Taft Correctional Institution

Federal. Bureau of Prisons

Low / Minimum security

The Taft facility first opened in 1997 and was the first privately operated facility built by the FBOP. MTC assumed the contract through the competitive bid process in August of 2007. The low security facility has a population consisting primarily of criminal alien (non-U.S. citizens). This facility has three housing units with a capacity of 1,536 inmates.

The minimum security camp houses American citizens and has a single housing unit with capacity to accommodate 512 beds. The entire facility has the capability to house approximately 2,048 inmates. There is a Special Housing Unit (SHU) that is located in the low security institution. The SHU has space for 96 beds in Administrative Detention and 48 beds in Disciplinary Segregation.

The institution is located on a 250-acre tract in a predominantly rural area of Kern County, 2 miles south and 3 miles east of the City of Taft and approximately 40 miles southwest of Bakersfield.

The institution is located in a seismically active region and conditions are such that it may be subject to moderate or severe ground shaking at any time. The climate can be categorized as hot and dry, typical of the San Joaquin Valley.

The facility was designed to ensure staff direct personal contact with inmates. MTC employees have met strict employment guidelines. Employees are trained, educated, and experienced in the corrections field to ensure the success, compliance, and safety of the facility.

Inmate housing units contain a number of support spaces such as shower/toilet rooms, TV/day rooms, offices, laundry facilities, etc. Support services such as food service, education, recreation, administration, health services, visiting, etc. are provided for separately at the institution.

Success for Life
The mission is to reduce recidivism and improve public safety by providing a continuum of treatment programs and services appropriate to the needs of individual offenders from the time of commitment to TCI until the time of release. This philosophy incorporates programs, principles, and services into an integrated model of service delivery for the facility to prepare offenders for successful transition into the community.

MTC Star Program
This program encourages TCI to establish and nurture strong relationships with the people and organizations outside the facility. TCI offers volunteer community service projects in the community. Inmates at the minimum security camp volunteer to work at local churches, The Taft Oil Museum, The Fort, and other non-profit organizations.

American Correctional Association (ACA)
ACA provides a professional organization for all individuals and groups that share a common goal of improving the justice system. Last Audit Date: March 23-25, 2009 Score: 99.3% (The highest score earned in TCI history.)

The Joint Commission (JCAHO)
The mission of The Joint Commission is to improve the quality of care provided through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. Last Audit Date: April 23, 2008 Score: Accreditation Granted

Correctional Education Association (CEA)
CEA's mission is to ensure student success through quality education programs, leadership, networking, and professional development, and increase community awareness and support for correctional education of at-risk, adjudicated youth and incarcerated adults. Last Audit Date: August 27, 2009 Score: 100%

Foundations For Life
Foundations For Life was developed to monitor MTC's Success for Life program. MTC evaluates TCI'services, activities and programs annually on a point based system. There are 81 performance standards. Last Evaluation Date: October 2, 2009 Score: 76/81 Excellent, 4/81 Satisfactory, and 1/81 needs improvement

• GED
• Adult Basic Education
• English as a Second Language
• Legal Research
• Wellness
• Beginning Guitar
• Quilting/Crocheting
• Hobby Crafts
• Tournaments
• Parenting
• Pre-Release
• Wheels for the World
• Truck Driving
• Microsoft Word/Excel
• Horticulture
• 32-hour Drug Abuse Program
• AA and NA
• The Outspoken Against Drugs
• Anger Management
• Religious Services
• Striving Toward a New directions
• Toys for Tots
• Man In The Mirror
• Electrical Wiring
• Toastmasters
• Goals and Closure

TCI offers a full-service medical, dental, mental health, and pharmaceutical department to ensure the overall health of inmates. TCI employs full time, part time, and contract health service professionals to successfully:
· Maintain offender health
· Treat offender's dependency needs
· Introduce the inmates to healthy lifestyles
· Encourage the inmates to take full advantage of the rehabilitative services within the system

A full time psychologist and contract psychiatrist are available to provide counseling and other mental health services to inmates experiencing behavioral, emotional, and/or adjustment problems at TCI. These mental health services include:
· Crisis intervention
· Individual and group counseling
· Family counseling
· Pre-release counseling

Substance abuse services are also available, such as:
· Drug education classes
· Residential drug abuse programs (RDAP) eligibility interviews
· Alcoholics/Narcotics anonymous meetings

The recreation department is open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (excluding count times). Recreation activities include:
· Organized sports
· Leisure-time recreation
· Music rooms and equipment
· Holiday activities
· Hobby craft
· Videos on weekends and holidays

TCI provides religious programming to meet the basic religious needs of each inmate. Staff and volunteer chaplains provide worship services, educational classes, discussion groups, and pastoral care. Additionally, revivals, concerts, films, videos, lectures and seminars are offered on a variety of religious subjects

When an inmate voluntary surrenders to TCI, he will be permitted to retain only the following items:
· Plain wedding band (no stones or intricate markings)
· Medical or orthopedic devices
· Legal documents
· Social security card and other forms of identification (drivers license, passport, etc.) to be retained in the inmate's Central File until the inmate's release
· Religious items approved by the Warden as long as they do not present a threat to the security of the institution (religious medallions and chains must have a declared value of less than $100)
· Prescription glasses
· Cash/negotiable instruments (will be deposited to the inmate's trust account)

All visitors must be pre-approved prior to visiting. The visitation schedule for the main facility is Thursday through Monday and federal holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The camp visitation schedule is Friday through Sunday and federal holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Inmates at the main facility will be allowed to receive up to five (5) visitors per visit including children and inmates at the camp will be allowed to receive up to six (6) visitors per visit including children.

Prior to entering the visiting area, all visitors 16 years of age and older will be required to properly identify themselves with acceptable identification.

Rules for visitors:
1. Shirt and shoes are mandatory.
2. Halter-tops, t-shirts (underwear type), tank tops, fish-net shirts, low-cut shirts, see-through fabrics, shirts and blouses with an open midriff, or cut too low are not allowed.
3. Shorts and/or cut-offs are not allowed.
4. Adult males must wear long pants.
5. Women/girls may wear dresses, skirts, or long pants.
6. Visitors are not allowed to wear khaki colored clothing.

Items Permitted for Visitors:
1. Small wallet or change purse (see through only).
2. Visitors may have up to $20.00 in cash in their possession.
3. Visitors with infants or small children may bring no more than three (3) diapers and two (2) baby bottles into the institution.
4. Visitors will be permitted to purchase soft drinks and food items during the visit, but these items must be consumed during the visit.

Inmates must use the inmate telephones, which are located in their assigned housing units. Family members and friends may not call the facility to speak to an inmate or ask staff to give the inmate a message, unless in emergency circumstances (i.e., death in the family).

Inmates are allowed to access 300 minutes of telephone calls per month. Inmates must have all telephone numbers approved before dialing them.

Incoming mail must be addressed as follows: (also addressed to this P.O. Box, not 1500 Cadet Rd.) John Doe #12345-678 Unit A1B P.O. Box 7001 Taft, CA 93268 The facility mail room staff will inspect all income correspondence for contraband prior to the inmate receiving it. Prohibited items are as follows:
· Musical, padded, or greeting cards larger than 8 .5" x 11"
· Cards or letters containing glue, glitter, stickers, or labels
· Mail containing metal, plastic, or cardboard
· Blank envelopes, greeting cards, paper, journal, planner, or similar items
· Ink pens, pencils, markers, ink, crayon, or any other type of writing instruments
· Calling cards or phone cards
· Newspapers and hardcover books received from other than the publisher, bookstore, or book club
· Postage stamps or stamped items
· Nuisance contraband such as hair, plant material, loose cutouts, or homemade cards
· Plastic or laminated cards such as credit cards or laminated photographs, including Polaroid photographs
· Perishable items such as can or food items
· Cassettes, videotapes, and computer software
· Pictures illustrating personal nudity or that are sexually suggestive
· Personal information which belongs to another inmate
· Institution taken photographs to include no duplicate copies and/or enlargements
· And any other items which hare considered to interfere with the orderly operation of the institution

Deposits to inmate accounts from outside sources will be received through the mailroom or through the control center (on visiting days only) and processed through the business office. Under no circumstances will cash be accepted; monies will only be accepted if it is U.S. Postal Money Order, certified check or bank money order, and will only be accepted if the inmates name and register number is clearly on it.

Funds can also be deposited into inmate's accounts via the telephone, internet, and/or through the use of the onsite lobby kiosk, which services offered by a company called JPay.

The city of Taft, located in Kern County, California, has a population of about 6,400. Adjoining the town to the north is the unincorporated area called Ford City. On the south end of Taft's municipal border is another unincorporated area known as South Taft. Combining Ford City and South Taft to Taft's official population results in roughly 20,000 people.

Taft is situated in a major petroleum and natural gas production region in California and is one of a few towns in the United States which exist exclusively because of nearby oil reserves. The operational activities within these fields have been the economic life blood of Taft for over 100 years.