[OldDeckHand]

"So when Lakin goes to prison, is it common for men in Leavenworth to take a beating at the hands of other inmates? "

No, violence at the disciplinary barracks (USDB)is rare, not completely unheard of, but almost. Military prisons are NOT civilian prisons, in almost every way. Other than the bars and locks on the doors, they bear almost other no similarities to their civilian counterparts. They're remarkably clean (especially Leavenworth, which isn't even 10-years old), very well run, and prisoner discipline is maintained, but it's done so in a respectful way. Despite what happened at Abu Grahib (which was staffed by reservists), active-duty military prison guards are incredibly professional. Plus, it's really not that big, at all. More similarly sized to a county jail of a moderately sized county.

I will say that one downside to Leavenworth is that a surprising number of confinees are there on sexual-assault related convictions. This is dissimilar to a civilian prison where the plurality of prisoners are incarcerated because of drug offenses. So, your chances of sharing a cell with a person convicted of rape, are much greater at USDB, compared to a civilian prison. "Do you think they will separate him from others for being a political prisoner?"

Political prisoner - LOL. Oh man, you're killing it. Who they seperate are the violent offenders,

[PA-RIVER]

So if a soldier in Cuba publicly challenged Fidel Castros Authority and wound up in a Cuban prison, and the trial allowed no discovery of evidence for the defendants claims, would you call him a political prisoner? Or a capitalist pig, bent on freedom?

[PA-RIVER]

I hope he stays off the baseball field, they may not like a guy who challenges the first Kenyan born president...

July 2010: LEAVENWORTH, Kansas - A military prisoner struck with a baseball bat during a fight at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth has died ....