Criminal Case, Dr. M Blatstein's Blog, Medical, Preparation, Sentence Mitigation, White-Collar

THREE SEX-OFFENDER DEATHS FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER, 2025

• USP COLEMAN II
• MIAMI FDC
• GREENVILLE FCI

O

O

F

I) FEDERAL PRISON:

Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP)

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) designates specific institutions nationwide to provide Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) services for individuals who require specialized treatment and oversight. These placements span all security levels—administrative, low, medium, and high—and are structured to ensure appropriate clinical care, program availability, and custodial supervision.

At the administrative level, FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, and FMC Devens in Ayers, Massachusetts, offer SOMP services within medical center environments, allowing for a combination of treatment resources and secure housing.

Low-security SOMP placements are available at FCI Elkton in Ohio and FCI Seagoville in Texas, each providing programming designed for individuals who meet criteria for lower-level custody.

For those requiring placement within a medium-security facility, SOMP programming is conducted at FCI Marianna in Florida, USP Marion in Illinois, and FCI Petersburg Medium in Virginia. These institutions provide more structured supervision while still offering clinically focused treatment options.

Individuals who require the highest level of security are typically assigned to USP Tucson in Arizona, the BOP’s primary high-security SOMP institution.

These facilities comprise the BOP’s designated framework for managing individuals with sex-offense-related treatment needs. They provide a combination of evidence-based programming, security-appropriate housing, and ongoing monitoring to support rehabilitative goals while maintaining institutional safety.

Failure to secure placement in a SOMP facility can have serious consequences. If a safety-related incident arises, your client may be segregated for their own protection—potentially for the duration of their sentence. Extended isolation often contributes to anxiety disorders, trauma responses, and other significant mental-health complications. Taking proactive steps to advocate for appropriate placement is therefore essential to supporting a safe adjustment to the correctional environment.

SEX OFFENDER DEATHS SINCE SEPTEMBER 2025

This advocacy becomes even more critical when the Presentence Report documents a diagnosed mental-health condition and includes clinical records or statements from the treating provider.

Although it is challenging to focus on amid the stress of sentencing, early intervention can meaningfully reduce the overwhelming fears experienced by both your client and their family during this process.

BOP PROGRAMMING WITH 2 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE

SEX OFFENDER PROGRAM RESIDENTIAL (SOTP-R) is a voluntary program (P5324.10) for those with a history of multiple sexual offenses, re-offense, extensive non-sexual criminal histories, and/or a high level of sexual deviancy or hypersexuality. Inmates ordinarily participate in the program during the remaining 36 to 48 months. The program lasts 12-18 months. Placement in the SOTP-R is reserved for inmates with more extensive sex offense histories, and cohousing participants permit the implementation of a modified therapeutic community separate from the general population.

Having only 2 SOTP-R facilities nationwide, before they enter the program, initial placement into a free-standing Federal Prison Camp (FPC), or satellite minimum camp (adjacent to a higher secure facility), if appropriate, should be part of the court’s calculation. FMC Devens, and  USP Marion 

This is because, should an inmate consider acting violently towards your client, most would likely refrain, as a single incident would have them transferred behind the wall to a higher-security facility, which they would not want.

Ultimately, it comes down to knowing your client and the facility recommendation options available before SOTP-R placement. Keep in mind that no matter what the BOP says, this could be a real-life event; therefore, having this discussion with your client may prove crucial.

L

BOP PROGRAMMING WITH 9 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE

SEX OFFENDER PROGRAM NON-RESIDENTIAL (SOTP-NR) is also a voluntary program (P5324.10) for low to moderate first-time sex offenders with a single history of Internet Sex Crime, intended to identify offenders who are likely to re-offend. Inmates ordinarily participate in the program during the remaining 36-48 months of their sentence. SOTP-NR participants in the general population. FMC Carswell (females only), FCI Englewood, USP Marion, FCI Petersburg, USP Tucson FCI, Elkton (program at the FSL), FCI Marianna, FCI Milan, and FCI Seagoville

Having only nine facilities nationwide, before they enter the SOTP-NR program, consideration should be given to either an FPC or a satellite minimum camp. Why, because if an inmate acts violently towards your client, they would most likely refrain, as a single incident would have them transferred behind the wall, to a higher security facility. Otherwise, any other placement could result in a life-threatening sentence.

Consideration may again come down to knowing your client and understanding the facility options available for the period before their SOTP-NR placement.

k

BOP, 1 LOCATION FOR A PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

BUTNER’S COMMITMENT AND TREATMENT PROGRAM IS NO LONGER – IT NOW MAINTAINS A PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, “This FCI remains a flagship facility and is frequently chosen to pilot new programs such as the Sex Offender Commitment and Treatment Program” (Page 6).

• FCI Butner is responsible for psychological treatment and the implementation of behavior management plans, coordinating multidisciplinary treatment teams. Treatment is holistic and multidimensional, with the ultimate goal of reducing sexual dangerousness and criminal recidivism potential.

• FCC Butner has an internship-integrated practitioner-scholar model that seeks “the productive interaction of theory and practice in a primarily practice-based approach to inquiry.” The Psychology Service’s internship component strives to meet doctoral candidates’ training needs in applied psychology through supervised experience, didactic programs, and focused scholarship.

• As there is only 1 location, which appears ‘court-ordered’, there should be no other issues regarding inmate threats.

l

II) ENSURING THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF YOUR CLIENT

Among inmates and convicts, sex offenders are at the bottom of the prison hierarchy and, generally, are greeted with hostility.

The BOP, where needed, assigns sex offenders to higher security facilities, which may not be perfect. But this can be especially evident when they’re placed in the general population.

Next, when the new sex offender first arrives and meets their new bunkmate, it is not unusual for them to be asked, What did you do?

No matter how they answer, their roommate or bunkmate will eventually Find Out! After that, at best, the sex offender is avoided – at worst, they could be robbed, beaten, or even killed. Then, he/she may have to spend the rest of their sentence in solitary confinement.

Therefore, in your memorandum, safety may dictate placement in either a facility with a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) or, at a minimum, a camp, where appropriate.