Federal Medical Center, Devens

Federal Medical Center, Devens
Location Devens, Town of Harvard,
Worcester County, Massachusetts
Status Operational
Security class Administrative facility (with minimum-security prison camp)
Population 1,000 (130 in prison camp)
Managed by Federal Bureau of Prisons
Warden J. Grondolsky

The Federal Medical Center, Devens (FMC Devens) is a United States federal prison in Massachusetts for male inmates requiring specialized or long-term medical or mental health care. It is designated as an administrative facility, which means it has inmates from different security classifications, from white-collar criminals to mobsters and sex offenders.[1] It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. FMC Devens also has a satellite camp housing minimum-security male inmates.

FMC Devens is located in north-central Massachusetts, approximately 39 miles west of Boston, on the grounds of Fort Devens, which occupied the land before it was scaled back in size.[2]

Facility and services

Upon entering FMC Devens, new inmates undergo a month-long admission and orientation program to meet prison staff, acquaint themselves with the facility, and learn the facility's rules and regulations. They are introduced to the prison’s inmate count system: prisoners are checked on five times a day, at 12:05 a.m., 3 a.m., 5 a.m., 4 p.m., and 10 p.m. On holidays and weekends, there’s an additional count at 10 a.m. New inmates also receive a physical exam and educational, vocational, and psychological tests. Inmates at Devens are subject to random, unannounced urine and Breathalyzer tests, as well as searches for contraband.

FMC Devens has regular onsite specialists in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, surgery, neurology and pulmonology. Inmates often leave the facility to see outside specialists and for tests and medical procedures not available in the medical center, according to Sandra Howard, the clinical director at FMC Devens. [1]

Inmates are allowed six visits a month. Physical contact is allowed so long as it is not deemed excessive. An in-house psychology department offers inmates counseling for depression and suicidal ideation, as well as sex-offender and drug-addiction programs. A chaplain offers religious services and counseling, and volunteers in a prisoner visitation service pay visits to inmates who do not receive many visitors. There are adult continuing-education classes and an electronic library where they can read up on new case law and sentencing guidelines. The prison has a recreation area for floor hockey, basketball, and soccer, a hobby craft room, and a music-practice room.[3]

Notable inmates

Current

Inmate Name Register Number Status Details
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev 95079-038 Convicted on April 8, 2015 for the Boston Marathon bombings. Awaiting sentencing. Could face the death penalty. U.S. citizen originally from Kyrgyzstan; charged with committing the Boston Marathon bombings with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev on April 15, 2013, which killed 3 people and injured over 200; Tamerlan was killed in a shootout with police on April 19, 2013.[4]
Rajaratnam, RajRaj Rajaratnam 62785-054 Serving an 11-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2021. Former manager of the now-defunct Galleon Group; convicted in 2011 of conspiracy and fraud for masterminding a $64 million insider trading scheme from 2007 to 2009; the story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed.[5][6]
Franzese, JohnJohn Franzese 70022-158 Serving an 8-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2017. Former Underboss of the Colombo crime family in New York City; convicted of racketeering conspiracy in 2011 for extorting Manhattan strip clubs; suspected in numerous Mafia-related murders.[7][8]
Locascio, FrankFrank Locascio 36746-053 Serving a life sentence. Former Underboss of the Gambino crime family in New York City under Boss John Gotti; convicted of racketeering in 1992 for ordering one murder, and directing criminal activities including illegal gambling, obstruction of justice and tax fraud.[9]
Rajat Gupta 65892-054 Serving a 2-year sentence; scheduled for release in 2016. Former director of Goldman Sachs; convicted in 2012 of insider trading for sharing inside financial information with hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam.[10]

Former

Inmate Name Register Number Status Details
Riggi, JohnJohn Riggi 12317-016 Released from custody in November 2012 after serving 22 years. Former Boss of the DeCavalcante crime family in New Jersey; convicted of racketeering in 1990; pleaded guilty to extortion in 1992, and to conspiracy in 2006 in connection with the 1992 murder of acting Boss John D'Amato.[11][12]
Stockham, RogerRoger Stockham 75098-012 Released from custody in November 2012 after serving 1 year. Pleaded guilty but mentally ill in 2012 for plotting to bomb the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, the largest mosque in North America, in 2011.[13]
Van Pelt, DanielDaniel Van Pelt 39125-050 Released from custody in December 2013; after serving 41 months. Member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 2008 to 2009; arrested during Operation Bid Rig in 2009; convicted of bribery in 2010 for accepting $10,000 to provide environmental permits for a development project.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Van, Bob (2011-11-03). "Rajaratnam Said to Be Assigned to Massachusetts Medical Prison". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  2. ↑ "BOP: FMC Devens". Bop.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  3. ↑ Shapiro, Eliza (April 26, 2013). "Inside Devens Prison: New Home for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev". The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Brumfield, Ben (April 26, 2013). "Boston bombing suspect moves to federal prison hospital". CNN. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Smith, Aaron (2011-10-13). "Raj Rajaratnam sentenced to 11 years for insider trading". Money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Prosecutors: Gupta wasn't Rajaratnam's only insider". Crainsnewyork.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  7. ↑ Mathias, Christopher (2013-01-16). "John 'Sonny' Franzese's Sentence Upheld By Court; 95-Year-Old Colombo Family Underboss To Serve 8 Years". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  8. ↑ Marzulli, John (2010-07-07). "Colombo mob underboss John Franzese convicted of shaking down Hustler and Penthouse strip joints". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  9. ↑ Arnold H. Lubasch (1992-06-24). "Gotti Sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  10. ↑ Ax, Joseph; Jonathan Stempel (17 June 2014). "Ex-Goldman director goes to prison, still owes $13.9 million fine". Reuters. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Union Boss Sentenced to 12 Years". Apnewsarchive.com. 1992-07-11. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  12. ↑ "Why Decavalcantes Hit Acting Boss 'Johnny Boy'". Cosa Nostra News. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  13. ↑ "Man Accused Of Mosque Threat Takes Plea Deal". CBS Detroit. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  14. ↑ "Daniel Van Pelt Sentenced For bribery and attempted extortion In New Jersey Corruption Case". CBS News. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2013-05-21.

External links

Coordinates: 42°31′31.91″N 71°37′17.97″W / 42.5255306°N 71.6216583°W