How to Get Protection in Prison

Inmates who fear for their physical safety can request protective custody status.

A person in prison may request extra protection if he feels he is physically unsafe by being in the general inmate population. An inmate must be able to demonstrate specific reasons for his request for protection. Approved requests will allow an inmate to be moved to a section of the prison called protective custody. In protective custody an inmate typically receives a single cell and moves throughout the prison at specialized times so as to avoid exchanges with general population inmates who may be a potential threat to him.

Things You'll Need

• A written request to a custody officer
• Documentation of threat

Instructions

1. Make a request for protective custody to the unit custody officer. This can be done verbally, but should also include a written request. The exact process for what happens once a request for protective custody is made varies slightly from prison to prison. Typically, an inmate will be moved to administrative segregation while the request is processed.

2. Attend the request review hearing. Requests are reviewed by an Assignment or Classification Officer, or similar position, depending on the prison. Review hearings can happen between seven to 15 days after the initial request, again depending on specific prison policies.

3. Provide specific details of the threat posed to you. Prison officials will not grant protective custody status because an inmate has a general fear of the prison experience. You must provide details such as who poses the threat to you and why. Common reasons protective custody requests are granted include threats made against you for activities and relationships you had prior to coming to prison, owing debts within prison, having provided information on another inmate's or gang's activities or if you are serving as a witness against another inmate in an upcoming trial. These accusations will be investigated further by prison officials.

4. If your request is approved, comply with all requirements to complete your move to protective custody. Additional forms will be completed by the prison. You should receive a written copy of your order to protective custody.

5. Participate in any scheduled reviews. Placement in protective custody is a temporary solution in most cases. Prison officials will investigate your case and work to eliminate the threat so that you can return to the general inmate population. In some cases your placement will be reviewed every 30 days.

Tips & Warnings

• You can request to have a legal aid with you at your request hearing.

• Inmates who request a protective custody status will often be labeled as "snitches" by other inmates.This can put an inmate in additional danger both while in protective custody and especially if the inmate does return to the general inmate population at some point.

References

• Kentucky Corrections: Policies and Procedures: Protective Custody
• Hawaii Department of Public Safety: Policies and Procedures: Protective Custody Management
• Slate: How Safe is Protective Custody?
• Understanding Protective Management