A female offender who has been involved in a serious escape within the last ten years, including the current offense, will be assigned to a high security prison. A waiver of a PSF can only be executed by one of six regional directors of the Bureau of Prisons. The process begins when a U.S. marshal receives a copy of the Judgment in a Criminal Case from the court or clerk. It is not binding on the Bureau of Prisons. If there is a reason for not placing the inmate in that facility, the court is made aware of the fact and an attempt is made to arrive at an acceptable alternative.
Some designations actually require a judicial recommendation.
Once a designation is made, the information is communicated to the U.S. marshal, who then communicates the information directly to the defendant. Under strict Bureau of Prisons policy, the bureau will not release the information to any other individual, including the defendant's lawyer. Hence, the lawyer can only find out the designated prison through the client, who has to ask the U.S. marshal. More important to the client than a judicial recommendation, or in some cases even a voluntary surrender, is the lawyer's role in making sure that any inaccurate information in the PSI is corrected. It cannot be emphasized enough that this document is the one collection of data upon which virtually all correctional designation and other decisions are made.