Why Rich Convicts Hire Prison Consultants
Excerpts From Ritu Prasad’s BBC News Article
Martha Stewart, Bernie Madoff, and NFL players Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress. Reality stars Teresa Giudice and Abby Lee Miller. These are just a few celebrities who reportedly had prison consultants guide them through the justice system.
These advisers assist at every stage—from charging to sentencing to release. They review casework, petition for perks, and take midnight calls from stressed families.
However, this guidance comes at a cost, ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $100,000 (£75,000).
So what exactly do these prison coaches do for clients who can afford them?
The Role of Prison Consultants
Michael Frantz, founder of Jail Time Consulting, explains the harsh reality.
“Because of the 44% average overcrowding, people scored for a camp often end up in low, medium, or high-security prisons,” he says.
As a result, “they can place them anywhere, 2,000 or 2,500 miles from family. In a low-security prison, there’s some violence but not a lot.
On the other hand, “when you get to a medium or high-security prison, that’s where the rapes, stabbings, beatings, gangs, and violence happen.”
Frantz, who served 36 months in federal prison, helps clients request safer locations. More importantly, he considers their personal preferences while maximizing their freedom.
For instance, “Is your loved one an exercise nut? Then you don’t want them at a camp without gym access!” Frantz says.
“If he prefers to be alone and read, that’s a factor. Similarly, if he wants a certain type of food, we look for camps that provide it—and they do exist.”
High-Profile Cases and the Second Chance Act
Michael Cohen, for example, serves time at Otisville Camp, a facility in upstate New York known for kosher meals and Jewish services.
Likewise, reality star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Billy McFarland, the man behind the Fyre Festival, are among the 113 inmates sharing the facility with him.
No matter the client, prison consultants give the same advice: keep your head down and adjust to not getting your way.
White-collar clients fear assault and losing touch with family. Although their facilities are safer, racial and political tensions still exist. Therefore, they must follow strict codes of conduct.
Frantz warns Cohen to be cautious around Trump supporters and “stay under the radar.”
He explains, “The Trump lovers aren’t gonna give this guy a break.”
Furthermore, “things happen in the middle of the night—urine gets poured on you, inmates hold you down, and smear feces on you. That stuff happens all the time.”
Navigating the Prison System
However, it’s not just inmates that pose a risk. Angering prison guards can lead to serious consequences.
Frantz served time in a minimum-security camp, but after an alleged misstep, guards locked him in a special housing unit. He lived in a concrete cell for 91 days without leaving.
Recognizing these risks, Frantz offers various programs, including reputation repair, five (5) sentence reduction programs, transfers, furloughs. Meanwhile, the company’s exclusive package, which includes all sentence reduction programs and online reputation repair costs $48,700
“They don’t want to take chances, and they have the money,” he says.
“They spent $1.5 million on their attorney. So, what’s another $48,700?”
Ethics and Accessibility
When asked about ethics, prison consultants told the BBC they aim to help all clients—not just those who can pay. In fact, many offer pro bono services.
Frantz says he keeps most courses under $5,000 and provides no-interest payment plans.
[View full article here.]