General Discussion

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Thu Dec 13, 2018, 01:58 PM Dec 2018

This Is the 'Castle Behind Bars' Michael Cohen Wants to Live in for the Next 3 Years

Cohen has put in a request, by way of his defense attorney, to serve his time at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Otisville, NY.
U.S. District Judge William Pauley signed off on that request and will recommend Cohen’s sentence be served at Otisville as well.

The New York Post described FCI Otisville as a “castle behind bars” in 2013, citing the opinion of former inmate John Altman. In comments to the Post, he said:

On the menu at the prison store are items such as “rib steak, gefilte fish, kugel, salmon, chorizo and smoked oysters,” according to that report. And, on Memorial Day, inmates are apparently treated like regular Americans by way of “cookouts serving hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon and potato salad,”

“The food is right,” he said. “The commissary is right. The officers don’t bother you. There are a lot of courses you can take. You had weights inside and outside, free weights and machines. Food, activities, TV and movies, and visitations are the four things you judge a facility by. Things were good.”

... convicts could stay up until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights watching HBO, Showtime and Cinemax ... inmates playing handball on a court located amidst a field that wasn’t surrounded by any sort of perimeter fence or barbed wire ... the grounds were tucked away in a dense forest. Geese roamed about. There’s also bocce ball, horseshoes and room enough to play soccer.

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/heres-the-castle-behind-bars-michael-cohen-wants-to-live-in-for-the-next-3-years/

17 replies

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Highlight:

This Is the 'Castle Behind Bars' Michael Cohen Wants to Live in for the Next 3 Years (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Dec 2018 OP

Anybody see Daredevil Season 3 exboyfil Dec 2018 #1

Smoked oysters?! Salmon?! Chorizo?! 3catwoman3 Dec 2018 #2

Maybe he'll get Gout. Serves him right. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2018 #10

Damn, sounds like a resort. brush Dec 2018 #3

Really? It sounds like a prison on the right path to me FreeState Dec 2018 #8

Of course, but I don't want any of that for the trump traitors. brush Dec 2018 #17

It's still jail PJMcK Dec 2018 #4

Likewise zipplewrath Dec 2018 #6

Agreed BBG Dec 2018 #9

Let's read this clearly... brooklynite Dec 2018 #5

Fact is Trump and Cohen could be cell mates soon ... INdemo Dec 2018 #7

That entire story is total bullshit... pecosbob Dec 2018 #11

Probably wondering if he will get Netflix and a recliner. Sneederbunk Dec 2018 #12

I'm actually for humane prisons for everyone incarcerated. Solly Mack Dec 2018 #13

Agreed Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2018 #15

Thank you. Solly Mack Dec 2018 #16

What's the chance Cohen will get out early for good behavior? nt mitch96 Dec 2018 #14

exboyfil

(17,863 posts)

1. Anybody see Daredevil Season 3

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:02 PM

Dec 2018

Maybe he or Trump can get accommodations like Kingpin.

3catwoman3

(23,987 posts)

2. Smoked oysters?! Salmon?! Chorizo?!

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:02 PM

Dec 2018

That menu sounds better than ours at home!

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,328 posts)

10. Maybe he'll get Gout. Serves him right.

Reply to 3catwoman3 (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:37 PM

Dec 2018

brush

(53,778 posts)

3. Damn, sounds like a resort.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:11 PM

Dec 2018

FreeState

(10,572 posts)

8. Really? It sounds like a prison on the right path to me

Reply to brush (Reply #3)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:35 PM

Dec 2018

Look at how Norway does prison, thats were I would like to see the US head, its humane, and creates better citizens when they leave, with less recidivism.

brush

(53,778 posts)

17. Of course, but I don't want any of that for the trump traitors.

Reply to FreeState (Reply #8)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 08:59 PM

Dec 2018

Send them all to a max security prison.

PJMcK

(22,037 posts)

4. It's still jail

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:14 PM

Dec 2018

He's still a convicted felon.

I did read that the Otisville prison has specific practices for devout Jews.

While it doesn't sound like hard time, I wouldn't want to be locked up for 3 years.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)

6. Likewise

Reply to PJMcK (Reply #4)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:17 PM

Dec 2018

There's alot not mentioned here, like bed checks and when meals are served etc. We have a concept that jail is supposed to be cruel. I believe we need to lose that view. Jail is a punishment, mostly through lost of freedom. It can also be an opportunity for changing habits for the better. That rarely results from being treated in some subhuman form.

BBG

(2,537 posts)

9. Agreed

Reply to zipplewrath (Reply #6)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:36 PM

Dec 2018

Cruel punishment does not serve the purpose of rehabilitation and only feeds the bloodthirst for revenge.

brooklynite

(94,571 posts)

5. Let's read this clearly...

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:17 PM

Dec 2018

The source article says that the Prison STORE sells these delicacies, presuming you have money in your account. My understanding is that the actual Prison Menu is uniform regardless of location:

https://www.bop.gov/foia/National_Menu_Lunch_and_Dinner_FY18.pdf

INdemo

(6,994 posts)

7. Fact is Trump and Cohen could be cell mates soon ...

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:29 PM

Dec 2018

pecosbob

(7,538 posts)

11. That entire story is total bullshit...

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:48 PM

Dec 2018

from personal experience. Food you wouldn't want to eat...medical care that may kill you. The fact that he mentioned that there is no fence means he's talking about FPC Otisville, the prison camp (minimum security) and not FCI Otisville (low security).

And just for the record, BOP stopped providing movie channels about thirty years ago...

Sneederbunk

(14,291 posts)

12. Probably wondering if he will get Netflix and a recliner.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 03:04 PM

Dec 2018

Solly Mack

(90,767 posts)

13. I'm actually for humane prisons for everyone incarcerated.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 03:44 PM

Dec 2018

I don't agree with the practice of private prisons at all.

I think prisoners should get decent food free of mold and bugs - which is a common complaint about prison food. Yes, I want that for all people.

I think they should receive decent and timely medical care. Yes, I want that for all people.

I don't agree with abusing prisoners at all or in any way for any reason.

Yes, it's prison - but that doesn't mean it has to be a house of horrors.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,412 posts)

15. Agreed

Reply to Solly Mack (Reply #13)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 03:47 PM

Dec 2018

It shouldn't be a "Club Med" either. Basic necessities + some privileges for behaving inmates and supportive services for rehabilitative purposes are IMHO what prisons should be.

Solly Mack

(90,767 posts)

16. Thank you.

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Reply #15)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 04:12 PM

Dec 2018

Prisons - how they are run and how prisoners are treated - is a reflection on our society. I think anyway.

mitch96

(13,904 posts)

14. What's the chance Cohen will get out early for good behavior? nt

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Thu Dec 13, 2018, 03:44 PM

Dec 2018

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