Dr. M Blatstein's Blog

Critical 1^st steps that will determine your future are in the PSR.

To support your attorney’s efforts, please contact me, Dr. M. Blatstein: at DrMB@PPRSUS.com, or call 240.888.7778 (leaving a brief message).

While I cover preparing for BOP placement, medical issues could apply to both state and federal agencies.

1. Having attorney representation is critical, and if expenses are an issue there are Federal Public Defenders.
2. Before the sentencing hearing, if your attorney identifies medical (or mental healthcare) issues, now is when a professional consult is recommended.
3. If you have a history with any medical specialty or drug clinic etc.; getting your records is especially important.
4. Religious Diet – Accommodation Form (BP A700.53).
5. First Time Offenders (NACDL)– Alternatives to Incarceration
6. Do any of these mental health issues apply to the defendant? Federal prison placement includes Medical and Mental Healthcare needs to be implemented through the BOP CARE LEVELS I-IV along with their Structured Psychological Treatment Programs.
   • I) Brave Program A first-timer young male offender 32 years of age or younger, facing a sentence of 60 months or more
   • II) Challenge Program A male inmate facing a high-security penitentiary with a current diagnosis of either: Mood, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Delusion, and/or Substance-induced Psychotic Disorders
   • III) Mental Health Step Down A male or female who lacks the skills to function in a general population prison setting and is willing to work with Psychiatry Services.
   • IV) Resolve: A male or female with a current diagnosis of a mental illness related to physical, mental, and/or intimate domestic violence or traumatic PTSD
   • V) Skills A significant functional impairment due to intellectual disabilities, neurological and/or remarkable social skills deficits such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) to mention just a few.
   •  VI) Stages  A male inmate with a serious mental illness and a primary diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, along with a history of unfavorable institutional adjustment.
   • VIIa) Sex Offender Non-Residential Single Sex Crime or first-time Internet Sex Offense
   • VIIb) Sex Offender Residential Multiple sex crimes.
   • VIIc) Butner’s Commitment and Treatment Program for Sexually Dangerous Persons, Page 12, Is considered for sexually dangerous persons with the possibility of criminal recidivism
   • VIII) Female Integrated Treatment Is a female with substance abuse (RDAP Eligibility Possible), trauma-related disorders, and other mental illnesses. (FIT) Program
7.  COVID-19:
   • Early or Compassionate Release (CDC: Medical talking points), and
     • Federal Judge Rulings Across Country Inconsistent On Compassionate Release
   • Diversion Sentencing for drug crimes as outlined by the National Library of Medicine. Both appear difficult or aspirational to get a buy-in from the court and then BOP.

Unfortunately, prisons and jails are perfect Petri dishes for contagions to spread into their communities via the corrections staff and inmates. Masks along with 6’ of separation are unlikely and problematic to implement.

• • First Time Offenders (NACDL)– Alternatives to Incarceration