and they think there disqualified. But if the specific statute you’re convicted under doesn’t trigger registration requirements, you might still qualify for a camp. You need a legal analysis of whether you’re conviction requires registration—don’t just assume based on the underlying facts.

Conversely, some state sex offenses that got dismissed or reduced in a plea deal years ago might still require registration, and that old requirement will disqualify you from federal camp placement today. This is a trap that catches defendants who think there old state case is irrelevant to there current federal sentance.

Active Detainers or Holds
This is the silent camp-killer. If any other agency has a hold on you—immigration (ICE detainer), state warrant, probation violation warrant, even a county jail hold for unpaid fines—BOP will not send you to minimum security.

The reasoning is that detainers indicate you might be transfered to another jurisdiction, and minimum security camps ain’t designed for inmates who might be leaving BOP custody.

Real talk: I’ve seen defendants with perfect federal cases—non-violent, first-time offenders, 0 security points—get denied camp placement becuase they had a immigration detainer they didn’t even know about. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you need to assume ICE might place a detainer on you. You need immigration counsel to address this before you’re federal sentencing, not after.

State warrants are another issue. Maybe you have a old bench warrant in another state for failure to appear on a traffic case, or a probation violation from 5 years ago that you thought was resolved. BOP will find it. You need to clear all holds before BOP designates you, or you’re not getting a camp.

Serious Violent Offenses in Criminal History
Even if you’re current federal offense is completely non-violent (like tax evasion), if you have serious violence in you’re criminal history—murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping—BOP typically won’t send you to a camp. The security point system already penalizes violence, but certain offenses trigger additional PSF codes that act as automatic disqualifiers.

For all intensive purposes, if you ever was convicted of a crime involving serious bodily injury or use of a weapon, you should assume you’re not going to minimum security unless you’re attorney can make a very compelling case that the old conviction was misclassified or that you’re rehabilitation is exceptional.

Greatest Severity Offense PSF
Certain federal offenses are coded as “Greatest Severity” in BOP’s system and automatically disqualify you from camps. This includes crimes like terrorism, espionage, major drug trafficking (kingpin level), and certain organized crime offenses. If your offense falls into this category, you’re point score doesn’t even matter—you’re not going to minimum security.

Deportable Alien Status
If BOP determines you’re deportable (subject to removal after you’re sentance), this can trigger a PSF that prevents camp placement. This overlaps with the detainer issue, but even without an active ICE detainer, if you’re immigration status makes you deportable, BOP might deny minimum security. The logic is that deportable inmates might abscond to avoid deportation, so there a flight risk even if they don’t have escape history.

Threat to Government Officials
If you’re case involved threats against judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, or other goverment officials, BOP will code you with this PSF. Sometimes this gets applied to broadly—I’ve seen tax protestors who made general anti-goverment statements (not actual threats) get coded this way. If you get this PSF, you’re attorney needs to challenge it as inapplicable to you’re case, becuase it’s a camp disqualifier.

Plain and simple: These disqualifiers can’t be overcome by having low security points. You could have 0 points and still get denied minimum security if any of these factors apply. You need to identify these issues now and address them before BOP makes there designation decision.

Borderline Cases: Fighting for Camp Placement When You’re at 11-13 Points

So you’ve calculated you’re points and you got 11, 12, or 13 points. Your not clearly qualified (0-10 points), but your not clearly disqualified either.

This is the most stressful position to be in, becuase you don’t know which way BOP will go. Your future—weather you spend you’re sentance in a relatively safe minimum security environment or in a low-security facility with more violence and restrictions—comes down to how BOP’s designation staff interprets you’re case.

Here’s the thing—and I mean this is crucial—BOP has discretion in borderline cases. The security designation manual gives regional BOP offices some flexibility to consider additional factors beyond just the point score. But they ain’t gonna exercise that discretion in you’re favor unless you give them a reason to. That reason comes in the form of a designation packet that you’re attorney submits to BOP.

Most attorneys—look, I’m just being honest here—most attorneys don’t prepare thorough designation packets. They might send a one-page letter saying “my client should go to a camp becuase he’s non-violent.”

That doesn’t work.

BOP designation coordinators review hundreds of cases. If you’re at 12 points and all they have is a generic letter, there gonna send you to low-security and move on to the next case. You need to make it easy for them to say yes to minimum security.

What Should Be in Your Designation Packet?

If your in the borderline zone, you’re attorney should submit a designation packet that includes:

1. Detailed Letter Explaining Why You’re Low-Risk
Not a generic letter. A letter that addresses the specific factors that pushed you’re point score up, and explains why those factors don’t actually make you a risk in a minimum security environment. For example, if you got points for a 8-year sentance length, the letter should explain that you’re still a first-time, non-violent offender with strong community ties who won’t be a management problem.

2. Letters from Family Members
Letters from you’re spouse, parents, children explaining the hardship of being seperated from you, you’re role in there lives, and asking BOP to place you near them in a minimum security facility. These humanize you. BOP staff are people—they respond to humanizing factors, especially in borderline cases were there’s discretion.

3. Community Ties Documentation
Evidence of you’re ties to the community: home ownership, employment history, family relationships, involvement in church or community organizations. The idea is to show you’re stable and not a flight risk, even in a low-security environment without fences.

4. Medical Documentation (If Applicable)
If you have any serious medical conditions—diabetes, heart disease, mobility issues, mental health conditions requiring medication—include medical records and a letter from you’re doctor. Here’s why this matters: BOP has a obligation under Program Statement 6000.01 to place inmates were they can recieve neccessary medical care.

Some low-security facilities have limited medical staff. Some camps actually have better access to medical care becuase there located near Federal Medical Centers or civilian hospitals. You’re attorney can argue that you’re medical needs are better served at a specific minimum security camp then at a low-security facility.

5. Specific Facility Requests with Justification
Don’t just say “any camp.” Request specific facilities and explain why: family proximity, medical programs, educational programs, drug treatment programs you need. For example, if you need residential drug treatment, certain camps offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). If you request a camp that offers RDAP and you’re eligible for the program, that’s a stronger argument then just asking for “any camp becuase it’s nicer.”

6. Voluntary Surrender Status
If the judge granted voluntary surrender, emphasize this in the designation packet. Voluntary surrender defendants are statistically more likely to get minimum security. They’ve shown there willing to comply, there not a flight risk (they could of fled but didn’t), and there not in custody costing taxpayers money before sentencing. This is a big deal, even though its not officially part of the point system.

I mean, look—if you’re at 12 points and you submit a thorough designation packet like this, you’ve got maybe a 40-50% chance of getting minimum security. If you submit nothing or just a generic letter, you’re chance is probly 10-20%.

Those odds matter alot when its you’re safety and you’re family’s ability to visit you on the line.

But here’s the reality check: if you scored 14+ points, even the best designation packet probly won’t get you into a camp. At that point, you need to be realistic and focus on getting the best low-security facility possible, and then plan for redesignation after you’ve served some time and demonstrated good behavior.

For all intensive purposes, the 11-13 point range is were the fight happens. Lower then that, you should get a camp. Higher then that, you probly won’t. But in that range, you’re attorney’s work actually matters.

Special Considerations: Women, Medical Issues, and Other Factors

Certain situations create additional complications in the designation process that you need to understand if they apply to you.

Female Defendants: The Geographic Nightmare

If you’re a woman, you need to understand something that most of the informational articles don’t mention: there are only five standalone federal prison camps for women in the entire United States. Let me list them:

• FCI Alderson Camp (West Virginia)
• FCI Bryan Camp (Texas)
• FCI Danbury Camp (Connecticut)
• FCI Waseca Camp (Minnesota)
• FCI Dublin Camp (California) — currently under review and not accepting new inmates due to staff misconduct investigations

That’s it.

If you live in the Southeast and you qualify for minimum security, you might get sent to Alderson in West Virginia or Bryan in Texas. If you’re family is in Florida, neither of those is close. Male defendants have dozens of camp options across the country. Women have five, and one of them might be closed.

The alternative is “satellite minimum security camps” attached to larger female facilities, but these aren’t the same. There often smaller, have less capacity, and the rules can be different becuase there part of a larger low or medium security institution.

Real talk: If you’re a woman qualifying for minimum security, you need to request specific facilities in you’re designation packet and explain family hardship. BOP does have some discretion to consider family proximity for female inmates becuase the options is so limited. But you have to ask for it. Document the hardship: child care issues, elderly parents who can’t travel, medical needs of family members who depend on you. Make it clear that being sent 2,000 miles from you’re family creates exceptional hardship.

Medical Conditions That Affect Designation

If you have serious medical conditions, this can effect you’re designation in ways that ain’t obvious. BOP is required to provide adequate medical care, but not all facilities have the same medical capabilities. Here’s what you need to know:

Certain conditions—like insulin-dependent diabetes, heart disease requiring regular cardiology care, cancer treatment, dialysis, HIV/AIDS requiring medication management, serious mental health conditions—might require placement at or near a Federal Medical Center (FMC). There’s only a handful of FMCs: FMC Devens (Massachusetts), FMC Lexington (Kentucky), FMC Butner (North Carolina), FMC Carswell (Texas – women), FMC Rochester (Minnesota).

Sometimes a medical condition that seems like it would hurt you’re chances of camp placement actually helps, becuase certain camps are located near FMCs or have better access to civilian medical care then low-security facilities in remote areas. For example, if you need ongoing specialist care and there’s a minimum security camp near a major city with civilian hospitals, you’re attorney can argue that placement makes medical sense.

The key is to submit medical records and a letter from you’re treating physician to BOP’s medical designation staff before the designation is finalized. BOP has a seperate medical review process for inmates with serious conditions. Once BOP medical staff gets involved, they can sometimes override security designation decisions if medical necessity requires it.

Elderly Defendants

If your over 60, especially if your over 65 or 70, age can be a factor in borderline cases. Elderly inmates generally pose less risk of violence or escape. Some camps have better accomodations for elderly inmates (ground-floor housing, less physically demanding work details). If you’re age and health make you unsuitable for the physical demands of higher-security facilities, this should be in you’re designation packet.

First-Time Offenders

Being a first-time federal offender doesn’t garauntee minimum security, but it helps in borderline cases. If you’re Criminal History Category I (no prior convictions), you’re statistically much more likely to get a camp then someone with the same point score but prior convictions. Emphasize this in you’re designation packet if it applies.

What Your Attorney Must Do RIGHT NOW

If your sentencing is coming up or you’ve just been sentenced, there’s specific things you’re attorney should be doing right now to maximize you’re chances of minimum security designation. Here’s what you should expect from competant counsel:

1. Review Your PSR for Inaccuracies
Before the PSR is finalized, you’re attorney must review it carefully and object to any inaccurate statements, especially in the “relevant conduct” section. If the PSR says you had a leadership role in the offense and you didn’t, object. If it mentions uncharged conduct that’s exaggerated or false, object. Once the PSR is final, BOP treats it as fact. You can’t fix it later.

2. Calculate Your Security Points
You’re attorney should calculate you’re expected security score and tell you honestly weather you’re likely to qualify for minimum security. If you’re borderline, they should tell you that and explain what needs to be in the designation packet. If you’re not going to qualify, they should tell you that too so you can have realistic expectations.

3. Identify Any Disqualifiers
You’re attorney needs to check for detainers (immigration, state warrants, probation violations), sex offender registration requirements, PSF codes that might apply, and any other automatic disqualifiers. If there’s a detainer, it needs to be resolved before sentencing if possible. If there’s a PSF that’s incorrectly applied, you’re attorney should challenge it with BOP.

4. Prepare a Designation Packet
For any case were minimum security is possible, you’re attorney should prepare and submit a designation packet to BOP. This should be sent to the BOP Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC) and to the regional BOP office that covers you’re district. The packet should include everything I outlined in the previous section: detailed letter, family letters, community ties documentation, medical records if applicable, specific facility requests with justification.

5. Submit the Packet Early
The designation packet should be submitted immediately after sentencing, or even before sentencing if you’re attorney has discussed likely sentance range with the prosecutor or judge. You want BOP to have this information when there making the designation decision, not after.

6. Follow Up with BOP
After submission, you’re attorney should follow up with BOP DSCC to confirm they recieved the packet and to ask about the timeline for designation. Sometimes a phone call from you’re attorney can make the diffrence in getting a human being at BOP to actually read you’re materials.

Bottom line: If you’re attorney isn’t doing these things, you need to ask them why not. This is part of effective representation in federal criminal cases. The sentance isn’t the end of the case—designation matters enormously for you’re safety and you’re family’s ability to maintain contact with you.

2025 Federal Prison Camp List: Where You Could Actually Go

If you qualify for minimum security, here’s were you might actually be placed. This list is current as of early 2025, but you should check the BOP facilities page for updates becuase camps do close or suspend intake due to staffing issues.

Men’s Federal Prison Camps (Standalone and Satellite):

Northeast Region:
FCI Otisville Camp (New York) — popular for Northeast defendants, often requested
FCI Schuylkill Camp (Pennsylvania)
FCI Fairton Camp (New Jersey)
FCI Fort Dix Camp (New Jersey) — large facility, frequently designated

Southeast Region:
FCI Pensacola Camp (Florida)
FCI Montgomery Camp (Alabama)
FCI Talladega Camp (Alabama)
FCI Edgefield Camp (South Carolina)
FCI Estill Camp (South Carolina)
FCI Jesup Camp (Georgia)
FCI Miami Camp (Florida) — closed as of 2024, no longer available

North Central Region:
FCI Yankton Camp (South Dakota)
FCI Oxford Camp (Wisconsin)
FCI Duluth Camp (Minnesota)
FCI Sandstone Camp (Minnesota)

South Central Region:
FCI Bastrop Camp (Texas)
FCI Beaumont Camp (Texas)
FCI El Reno Camp (Oklahoma)
FCI Texarkana Camp (Texas)

Western Region:
FCI Lompoc Camp (California)
FCI Phoenix Camp (Arizona)
FCI Tucson Camp (Arizona)
FCI Sheridan Camp (Oregon)

Women’s Federal Prison Camps:
FCI Alderson Camp (West Virginia)
FCI Bryan Camp (Texas)
FCI Danbury Camp (Connecticut)
FCI Waseca Camp (Minnesota)
FCI Dublin Camp (California) — currently not accepting new inmates due to ongoing investigation

When requesting facilities, be strategic. Don’t just request the one closest to you’re family. Request 3-4 facilities in priority order, and include justification for each: family proximity, medical programs, educational programs, RDAP availability if you’re eligible. The more specific and justified you’re requests, the more likely BOP is to accomodate at least one of them.

Also be aware that some camps have waiting lists or limited capacity. If you request only one facility and its full, BOP will just send you wherever has space. Give them options.

If You Don’t Get a Camp: Redesignation Options

So what if you get designated to low-security instead of minimum? Is it over? Should you give up?

No.

There’s a process called redesignation that allows inmates to request a transfer to lower security after they’ve served time and demonstrated good behavior. Here’s how it works:

After you’ve been incarcerated for 12-18 months in a low-security facility, if you’ve had no incident reports (disciplinary violations), completed programs, maintained good work evaluations, and shown you’re not a management problem, you can request redesignation to minimum security. You submit this request through you’re Unit Team (case manager and counselor) at you’re current facility.

The success rate for redesignation requests ain’t great—maybe 30-40% for inmates who meet the criteria—but its worth trying if you qualify. Here’s what improves you’re chances:

Document Everything
Keep copies of every program completion certificate, every positive work evaluation, every educational achievement. When you submit you’re redesignation request, you need to show a pattern of positive behavior and programming.

No Incident Reports
Even minor disciplinary issues can derail a redesignation request. Stay out of trouble. Don’t get involved in inmate politics or conflicts. Don’t violate institutional rules even if they seem petty.

Program Participation
Complete any programs you’re eligible for: drug treatment (RDAP), educational programs (GED, college courses), vocational training. BOP looks favorably on inmates who use there time productively.

Family Support
Have you’re family write letters to the BOP regional office requesting you’re redesignation and explaining the hardship of you’re current placement being far from them. These letters should go to the regional director, not just you’re Unit Team.

Time Your Request
Don’t request redesignation too early (BOP will just deny it becuase you haven’t served enough time) or too late (if you only have a year left, they might not bother moving you). The sweet spot is usually after 18 months served if you have at least 2 years remaining.

Redesignation isn’t garaunteed, but its a option. If you didn’t qualify initially becuase you had 13-14 points, but you’ve been a model inmate for a year and a half, BOP might reconsider. Its worth trying.

Take Action Now: Your Window Is Closing

If your reading this becuase you’ve been sentenced or sentencing is approaching, you need to act now. The BOP designation process moves fast—usually within 2-4 weeks of sentencing if your in custody, or before you’re surrender date if your out on bond.

Once BOP makes there designation decision, changing it is extremly difficult. You have one shot to influence this, and that shot is right now.

Here’s what you should do immediatly:

Contact you’re attorney and ask them directly: “Have you calculated my security points? Do I qualify for minimum security? What are you submitting to BOP for my designation?” If they don’t have clear answers, you need to push them to get this done.

If you have any detainers, immigration issues, or outstanding warrants in other jurisdictions, you need to resolve these now. They will disqualify you from camp placement even if everything else looks good.

If you have medical conditions, get documentation from you’re doctors and make sure it gets to BOP medical designation staff.

Don’t wait. Don’t assume you’re attorney is handling this. Don’t assume BOP will “figure it out.” This is you’re life, you’re safety, and you’re family’s ability to visit you on the line. Take control of what you can control.

The diffrence between spending you’re sentance in a minimum security camp and a low-security facility is enormous—different environment, different level of violence, different visiting rules, different proximity to you’re family. Its worth fighting for.

Call a qualified federal criminal defense attorney who understands BOP designation. Right now. Today. You’re window is closing.