Joe Giudice is set to begin his 41-month prison sentence for fraud at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix on Wednesday. The 43-year-old father of four’s stint comes three months after his reality star wife, Teresa Giudice, completed her 15-month sentence. While Joe prepares to settle into life on the yard, here are six things to know about his new home behind bars.
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1. It's close to home
The New Jersey home of Teresa and Joe Giudice of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Robert Kalfus Unlike Teresa’s prison stay in Danbury, Conn., Fort Dix is located in Burlington County in southern New Jersey. It’s an 80-mile drive, or 90-minute ride, from the family’s Towaco, NJ, mansion. It’s a good thing Joe got Teresa a new truck: She’ll need it for those road trips.
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2. Inmate statistics
Joe Giudice Getty Images At Fort Dix, Joe will be one of many. The prison holds 4,537 inmates — a small population of 366 live on the satellite camp on the grounds.
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3. Deportation pit stop
Teresa and Joe Giudice and family Instagram There’s a chance Joe could be deported to his native Italy after completing his sentence and this particular facility puts him in good company. According to the prison’s website, Fort Dix holds a large number of inmates who face deportation.
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4. Joe gets a job
Joe Giudice and his mother cooking Instagram Joe will not be given any preferential treatment while behind bars. He’ll be assigned a post in either the food service, warehouse, plumbing, painting or groundskeeping division. All positions earn inmates between 12 and 40 cents an hour — a far cry from the $150,000 he pocketed with his “Real Housewives of New Jersey” spinoff special.
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5. Visitation rules
Gabriella, Joe and Milania Giudice Instagram Inmates are generally allowed visitation from approved guests from Thursday through Monday. Guests and inmates are granted four hours of visitation a month, however, additional hours can be received. Once daughter Gia turns 16 next January, she’ll be allowed to visit on her own.
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6. Substance abuse treatment options
Joe and Teresa Giudice celebrate daughter Gia's 12th birthday with some adult beverages on Jan. 12, 2013. Splash While Joe has been upfront about his drinking problem — downing up to four bottles of wine a night — he recently confessed his prison term will thankfully give him a break from booze. Fort Dix houses two types of substance abuse treatment programs — offering another avenue for Joe to kick his drinking habit.