Federal Detention Center, Miami

Background

Built in 1995, the detention center was designed for a capacity of 1,259 inmates. The facility primarily houses prisoners of the U.S. Marshals Service, both male and female. Its mission is to provide a safe and humane confinement of inmates and detainees, many of whom are involved in federal court proceedings in the Southern District of Florida.

Security procedures

Inmates are screened by a unit team member, and assigned quarters based on personal profile and security needs. Each unit team is composed of a unit manager, case manager(s), correctional counselor(s), and at times, an education representative. A federal register number is assigned to each inmate for identification and forwarding of correspondence while in federal custody.

In June 2010, the facility's security procedures prevented attorney Brittney Horstman from meeting a client when her underwire bra set off a metal detector. After returning from a bathroom without the item, she was turned away because of the detention center's dress code. The federal public defender's office contacted Warden Linda McGrew, who conducted an inquiry. McGrew concluded the incident was "an aberration" and promised it would not happen again.

Sexual victimization

According to a 2005 U.S. Department of Justice report, an estimated 12 percent of the complaints received by the department's inspector general involved inmates claiming sexual victimization by prison staff. In 2009, federal judge Cecilia Altonaga wrote that although the statute of limitations had passed to award damages in a civil case, "the BOP and FDC Miami did have notice of the illegal conduct taking place, and were woefully deficient in addressing it."

Location

The prison is located in downtown Miami, at the corner of Northeast Fourth Street and North Miami Avenue. In 2021, a luxury apartment complex called "Downtown 5th" had been built opposite the prison on what was previously a parking lot. It went viral two years later for its rooftop pool area directly across the street from the prison, where sunbathing women in bikinis were shouted at by inmates.

Notable inmates (current and former)

†Inmates in the Federal Witness Protection Program are not listed on the Bureau of Prisons website.

References

References

1. (July 15, 2010). "Weekly Population Report". [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]].
2. Francisco Alvarado. (March 19, 2009). "Unequal Justice". [[Miami New Times]].
3. Jay Weaver. (June 12, 2010). "Wrong bra, no bra: Jail bars lawyer". [[Miami Herald]].
4. John T. Rathman. (September 2009). "FDC Miami Admission and Orientation Manual". [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]].
5. https://communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/melo-group-announces-the-completion-of-downtown-5th-apartment-towers/
6. https://www.newsweek.com/shock-miami-apartment-building-pool-overlooked-jail-florida-1772201
7. (July 28, 2015). "FBI: Key West man charged with trying to use backpack bomb in terror plot".
8. (July 28, 2015). "Florida Resident Charged with Attempting to Use Weapon of Mass Destruction". US Department of Justice.
9. Owens, Ryan. "'Barefoot Bandit' Colton Harris-Moore Deported to Miami". ABC News.
10. (July 21, 2010). "Colton Harris-Moore Lands In Seattle". [[Q13 FOX]].
11. (June 17, 2011). "Camano Island Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-State Crime Spree". Federal Bureau of Investigation.
12. (June 24, 2013). "Rapper fat joe sentenced to four months in prison for failing to file income tax returns on over $3.3 in taxable income". US Department of Justice.
13. (August 26, 2013). "Fat Joe Turns Himself In To Prison". TMZ.
14. Jay Weaver and Amy Sherman. (March 2, 2010). "Scott Rothstein transferred to St. Lucie jail". [[Miami Herald]].
15. Koppel, Nathan. (January 27, 2010). "Former Florida Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Ponzi Scheme". The Wall Street Journal.
16. Kevin Boulandier. (September 18, 2024). "Man accused in attempted assassination of Trump moves to federal prison in Miami". [[WSVN]].
17. "Find an inmate". [[Federal Bureau of Prison]].