United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy

The United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, is a high-security prison located in Inez, Kentucky, part of Martin County. In addition to the central unit, the jail also operates a minimum security satellite camp.

The United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, has 1,322 male offenders, with 1,253 located at the jail and an additional 69 inmates housed at the camp.

The jail consists of 306 acres, but the secure area for inmates is within 26 acres. The main perimeter has fences topped with razor wire. It also has multiple sizable armed observation towers, roving patrol, and electronic detection systems.

In comparison, the camp located across the central unit is minimum-security and can house up to 128 offenders who provide a vital labor force to the Penitentiary.

The inmates have access to a Drug Abuse Treatment Program (DAP), which provides the residential and non-residential treatment. Offenders can also take educational classes that include parenting classes, Adult Continuing Education (ACE) studies, and GED (General Educational Development). The vocational training available at the Penitentiary provides data entry, receptionist, and major appliance repair.

The institution will not admit visitors into visitation after 2 pm. Inmates at the jail are permitted visits on Saturdays, Sundays and Federal Holidays from 8:30 am-3 pm.

Even more, processing will stop during count between 9:30 am to 10 am. Inmates inside the Special Housing Unit are allowed visits on Fridays unless there is a holiday, in which case they can enable visits on Thursday.

Inmates at the main facility and the camp are only allowed up to 5 visitors. If granted, they will allow you to have split visits that permit up to ten people. However, only five people are allowed in the visiting room at a time.

All visitors must appear on the inmate’s approved visitation list. It would be best to contact the institution before visiting. It’s to ensure that it’s within the visitation schedule and that the inmate is eligible for visits.