Difference Between Rhode Island Prison and Federal Prison
What is the Difference Between Federal Prison and Rhode Island State Prison?
State and federal prisons have similar functions but many differences. State prisons hold persons convicted of violating state crimes, while federal prisons hold persons convicted of violating federal crimes. State crimes are defined by state laws, such as the Rhode Island Criminal Code. Violations of state laws occur within the state's boundaries. Federal crimes are violations of the Federal Criminal Code. Federal crimes may also take place on federal property or between state boundaries. The court penalizes federal offenses using the federal sentencing guidelines. Some state crimes are punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty. Other than terms for the aforementioned state crimes, federal prison terms are typically longer, so federal prisons tend to hold inmates much longer than state prisons.
Federal agencies, specifically the Federal Bureau of Prisons, manage federal prisons and correctional facilities. On the other hand, state agencies like the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) oversee state prisons and correctional facilities.
The Rhode Island Prison System
The Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) contributes to public safety by providing both correctional and institutional programs that help inmates successfully reenter society upon release. The RIDOC comprises the Rehabilitative Services and the Institutions & Operations Overview divisions. The Rehabilitative Services division of the RIDOC offers discharge planning and transactional services, community corrections, and other institutional-based programs. Some of these programs include Medical Assisted Treatment, substance abuse counseling, mental health services, parenting, education, sexual offender treatment, chaplaincy, youthful offender programming, and other services. The Institutions & Operations Review division oversees the adult correctional institutions, food service, facilities, and maintenance.
Rhode Island has seven (7) state prisons with 2,700 inmates. Interested parties may send money to inmate accounts online, by phone, or at any deposit kiosk.
How to Lookup an Inmate in Rhode Island
State and federal prison systems make Rhode Island inmate records available on public websites and lookup systems. Interested persons may search the provided systems for offender information and criminal history.
The BOP makes inmate information available publicly in the interest of public safety; interested parties may search an inmate location and records using the inmates:
- First name
- Last name
- Middle name
- Age sex
- Race
- BOP register number
- DCDC number
- FBI number
- INS number
RIDOC also offers a public inmate search tool. Interested parties may search the database using the inmate's
- Inmate ID
- First name
- Last name
- Race
- Gender
- Age
- Last known location
The Rhode Island state prison facilities are listed below:
Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center
Physical Address:
18 Slate Hill Road
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Mail Address:
P.O. Box 8249
Cranston, RI 02920
High-Security Center
Physical Address:
54 Power Road
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Mail Address:
P.O. Box 8200
Cranston, RI 02920
Maximum Security
Physical Address:
1375 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Mail Address:
P.O. Box 8273
Cranston, RI 02920
John J. Moran Medium Security Facility
Physical Address:
51 West Road
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Mail Address:
P.O. Box 8274
Cranston, RI 02920
Minimum Security
Physical Address:
16 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Mail Address:
P.O. Box 8212
Cranston, RI 02920
Gloria McDonald Women's Facility
Physical Address:
20 Fleming Road
Cranston, RI 02920
Inmate Mail Address:
P.O. Box 8312
Cranston, RI 02920
Bernadette Building
15 Fleming Road
Cranston, RI 02920
Rhode Island County Jails
County jails hold persons convicted of less serious crimes than felonies in most states. Misdemeanor offenders and persons held for short periods are held in jails. Local county sheriffs and police departments typically run county jails. However, there are no county jails in Rhode Island. The state operates a unified system where all detained persons, inmates, and correctional facilities in the state are under the RIDOC's jurisdiction regardless of crime severity or sentence length. Therefore, to visit inmates, send inmates mail or packages, or send inmates money, interested parties must follow the RIDOC guidelines. Facility wardens decide visitation schedules for each facility.
How Does the Federal Prison System Work?
The federal prison system comprises the prisons, correctional facilities, and programs that help maintain a safe society by holding inmates and providing inmates with the required knowledge and skills for successful reintegration into society. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) oversees federal prisons and correctional facilities in the United States. Federal prisons are incarceration centers for federal criminal offenders, that is, persons who violate federal criminal laws. Federal prisons also hold persons awaiting trial for federal crimes and felony offenders from the District of Columbia. The BOP's 112 correctional facilities have about 154,172 inmates across the country.
Apart from incarceration, the BOP also offers specialized and needs-based programs to inmates, including educational programs, religious services, and work programs. These programs prepare inmates to rejoin society as productive members upon release successfully. The BOP also offers special programs for offenders such as juveniles and sex offenders, treaty transfers, and tribal offenders.
Persons interested in staying in touch or communicating with federal inmates may do so by telephone, mail, or email. Inmates may receive general correspondence or special mail. Approved persons may send packages to federal inmates; however, such packages may only contain authorized medical devices and release clothing.
