Vick's prison time would be structured, no frills

August 29, 2007

No special treatment for Vick! Blackberry confiscated, too, oh no! By DAVE FORSTER, The Virginian-Pilot © August 22, 2007 If Michael Vick serves a federal prison sentence, he might have to mop floors for 12 cents an hour, live in a dorm with 100 other inmates and make do with what he can buy at the commissary. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Newport News native is expected to face at least a year in prison for his role in a gambling and dogfighting enterprise that executed under performing pit bulls. Vick is scheduled to plead guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Richmond. A sentencing date will likely be set then, possibly for November or December. Several factors help the Federal Bureau of Prisons decide where to place an inmate, said Mike Truman, a spokesman for the bureau. But someone with a relatively short sentence and no criminal history - such as Vick - might be sent to a minimum security camp, Truman said. The bureau generally tries to place inmates within 500 miles of their home address, Truman said. Wherever Vick ends up, his life in a minimum security prison, according to Truman, would look something like this: 6 a.m.: The day begins for the 100 or so men living in each dorm-style setting. Many of the inmates are there for non violent drug offenses with no histories of escape. The guards can't tolerate a risk to flee because minimum security camps usually don't have walls. 6:30 a.m.: Breakfast. This

will generally mean cereal, a muffin and some fruit, with coffee, milk or tea. There's no stuffing an extra apple in a pocket for later. Latest Videos Gun lovers turn out to protest arrest of Harborfest man Game Watch: High School football preview for 8/30-8/31 Dominion Derby Girls still rolling with the punches Craig: 'I Am Not Gay' Caught on Tape: Alleged Thief Brutally Beaten 'Girls Next Door' Drop by 'General Hospital' Raw Video: Total Lunar Eclipse See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print - View stories, photos and ads - E-mail clippings - Print copies Log in or learn more "If you take it you should eat it," Truman said. "You're not allowed to

carry it out." 7:30 a.m.: Work call. Each inmate who is medically cleared must have a job. Duties might include waxing floors, cleaning toilets, painting walls or cutting grass. It pays, but not much. Inmates begin at a rate of 12 cents an hour. 11 a.m.: Lunch. A typical spread is a fish sandwich, potato chips, a vegetable, fruit and a fruit drink. Soda is rare. 3:30 p.m.: The work day ends. 4 p.m.: Inmates must line up at their bunks for a head count. After this, a guy could decide to skip dinner and begin an afternoon workout. Facilities usually have a running track and a basketball court. Inmates may be able to lift weights, depending on the location. For comfort, an inmate would probably want to buy a pair of sneakers and a sweat suit from the commissary. The standard clothing issue upon entering each facility includes

a khaki uniform, white socks and steel-toed shoes. Inmates are held to spending limits of about $290 a month at the commissary. 5 p.m.: Dinner. 9 p.m.: The compound, including the recreational center and library services, close for the night. Each dorm usually has at least two TVs, but cable isn't a guarantee. 11:30 p.m. Lights out. Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster "Think occasionally of the suffering of which youspare yourself the sight" Albert Schweitzer

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