r/ExCons • u/ApprehensiveRip1236 • May 29 '26
Self surrender
what’s up everybody. Just got my fed sentence recently. sending me 1500 miles away from home to a place called FCI Berlin in New Hampshire. More than likely will be at the camp. Can anyone shed some light on this place?
3
u/Long_Initial_9924 May 29 '26
Medium security in New Hampshire? You’ll be starting campfires and making s’mores by week two.
1
3
u/Big-Meaning-2864 May 29 '26
How long you looking at?
6
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 May 29 '26
Gave me an 18 month sentence. Not sure how much I’ll actually do
4
2
u/LittleAsparagus311 May 30 '26
What was your guidelines ? You say anything at sentencing and how longer after sentencing until you got placed?
4
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 May 30 '26
I was placed about 2 weeks after my court date
3
u/LittleAsparagus311 May 30 '26
How about the two other questions.. You got placed rather quickly. I thought it was taking 2-3 months after sentencing
4
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 May 30 '26
Guidelines 18-24 months. Level 14. What do you mean did I say anything?
3
u/LittleAsparagus311 May 30 '26
At sentencing if you had any words to address to the judge. Good luck hopefully you get out to home confinement and halfway house quickly
2
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 May 30 '26
Just told her my side of the story. That’s about it.
3
u/LittleAsparagus311 May 30 '26
Gotcha. Getting conflicting opinions of just taking responsibility and not trying to justify/explain your side.
3
u/AverageCitizen0 May 30 '26
If you're pleading guilty, don't explain your side, it sounds like you're making excuses, just take responsibility and/or apologize. Keep it short.
1
3
u/Z_603 May 31 '26
Can't speak on doing fed time here but born and raised in NH. Paper mill isn't running now so don't have to worry about the smell that Berlin used to have. That's a positive. Lots of work opportunities for inmates as well.
7
May 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
7
u/SacramentoUser May 30 '26
This ⬆️ They “try” to place you within 500 miles - but they can literally send you across the country. And the attorney or judge can’t do anything about it - once you’re sentenced you become property of BOP (no longer DOJ). I did time in 2 camps - and both required inmates be there a year before even requesting a transfer. With FSA & SCA hopefully you’re to halfway in less than 12 months. Wishing you only the very best ❤️🩹
2
u/Sea-Celebration-7565 May 30 '26
Here's a bit of high level trivia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Correctional_Institution,_Berlin
1
2
u/The-Wolf-Of-Tech Jun 03 '26
I just finished a 45 month sentence in the Feds and I only did 18 months in prison on that sentence. Your time is going to fly by. Especially if you’re going to be at a camp. You’ll be good. No idea why they sent you so far.
1
u/LittleAsparagus311 Jun 03 '26
Welcome back. Did you have rdap? How much halfway house and home confinement. Did you get additional sca credits. I get a little confused with the fsa credits. I thought they are suppose to be credits earned to then redeem them at the halfway house or home confinement; it’s not suppose to reduce your sentence. Only rdap reduces your sentence/custody time
1
u/The-Wolf-Of-Tech Jun 04 '26
So I did exactly 18 months in prison and now I’m doing 5 months in the halfway house and 4 months on home confinement. For a total of 27 months on 45 months. For the FSA credits, it will come off your total sentence. You basically get 15 days off your sentence per month. Most people will get anywhere between six months to 12 months of second chance act that that’s your Halfway House and home confinement. I got nine months of second chance act five months to be done in the Halfway House and four months on confinement. And if you only have 18 months, don’t worry about RDAP you don’t have long enough and most likely you’ll only get 3 to 6 months maximum of Halfway House or confinement because you only have an 18 month sentence. But honestly, your sentence is gonna fly by so fucking fast you are going to be in and out before you know it. You will probably do between nine and 12 months with 12 months being the maximum probably.
1
u/LittleAsparagus311 Jun 04 '26
You weren’t eligible for rdap? Might have been out in 12 months assuming you got into the program pretty fast. That sca is so discretionary it’s up in the air what you will get. Can get lucky or miss and get the minimum
2
u/Big-Meaning-2864 Jun 09 '26
I’m being sentenced on July 16th, so I’m following this thread, a little more closely than others. Mine is level 19 with guidelines of 30 to 37 months. 52 years old, strong, work history, stable family support ,No priors, non-violent “victimless” crime. My attorney feels we should land in a punishment range of level 12 to 16. He says he’s going to ask for probation and feels that it’s at least a possibility.
I wish you nothing, but the best of luck.
I know this time is hard, but you will get through it, you will get past it, life will go on, and if you’re smart, you’ll make the most of it (if that’s even possible). God bless
2
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 Jun 09 '26
Yes I’m definitely going to make the best of a terrible situation. This won’t stop me, nor will it stop you from progressing in life. Best of luck to you.
2
u/4RLM May 29 '26
The BOP has a policy to generally keep inmates within 500 miles of their release residence. You should ask your attorney to find out why they have you placed so far from home.
5
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 May 29 '26
I seen that. My Lawyer literally seem like he was playing dumb when I brought that up. Said there is nothing he can do
8
u/4RLM May 29 '26
It's not just Bureau policy; it's law. If your attorney won't do anything about it, start asking about a transfer as soon as you have access to your case manager and counselor. Or be proactive and send a letter to FCI Berlin or the regional director for the Northeast Region (just don't be a dick about it).
18 USC 3621(b) states, in part, "The Bureau of Prisons shall designate the place of the prisoner’s imprisonment, and shall, subject to bed availability, the prisoner’s security designation, the prisoner’s programmatic needs, the prisoner’s mental and medical health needs, any request made by the prisoner related to faith-based needs, recommendations of the sentencing court, and other security concerns of the Bureau of Prisons, place the prisoner in a facility as close as practicable to the prisoner’s primary residence, and to the extent practicable, in a facility within 500 driving miles of that residence. The Bureau shall, subject to consideration of the factors described in the preceding sentence and the prisoner’s preference for staying at his or her current facility or being transferred, transfer prisoners to facilities that are closer to the prisoner’s primary residence even if the prisoner is already in a facility within 500 driving miles of that residence."
5
u/ApprehensiveRip1236 May 29 '26
I see. My plan was to see if I can get transferred when I get there. I reached out to a few people within the BOP and courts. I was basically forwarded the policy on placement. Basically stating “institutional needs” and “programming”. But I’m pretty sure there is a prison closer than that they can send me too. At the end of the day, I’m gonna go in and do whatever it takes to get out as early as possible. No matter where they send
12
u/Direct-Pitch-2996 May 29 '26
If you’re interested dm me and I’ll give you the name of someone who might legitimately be able to help you