Pre-Surrender Preparation Checklist (Overview)

This is the category-level checklist. The line-item, week-by-week version — with templates, scripts, and worksheets — is part of one-on-one engagement and the Federal Prison Camp Guidebook included with client support.

Legal

PSR reviewed and corrected. Judicial recommendations on the J&C. Designation tracked. Programming eligibility (FSA, RDAP, SCA) understood. Defense team aligned on post-surrender follow-ups.

Financial

Account access. Bills automated or assigned. Restitution plan. IFRP plan. Trust-account funding plan. Household budget for the disruption window.

Family

Powers of attorney. Healthcare proxies. Guardianship for minor children. Communication plan. Visiting plan. School and medical point person.

Health

Medical history packet. Prescription list. Mental health support in place. Physical conditioning baseline. Sleep routine adjusted.

Practical

Reporting date and location confirmed. Allowed-items review. Intake-day mental model. First-30-day expectations set with family.

Key considerations

• Which category is weakest — and what is the single next action there?
• Who else needs to know what you know, and by when?

Common mistakes

• Confusing knowing about a category with having done the work in it.
• Doing four categories well and ignoring the fifth.

More from this site

• Federal Self-Surrender Preparation Timeline
• Legal & Process Awareness Before Self-Surrender
• What to Expect: The First 30 Days Inside
• Federal Prison Readiness Assessment
• Self-Surrender Preparedness Score (8 questions)
• Preparation Hub
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Federal Sentencing & BOP Glossary
• Resources & Tools

Federal Sentence Help is an independent guidance service. It is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the Bureau of Prisons. Nothing here is legal advice.