THE JOINT THAT WILL BE HOME
The Coleman Federal Correction Complex is the largest complex in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons. It has facilities for low-, medium- and high-security inmates, both male and female. Conrad Black will serve in the low-security wing. According to the bureau's weekly population report on Feb. 28, the complex holds 3,185 in high security, 2,267 in medium security and 1,995 in low security.
HOW HE'LL DRESS
Lord Black will wear a green prison uniform. On summer days he will be able to substitute his green shirt for a grey or white T-shirt. He will be issued a laundry bag, four shirts, four pairs of pants, four pairs of underwear, four pairs of socks, a belt, bedding, toweling and a pair of safety shoes. He will have to make the items last between six and 12 months before he can exchange them for new ones. Clothing rules will also apply to his visitors. Coleman bans plunging necklines, see-through or tight-fitting outfits, bathing suits and tank tops. "Provocative attire worn by men or women without undergarments is a reason to deny and/or preclude visiting," prison guidelines say.
THE CODE HE'LL FOLLOW
Incidents of misconduct are varied and are dealt with on an individual basis. Prison guards may resolve a matter informally or write up an incident report. Inmates are summoned to the lieutenant's office to be handed these reports. Prisoners are entitled to present a defence at a hearing before a unit discipline committee, a panel of staff members that inmates call "kangaroo court." Punishment varies widely and includes denying privileges and removal to solitary confinement.
HOW HE'LL STAY IN TOUCH
Lord Black will have 300 minutes of phone time each month, with each call limited to 15 minutes. He will have to wait 15 minutes between calls. Federal law prohibits him from running a business over the phone. He must submit the numbers he is calling in advance and may request up to 30 listings.
He is also allowed visits from outside each month, with a maximum of four adults at a time. Visitors must be cleared by the facility in advance. "Handshaking, kissing and embracing may take place at the beginning and end of each visit; however, such behaviour is prohibited at other times during the visit," guidelines say.
HOW HE'LL PRACTISE HIS FAITH
Lord Black is a devout Catholic who built a small prayer chapel in the courtyard of one of his mansions. At Coleman, he will be allowed to pray in the prison chapel during his free time. Three full-time chaplains, as well as volunteers from local religious communities, provide services to the inmates. He is allowed a Bible and can buy religious medallions through the chaplain's office. Rules state that the medallions must be worn inside shirts.
THE FOOD HE'LL EAT
The dining hall serves continental breakfasts during the week and eggs are added on the weekends. Lunch and dinner include plenty of meat and access to a salad and fruit bar. Inmates with the money and savvy often hire a cook and rely on food from the commissary for their meals. Some prisoners make pizzas in the microwave, using ground crackers for the crust and stolen kitchen supplies for the toppings. Lord Black will be allowed one visit to the commissary each week and his monthly spending allowance there is $290. He will need to fill out his order list in advance. All commissary sales are final.
WHAT HE'LL BE ALLOWED TO READ
A voracious reader and accomplished author, Lord Black will find his literary world badly confined in the prison system. Coleman allows inmates to buy newspapers, magazines and books through the mail, but each person is allowed only five books, three magazines or one newspaper in his possession at any time.
HOW HE'LL STAY ACTIVE AND FIT
Lord Black has said he plans to shed some pounds while in prison. Coleman has a soccer field, a one-mile jogging track and a compound walking track. It offers numerous recreational programs. There are leagues for horseshoes, shuffle board, badminton, softball, cricket and other sports. More sedate activities include dominoes, cards, chess, crochet, backgammon, Scrabble and music.
HOW HE MIGHT LEARN
Lord Black will have trouble finding much in the prison's education department to satisfy his intellect. The U.S. federal prison system mandates classes for all inmates without a high-school diploma or proficiency in speaking English. Coleman's education department also offers vocational training programs in these fields: business education, building trades, culinary arts and crafts and drafting.
THE HEALTH CARE HE CAN ACCESS
Lord Black will receive a physical examination within the first two weeks of his arrival and may request an annual checkup thereafter. For any medical concerns, including dental or eye exams, he can visit "sick call," which is held four days a week between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. There is a $2 co-payment charge for medical services.
Source: Inmate Information Handbook; American Prison Consultants
