The Bureau of Prisons will choose the institution where John Walker Lindh will serve his twenty year sentence. The Miami Herald outlines the options, and what Alan Ellis of Sausilito, a prison specialist and attorney consulting for the Lindh defense team, is lobbying for.

Normally with a twenty year sentence one goes to a maximum security institution and works his way down to less secure facilities over the years. Lindh, however, could be in serious danger from other inmates.

The Bureau of Prisons tries to put inmates near their families, but the final decision is up to them, and all a Judge can do is make a recommendation to the agency. If BOP doesn't grant the judge's recommendation, it will write a letter to the Judge and explain its reasons, but there is no way to enforce the recommendation.

Lindh wants to go to California to be near his parents. He's not eligible for a club fed or a camp. His first choice is the low level security facility at Lompoc, near Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

If he doesn't get that choice, other possibilities are a medium security institution at Terminal Island, near San Pedro; a high security penitentiary also in Lompoc, or another in Atwater, near Merced.

Our bet is on Alan Ellis, author of the Federal Prison Guide Book and a low or medium security level facility.