The FIRST-Network Journal
Insight, guidance & data from inside the federal system
Reporting on Bureau of Prisons policy, practical guides for families, and what the numbers our members submit reveal about conditions across federal facilities.
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Commissary, phone time, and email: managing the cost of connection
Practical ways to keep in touch without the fees quietly draining an account.
Latest articles
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Reading the data: which facilities generate the most reports
A look at what our public dashboard reveals about conditions, and what it cannot.
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Preparing for a first visit: a family checklist
Dress codes, ID rules, what you can bring, and how to make a short visit count.
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Your rights to medical care inside a federal facility
What the Bureau of Prisons is required to provide, how to document a denial, and where to escalate.
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How to start a facility support group for a loved one
A step-by-step playbook for launching a verified group families can actually find and trust.
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First Step Act, five years on: what the new BOP data really tells us
Earned-time credits were supposed to move thousands home sooner. Here is what the latest figures and member reports actually show.