Along the Greenbrier River, the Alderson Federal Prison Camp was established in 1927 as the Federal Industrial Institution for Women. It was the first federal penitentiary designed exclusively for female inmates. The prison concentrates on reform rather than punishment and has earned a reputation for being a comfortable institution. Most female inmates at Alderson are there for nonviolent and white-collar offenses.

Prior to the construction of Alderson, there was no federal women’s jail, and Alderson stayed the only federal women’s prison until 1955. Before Alderson, the majority of female offenders were imprisoned in parts of men’s prisons around the nation. This was frequently risky for women, as they were susceptible to sexual harassment in prisons controlled by men. The Federal Industrial Institution for Women was established due to Mabel Walker Willebrandt’s efforts. Willebrandt was the first female Assistant Attorney General, and she advocated for a prison tailored to women’s needs. Willebrandt is honored with a leisure hall in Alderson. Alderson’s grounds resemble a college campus in layout and design. The prison’s name was changed to the Federal Reformatory for Women, and then in November of 1988, it was renamed the Alderson Federal Prison Camp.

Dr. Mary Belle Harris was designated the first superintendent of Alderson in 1925 after the plans for the jail were approved. Harris also believed that a woman’s criminal behavior was linked to her reliance on men. This belief led her to transform Alderson into a reform jail and a model for upcoming federal prisons. Martha Stewart, the jazz singer Billie Holiday, and the World War II propagandists Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose are among the notable detainees at FPC Alderson. The facility is administered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It remains the largest facility with minimal security in the Federal Prison System. The establishment of Alderson was a significant development in the history of women’s prisons, providing a secure environment for female inmates. Newer prisons throughout the United States have embraced Alderson and its rehabilitation programs as a model.

Since its establishment in 1930, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has supervised over 122 prisons in the United States. In addition, it operates a number of private prisons throughout the state. Giles W. Dalby Correctional Institution has been under the supervision of the Management and Training Corporation (MTC) since 1999, under an agreement between the BOP and the former.

Located in Post, Texas, Giles W. Dalby Correctional Institution is a low-security institution that can hold up to 1492 adult male inmates. Under MTC, now the facility can house up to 912 male pre-trial and pre-sentenced inmates.

MTC is dedicated to delivering excellent care, which includes visitation, medical services, recreation, healthy meals, and legal communications. The facility currently employs 270 devoted MTC employees who ensure safety and security while promoting the residents’ health and well-being.

Visitation is permitted on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., but only by appointment. A special visit option is offered for those traveling more than 250 miles, provided it is documented. Giles W. Dalby Correctional Institution also offers video visits, permitted from Monday to Sunday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

When sending care packages or mail, note that stationery is not permitted. Care packages should adhere to their facility’s guidelines. Also, staff will open and inspect all mail before delivering it to the inmate. Sending money is allowed, but funding an inmate’s JPay is the easiest way to do so.

Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City Medium (FCI Yazoo City Medium)

 is a medium-security federal correctional institution, hence the name. It’s part of the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Yazoo City.

The institution first opened its gates in 2005 in Yazoo County, Mississippi, around 36 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi. It’s less than a kilometer away from FCI Yazoo City Low, which is also part of FCC Yazoo City.

Inmates live in two-person cells, unlike Yazoo City Low where they live in dorms. As of January 2023, FCI Yazoo City Medium currently has a total of 1,494 male inmates residing inside the institution. One notable inmate serving their time in FCI Yazoo City Low is Philip Giordano, the former mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Like most prisons, FCI Yazoo City Medium has a Health Services staff consisting of nurses, practitioners, dentists, physicians, and a pharmacist. Inmates can enjoy basic medical services, including, but not limited to:

• routine medical and dental care,
• annual physical examination,
• vaccination
• immunization
• prescription eyeglasses, and
• medications.

According to their handbook, staff members take shifts. In doing so, they’re able to provide emergency medical care to inmates at all times. Needless to say, FCI Yazoo City Medium has sufficient medical capabilities.

In addition to healthcare, inmates also have access to a variety of educational programs. These include:

• General Educational Development (GED)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Correspondence courses
• Parenting courses
• Vocational training programs, and
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE).

These educational programs are one way for inmates to spend their free time. Another way is to engage in recreational activities and programs like:

• intramural sports (basketball, softball, soccer, etc.),
• fitness programs,
• hobby craft programs,
• board games, and
• movie watching.

Inmates are also free to purchase items from the prison commissary. They can buy everyday items like snacks or relatively luxurious items like radios and MP3 devices. However, each inmate can only spend at most $290.00 a month, which is actually lower than the standard $320 monthly spending limit in most federal prisons. Nevertheless, This monthly spending limit is revalidated once per month.

Those who wish to visit inmates in FCI Yazoo City Medium can do so on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM or on Federal Holidays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. However, inmates can only receive visitors five times a month, and each time, there can only be at most four adults and four children under the age of 16.

Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City Low (FCI Yazoo City Low) is a low-security federal correctional institution, hence the name. The institution is part of the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City.

The prison and its adjacent minimum-security satellite camp are in Yazoo County, Mississippi, approximately 36 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi. The correctional institution opened its gates in 2005.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ site, FCI Yazoo City Low currently (December 2022) has 105 inmates residing at the satellite camp and 1,298 inmates living in the correctional institution, all of which are males. In total, there are 1,403 inmates in the institution, which is relatively higher than the average population of FCIs. However, that’s not to say the prison is cramped, as inmates live in dormitories instead of cells.

Notable inmates currently serving their time in FCI Yazoo City Low include Dino Bouterse, the son of the former president of Suriname. The institution also once housed Larry Lawton, now a motivational speaker, and Karey Lee Woolsey, known for writing and releasing relatively popular songs while in prison. Needless to say, the institution isn’t as strict as other prisons, and inmates still have a level of freedom while serving their sentence.

In addition, all inmates in the institution have access to the basic medical services that most FCIs have, as their Health Services staff consists of physicians, nurses, dentists, a pharmacist, and a couple more practitioners.

Like most prisons, FCI Yazoo City Low provides the following medical services to inmates: routine medical and dental care and annual physical examination, and vaccination/immunization. The staff may also give certain inmates special care items like prescription eyeglasses and medications. Staff members take shifts to ensure there’s always someone to provide emergency medical care to inmates.

As far as education goes, FCI Yazoo City Low allows inmates to participate in the following: General Educational Development (GED) Program, English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses, Correspondence, and Parenting Courses, Vocational Training Programs, and several Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Courses.

To ensure inmates can use their free time, the institution occasionally conducts intramural programs like tournaments for basketball, softball, and soccer, to name a few. In addition, inmates can also engage in hobby craft programs, fitness programs, and other leisure activities like board games and movie watching.

FCI Yazoo City Low can obtain items that are otherwise unavailable inside the prison, like radio and earplugs, by purchasing them from the commissary. Each inmate can spend at most $290.00 per month, which is lower than the standard monthly limit of $320 in most FCIs. The system revalidates the limit once per month.

Visitors can visit with inmates on Saturdays, and Sundays, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM, and on Federal Holidays, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. If the inmate resides in the satellite camp, the Visiting Room is open for visitors on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Inmates can have five visiting sessions per month, and each session can have at most four adults and four children (under 16).

Federal Correctional Institution, Williamsburg consists of a medium-security prison and a minimum-security prison camp. The institution is located in Salters, South Carolina, 90 miles southeast of Columbia.

Currently (December 2022), FCI Williamsburg has 1,552 male inmates, 1,453 of which are at the correctional institution while the remaining 99 are at the camp. The inmates are housed in two- and three-person cells.

The institution provides various medical services to all inmates. Regular health services include sick calls, which are done every weekday except Wednesday at 10:30 AM, and chronic care treatment, where a physician meets with all inmates assigned to the program every twelve months. Inmates may also enjoy clinical and dental care at their convenience, though they must schedule an appointment with the staff days in advance.

Emergency treatments are, of course, given, but it’s the inmate’s responsibility to seek medical attention. There are also initial exams that inmates will take only once upon incarceration. These include physical exams and TB screening. Lastly, inmates can seek medications and prescription eyeglasses as they wish.

As for education, the institution also doesn’t fail to deliver the appropriate programs to inmates. At the moment, FCI, Williamsburg offers inmates the chance to participate in the following programs: General Educational Development (GED) Program, English as a Second Language (ESL) Course, Post-Secondary Education, Vocational Education, Social Education, Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Courses, and Parenting Courses.

For recreation, FCI Williamsburg ensures inmates have access to various recreational activities. There are programs scheduled to provide recreation to inmates and activities that inmates can freely access.

Examples of recreation programs in the institution include intramural sports, hobby craft programs, movie viewing, and physical fitness and wellness programs. Meanwhile, there’s a gymnasium that inmates can access in their free time to participate in recreational activities like soccer, handball, workouts, jogging tracks, and basketball. Inmates can also visit the library for either recreational or educational purposes.

FCI Williamsburg has a commissary where inmates can purchase items that are otherwise not available in the institution. Examples of such items include watches, radios, snacks, and clothing. The commissary is open only on all five weekdays, but every inmate can shop on a day specifically assigned to them. Each inmate can spend a maximum of $320 a month, but this monthly spending limit goes up to $370 in December.

Family and friends can visit inmates in FCI Williamsburg on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. They may also visit on Friday, but the schedule is tight as the institution is only open from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. There can only be five adult visitors at a time for each inmate, and they must have an ID.

Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca is a low-security federal prison in Minnesota, 75 miles from Minneapolis. It was formerly a campus until it was converted into a prison in 1992 and opened in 1995.

As of December 2022, FCI Waseca has a total of 827 inmates, all of which are female, but not until 2008, it was an all-male prison. The housing is primarily a dormitory consisting of two- and four-person cubicles and rooms.

All inmates in the institution can go to the Health Services Department for a variety of medical services. These include sick calls, emergency treatments, routine dental services, and pharmacy services. There are also regular tests done at different intervals for tuberculosis, physical examinations, and HIV and AIDS. The facility may also provide medications, eyeglasses, and vaccines for immunization that the inmate requires. If the inmate has a specific illness, they may book an appointment for chronic care services.

Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca offers the same educational programs as other federal prisons. These include a literacy program, a General Educational Development (GED) Program, an English as a Second Language (ESL) course, and a bunch of Adult Continuing Classes (ACE) and Adult Occupational Education (AOE) Programs. One of the unique programs that FCI Waseca offers is the Cosmetology Program.

As for recreation, FCI Waseca ensures inmates can enjoy several leisure activities. For starters, inmates can go to the gymnasium for indoor workouts. There are also outdoor activities like tennis, racquetball, and basketball, to name a few. There are also programs for Hobby Craft, Arts, and Gardening. Inmates may also bide their time in the library, where they can read books for leisure purposes.

Like most prisons, FCI Waseca has a commissary where inmates can purchase items that are otherwise not accessible in the institution ordinarily. These include items like MP3 players and radios. Inmates can buy items from the Commissary at a specific time according to their registry number. Each inmate has a maximum monthly spending of $360.00. Half of this limit ($180.00) is revalidated every fifteen days or two weeks.

Correspondence like family and friends can visit inmates in the facility on Friday from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM or on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Only five adults and five children are allowed to visit, and adults must bring government-issued identification.

Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium II is a medium security federal correctional institution. It’s part of the Victorville Federal Prison Complex, along with FCI Victorville Medium I. The facility was opened at the same time as FCI Victorville Medium I, in 2004, in a place formerly known as the George Air Force Base.

Currently (November 2022), there are a total of 1,104 inmates in the facility, all of which are males, unlike FCI Victorville Medium I, which also houses female offenders. The facility has two-, three-, and four-person cells.

FCI Victorville Medium II offers the basic health services most federal prisons in the US have. These include emergency medical care, sick calls, dental services, medications, physical examinations, and prescription eyeglasses. Aside from these basic services, the facility may also test for tuberculosis once every year.

The institution, like other federal prisons, may also deliver psychological services to inmates in the form of programs. These programs tackle matters like smoking cessation, drug abuse, and value enhancement.

Inmates in FCI Victorville Medium II can seek education inside the facility through educational programs. At the moment, there are corresponding programs for literacy, General Educational Development (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), parenting, Adult Continuing Education (ACE), and vocational/occupational training.

As a way to blow off steam, the institution also allows inmates to partake in recreational activities. Examples of the activities available in the facility are fitness programs, hobby crafts, and sports, among many things.

Like most prisons, there’s a commissary in FCI Victorville Medium II Inmates. There, inmates can purchase items that are otherwise not available inside the prison through normal means. These may include items like snacks, electronics, and pieces of clothing. Every inmate can spend a maximum of $360.00 every month. This spending limit is revalidated on a specific day depending on the inmate’s number each month.

FCI Victorville Medium II allows inmates to call their contacts (family and friends) 30 minutes at a time. Each inmate can spend a maximum of 300 minutes of call time through the telephone lines every month.

Friends and families of inmates who wish to visit the facility can do so from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM on Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. Inmates have 40 visiting points available. Two points are deducted per hour for visits on holidays and weekends. Meanwhile, one point is deducted per hour for visits on Mondays. Four visitors can be in the visiting room at a time for each inmate; these include children over the age of two.

Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium I is a medium security federal correctional institution. The facility is part of the Victorville Federal Prison Complex, along with two other facilities: the Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium II, and a low-security camp for female inmates. FCI Victorville Medium I was opened in 2004 in what was formerly known as George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.

As of November 2022, there are a total of 1,842 inmates composed of both male and female offenders in the Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium I. The facility houses the inmates in two-person cells.

FCI Victorville Medium I offers the basic health services all federal prisons in the US have. These include sick calls, emergency medical care, physical examinations, prescription eyeglasses, medications, and dental services. Apart from the basic health services, the facility also conducts annual TB testing for its inmates.

The facility, just like other federal prisons, also provides psychological services in the form of programs. Such programs include smoking cessation, a drug abuse program, and a values enhancement program.

The institution offers the same educational services as any other federal prison. There’s a literacy program, a General Educational Development (GED) Program, an English as a Second Language (ESL) course, a parenting program, Adult Continuing Education (ACE) courses, and a bunch of occupational programs.

To provide inmates with something to blow off steam, the facility, much like most federal prisons, also has recreational activities. Inmates can participate in activities like sports, hobby crafts, and fitness programs.

Inmates can purchase items that are otherwise not available in prison through the commissary. Items like a radio, a watch, and snacks are available in the commissary. Each inmate is allowed a monthly spending limit of $360.00, which is revalidated on a specific day in each month, depending on the inmate’s number.

FCI Victorville Medium I follows the national standard for their telephone system: inmates can call their contacts for 30 minutes at a time. Each inmate is limited to a total of 300 minutes of call time per month.

Unfortunately, as of November 2022, visiting is prohibited in FCI Victorville Medium I. However, normally, friends and families of inmates can visit from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and on federal holidays. Inmates have 40 visiting points available. Two points are deducted per hour for visits on weekends and holidays, and one point is deducted per hour for visits on Mondays. A maximum of four visitors can enter the visiting room at a time – children over the age of two are included in this count.

Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson (FCI Tucson) is a medium-security federal prison with an adjacent detention center. The facility, along with the United States Penitentiary, is part of the Tucson Federal Correctional Complex. The institution opened in March 1982, one mile from Interstate 10.

As of November 2022, FCI Tucson has a total of 318 inmates, some of which are males, while others are females. The prison mainly consists of two-person cells, and it’s where some of the male offenders reside. Meanwhile, females, and a number of male inmates, live in the administrative facility or detention center.

Every inmate in FCI Tucson has the right to seek medical and dental care by using sick calls to request appointments. Like most federal correctional institutions, the facility can provide inmates with basic medical and dental services. These include dental care, physical examinations, emergency healthcare, medicines, eyeglasses, and immunizations. The facility also has a chronic care clinic where inmates can seek regular monitoring for conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, infectious disease, and high blood pressure.

Like most facilities, FCI Tucson has educational programs available to inmates. The basic ones include the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program and the General Education Development (GED) Program.

More advanced programs include the Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Program, a Parenting Program, Correspondence Classes, and a bunch of Apprenticeships and Vocational Trades Programs. Inmates can also visit the Law Library, where they may learn about legal subjects and get legal materials to help with their cases.

In their free time, inmates in Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson can also enjoy a variety of leisure and recreational programs. Currently, the facility offers the following leisure activities: sports, physical fitness programs, hobby crafts, music programs, intramural activities, and movies, to name a few.

Like most prisons, FCI Tucson has a commissary where inmates can purchase items that are otherwise unavailable inside the facility. Each inmate has a monthly spending limit of $320.00, half of which the system revalidates every 1st and 15th day of the month. The commissary sells various items, from general goods like coffee, snacks, and shampoo to relatively expensive stuff like electronics, e.g., MP3 player, watch, and radio.

Inmates from FCI Tucson can call family and friends via the telephone system. Each call can only be up to 15 minutes long, and each inmate is allowed a total of 300 minutes of call time with their contacts every month.

As for visiting, the friends and family of inmates can visit them on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays, from 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM. Visitors must be on the inmate’s list of approved visitors, and each inmate can put up to 12 contacts on this list. For that reason, visitors are advised to contact inmates first before their visit.

Federal Correctional Institution, Three Rivers is a federal correctional institution (FCI) for medium security inmates with an adjacent minimum security prison camp. The institution opened in 1990 in an unincorporated area in Live Oak County, 73 miles northwest of Corpus Christi and 80 miles south of San Antonio. 

As of October 2022, FCI Three Rivers houses a total of 1,313 male offenders, 1,087 of which live at the federal correctional institution in mostly two-person cells, and 226 are at the prison camp, living in dormitories.

Like most federal prisons, FCI Three Rivers provides basic health services, including routine calls, emergency services, dental care, prescription glasses, physical examinations, and the commissary sells over-the-counter medications. Since the institution is a Care Level One institution, they have the necessary facilities for chronic medical conditions. If an inmate requires intensive medical care, outside treatments are available. Apart from the basic services, FCI Three Rivers also provides immunization for PPD and tetanus to inmates and HIV tests.

As far as Psychology Services go, the institution offers the following mental health programs: Drug Treatment Program, Crisis Intervention, Relapse Prevention Groups, Psycho-Educational Programs, and group therapies.

FCI Three Rivers also provides the basic education programs most federal prisons have. These include a General Educational Development (GED) Program, an English as a Second Language (ESL) course, vocational training, Adult Continuing Education (ACE), and a parenting program. Outside of these basic programs, inmates in FCI Three Rivers have access to Employment Preparation Classes and Correspondence Courses. The library consists mostly of legal materials and books and DVDs for recreational purposes.

Speaking of recreation, inmates in FCI Three Rivers can enjoy a variety of recreation programs. Examples of such programs are intramural sports (basketball, soccer, racquetball, volleyball), board and card games, fitness/wellness programs (yoga, Climber Club, Bike Club, Run Club, Walk Club), and arts and hobby crafts.

Inmates can go to the commissary and purchase otherwise inaccessible items, from general goods like candies and sodas to electronics like earbuds and MP3s. The monthly spending limit is $320.00, which is relatively lower than the national standard ($320.00). Nevertheless, the system revalidates $160.00 every two weeks.

Friends and family can visit inmates in the institution on weekends or holidays from 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM. They must be on the premises by 2:00 PM. Every inmate can only receive a maximum of six visitors at one time, and these visitors must be on their visiting list.