Federal Prison vs State Prison
Understand the key differences between federal and state prisons, including how inmates end up there, communication rules, and provider differences.
Introduction
Federal prisons and state prisons are separate systems run by different government agencies. They house different types of offenders and operate under different rules. Understanding which system your loved one is in affects how you communicate with them.
This guide covers the core differences between the two systems and explains how those differences affect communication options.
Guide Content
Who Goes Where
Federal prisons house people convicted of federal crimes, meaning crimes investigated and prosecuted under federal law. This includes drug trafficking across state lines, bank robbery, immigration offenses, fraud targeting federal programs, and crimes that occur on federal property.
State prisons house people convicted of crimes under state law. Most violent crimes, burglary, assault, and drug offenses at the state level result in state prison sentences. If someone was arrested by local or state police and tried in a state court, they are almost always in the state system.
Who Runs Them
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) operates all federal prisons. There are about 120 federal facilities across the United States. The BOP sets the rules for inmate communication and contracts with providers at the federal level.
State prisons are operated by each state's Department of Corrections. There are around 1,800 state prisons in the United States. Each state sets its own communication rules and contracts with providers independently.
Communication Differences
Federal inmates use CorrLinks for all electronic messaging. CorrLinks is the only messaging platform approved for the BOP system. If your loved one is in a federal facility, you must create a CorrLinks account to exchange messages.
State inmates use the platform contracted by their facility, which varies by state and facility. JPay is common in many state systems. ConnectNetwork also serves numerous state prisons. The platform your loved one uses depends on where specifically they are housed.
Visitation and Other Rules
Federal facilities tend to have more standardized visitation procedures, as they are all governed by BOP policy. State facilities vary more widely, because each state and each facility can set its own rules within state law.
Federal transfers between facilities are more common than in the state system. If a loved one in federal prison is transferred, their facility will change in the BOP inmate locator, and you may need to re-register at the new location for certain communication services.
Key Takeaways
The most important things to remember from this guide.
- Federal prisons hold people convicted of federal crimes. State prisons hold people convicted of state crimes.
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates all federal facilities under unified policies.
- State prisons are run independently by each state, so rules and providers vary widely.
- Federal inmates use CorrLinks for messaging. State inmates use the platform their facility contracts with.
- Federal inmates are more frequently transferred between facilities.
- Knowing which system your loved one is in tells you which communication platform to use.
Related Glossary Terms
Key terms you may encounter while reading about Federal Prison vs State Prison.
Federal Prison
A federal prison is a correctional facility operated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons that houses people convicted of federal crimes and sentenced under federal law.
Facility TypesState Prison
A state prison is a correctional facility operated by a state government's department of corrections that holds people convicted of state-level felonies serving sentences of more than one year.
Facility TypesCorrectional Facility
A correctional facility is any institution operated by a government agency or private company that houses people who have been arrested, are awaiting trial, or are serving a court-ordered sentence.
Related Providers
Communication platforms relevant to Federal Prison vs State Prison.
Provider Comparisons
Side-by-side comparisons of the communication platforms mentioned in this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Federal Prison vs State Prison, answered in plain language.
How do I know if my loved one is in federal or state prison?
Can someone go to both federal and state prison?
Are federal prisons safer than state prisons?
Do federal inmates get more privileges than state inmates?
People Also Ask
Related questions families often search for alongside this topic.
What is Federal Prison?
A federal prison is a correctional facility operated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons that houses people convicted of federal crimes and sentenced under federal law.
Read full definitionWhat is State Prison?
A state prison is a correctional facility operated by a state government's department of corrections that holds people convicted of state-level felonies serving sentences of more than one year.
Read full definitionWhat is Correctional Facility?
A correctional facility is any institution operated by a government agency or private company that houses people who have been arrested, are awaiting trial, or are serving a court-ordered sentence.
Read full definitionRelated Guides
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County Jail vs State Prison
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How CorrLinks Works
Learn how CorrLinks works for messaging federal inmates, how to register, how the approval process works, and what the service costs.
How to Find an Inmate
Learn how to locate an incarcerated person using official inmate search tools, what information you need, and how to find their current facility.
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