Sean "Diddy" Combs has reportedly experienced a significant improvement in his incarceration conditions. The music mogul was transferred on Thursday, October 30, to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix in New Jersey. This move follows more than a year spent at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.
Bill Baroni, a Seton Hall Law School professor, suggests Combs’ new environment will be far more accommodating. Baroni, who served three months in a similar facility, told Us Weekly that Combs’ first days at Fort Dix would mark "a drastic change for the better." He added that Combs’ "life will be much easier where he is now."
Baroni, 53, highlights the stark contrast between the two facilities. Combs, who turned 56 on November 4, has transitioned from one of the harshest prisons in the United States to a low-security camp. This new facility features no cells or bars.
Instead, Fort Dix, which houses over 4,000 inmates, utilizes dormitories with bunk beds for 12 men each. Baroni explained that Combs will move from a "very strict life in Brooklyn" to one offering more freedom. He can now "work out for hours in the gym, take classes, watch TV, and walk the track."
Safety is also a major factor in the transfer. Baroni noted that while challenges always exist upon entering prison, Combs is now in "a place where violence is virtually nonexistent." He believes Combs "will be safer here than at any point since his indictment."
Baroni, who has advised individuals navigating the federal prison system since his 2019 release, stressed the importance of routine. He advises Combs to maximize his remaining time in prison. The most challenging aspect of federal prison life is "how slowly time passes," he explained.
To combat this, Baroni recommends maintaining a structured routine. He suggests engaging in exercise, taking classes, attending Bible study, and walking the track. This period offers an opportunity for Combs to "truly recover and be ready for the next stage of his life."
Maintaining a positive attitude can be difficult in prison, Baroni admitted, but "being negative is even harder." He likened anger in jail to "carrying a bag of rocks." Baroni also emphasized staying connected with family and supporters. He encouraged writing letters, sending emails, and calling family nightly. "They will be the ones there when the prison doors open, and you go home," he stated.
Following his arrest in September, Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution. He was acquitted in July of three more serious charges, including conspiracy and sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion. The rapper, who has consistently maintained his innocence, received a sentence of four years and two months in October.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons website lists Combs’ scheduled release from Fort Dix as May 8, 2028. However, Baroni estimates that the hip-hop mogul could potentially be released as early as June 2026. This earlier release would be due to credits for time already served in Brooklyn and good behavior.