Federal Correctional Complex - Forrest City

The Forrest City Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Forrest City) is a federal prison complex for male prisoners located in Arkansas, about 85 miles east of Little Rock. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and named after Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

There are two institutions and a satellite prison camp at FCC Forrest City based on security level. Federal Correctional Institution, Forrest City Low (FCI Forrest City Low), is a low-security facility that has a minimum-security satellite camp. And, Federal Correctional Institution, Forrest City Medium (FCI Forrest City Medium), is a medium-security facility.

Inmates at FCI Forrest City Low and the satellite camp are housed in dormitories which are divided into cubicles. Inmates at FCI Forrest City Medium are housed in cells.

There are 2,058 total inmates at the FCI Low and Camp, plus 1,342 inmates at FCI Medium.

All inmates incarcerated at Forrest City FCC are required to have a job, and they must participate in different programs. Each facility offers recreational services, religious services, plus medical and mental health services.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Hours at FCI Forrest City Medium, FCI Forrest City Low and the Satellite Camp are on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The visiting rules and regulations are the same for all facilities.

Getting on the Approved Visit List

Authorized visitors who can visit an inmate include family, friends, and associates. You can't visit an inmate unless he puts you on the visiting list.

Everyone must fill out a visitor form, and they must have a relationship with the inmate prior to incarceration. If a potential visitor does not have a prior relationship with the inmate, their request will be reviewed by the warden.

Once the inmate requests to add someone to their visit list, a correctional counselor will provide them with a visiting form, and the inmate is responsible for mailing these out and letting the potential visitor know that they need to fill out the form and return it to the institution staff.

The unit team will do a background check and determine if a visitor application is approved. They make their decision based on constructive and security factors. The process takes about a week, and the unit staff will notify the inmate when the requested visitor is approved or refused.

It is the inmate’s responsibility to notify the visitor of the decision, and the process is the same for both adult and minor visitors.

Basic Visit Procedures and Rules

Inmates will be limited to four approved adult visitors and five children at any one time. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

All visitors are subject to a visual and pat search by an officer. You will also be scanned by a metal detector and an ION spectrometry device, plus you will be stamped with ultra violet ink. Any item you bring into the facility will be opened and searched by a staff member, and anyone who refuses a search of themselves or their property will not be allowed to visit with the inmate.

Visitors 16 years of age or older must have a current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport). Birth certificates and expired photo IDs are not proper forms of identifications.

Visitors entering the institution are required to wear appropriate attire. All visitors must adhere to the following dress code:

Casual attire is permissible, but clothing must be worn in a conservative manner. Absolutely no suggestive or revealing clothing will be permitted in the institution.

Admittance of the visitors is up to the discretion of the Front Lobby Officer, Control Center Officer, Visiting Room Officers, Lieutenants, and/or the Institution Duty Officer.

The following is a list of clothing that is NOT permissible:

• Clothing made from “see through” material; including revealing lace, and holes in clothing
• Sleeveless shirts
• Shirts, blouses, or dresses that reveal the stomach, back, underarms, or thigh. To include tank tops, halter tops, crop tops, etc. No semi-short sleeve shirts/blouses; no form-fitting shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, etc.
• Skirts must not be form fitting and all skirts must be below the knee in a standing and seated position. Splits in skirts cannot be higher than knee length
• Form-fitting pants or shorts, including stretch pants and Spandex for adult visitors
• Swimsuits
• Hats. Exceptions will be made for traditional religious head wear, i.e., kufi, Yarmulkes, tam, etc.
• Camouflage clothing
• At the Medium and Low components, no khaki or shirt and pant combination, and no see through clothing
• No sweat suits or hooded sweatshirts, i.e. cotton type warm-up suits, or jogging suit, no athletic jerseys
• No sunglasses
• No backless outfits
• No profanity or obscene clothing
• No open toe footwear, flip flops, etc.
• No purses/men’s wallets
• No jackets or coats, no gloves or scarfs, a light sweater will be permitted as long as it does not have a hood or pockets
• No wrist watches
• No pajama clothing

Visitors can bring a small clear plastic purse, no longer than 8”x 8”  to carry authorized items into the institution. Any unauthorized items that you bring to the visit must be placed in a locker or in your vehicle.

• Currency - American dollars in denominations of five (5) and one (1) dollar bills and change, not to exceed $20.00. These can be used in the vending machines.
• Diapers, formula, baby food (commercially sealed), and one (1) blanket, necessary for an infant, but, only in an amount which can be used during the length of the visit; Formula will only be mixed in front of the Front Lobby Officer.
• Life sustaining medications, i.e., Nitroglycerin tablets, inhalers, etc. These items must be maintained at the visiting room officer’s station during the visit.

The following items will NOT be permitted to enter the institution:

• Strollers or baby carriers
• Baby powder or creams
• Food or drinks
• Candy or Gum
• Tobacco products, matches, or lighters
• Toys or games
• Photographs
• Personal or business papers
• Writing implements
• Medications. (Except as noted above)
• Animals. Animals are not authorized on institution grounds. Exception: Animals trained to assist disabled persons, e.g., Seeing Eye dogs for the blind, will be authorized
• No personal keys; only one (1) key to the car door will be permitted
• Controlled substances to include illegal narcotics
• Weapons
• Electronic devices, i.e., electronic keys, cell phones, etc.
• Cosmetic items

There is no limit on the amount of mail that inmates receive, but all correspondence must have the inmate’s complete name, registration number, facility name, and address.

You can only send cards or letters to these addresses. Paperback books, newspapers, and

magazines must come directly from the publisher via a subscription or mail order.

Inmates cannot receive packages through the mail, with the exception of a package of release day clothing. You can't send the release day package until 30 days prior to the scheduled release date.

How to Call an Inmate

Federal inmates are not allowed to have cellphones and they can't receive inbound calls. They can make outbound calls during approved hours, and they must pay for them with the money that is on their personal account or call collect.

Inmates will use TRULINCS to call to both landline and cell phones. This is also how inmates are able to send and receive emails. Your number must be added to the contact list for approval.

All phone calls are limited to 15 minutes, and will be monitored and recorded.

How to Send Money

Sending money is one of most important things you can do for an inmate. The prison will issue each prisoner the minimum amount of clothing and hygiene items, and provide them with three meals a day. But, it is extremely difficult for prisoners to have any level of comfort when living with just the items that are prison-issued.

Inmates can receive outside funds while incarcerated at a BOP-managed facility, which are deposited into their commissary accounts.The process for sending money is the same for prisoners at every facility at FCC Forrest City.
Postal Service

For federal prisoners, you can send money through the United States Postal Service by MONEY ORDER to the following address:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Inmate Name
Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

Send the funds to the address above. Replace the second line with the inmate's valid, full committed name. Replace the third line with the inmate's eight digit register number.

Never send money directly to the prison. If you are using the postal service, you must always send your money order to the bureau of prisons using the above address.

MoneyGram

You can send an inmate funds electronically using MoneyGram's Express Payment Program.To send funds using this method, please read and follow these steps carefully:

Wait until an inmate has physically arrived at FCC Forrest City.Gather the information you'll need. Which includes the inmate’s name and number.Visit moneygram.com to complete your payment.

Information needed to complete MoneyGram payment:

Account Number: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE).
Company Name: Federal Bureau of Prisons
City & State: Washington, DC
Receive Code is always: 7932
Beneficiary: Inmate's full committed name

Western Union

If you would like to see a sample Western Union form click here. On their website, they have a special form for sending money to inmates, and you go directly to it by clicking here.

You will need to know the inmate’s full name and number, and you can pay with a debit or credit card at westernunion.com. Remember, any time you send money to an inmate you must always include their name and registration number on everything.

There are a few things that inmates can spend their money on. This includes phone calls, emails, and commissary.  The commissary is the prison store, where inmates can buy things like beverages, meals and snacks, OTC medications, stationary, personal hygiene items, electronics, clothing, or other miscellaneous products.

Please be aware that prisoners have their own economy inside the prison walls just like we do in the real world. Inmates that have a lot of money can do a lot of things both legal and illegal. Prisoners can potentially use the money in their account to buy things for other inmates in exchange for drugs and paraphernalia. This activity is illegal and can get an inmate in a lot of trouble.

Is important to keep track of how much money you are sending your incarcerated loved one, and watch out for any suspicious behavior.

​Programs For ​Inmates

FCI Forrest City Low and Adjacent Satellite Camp:

• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) FCI Low Only
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Treatment (N-RDAP)
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• GED
• English as a Second Language
• Parenting Classes
• High School Diplomas and Post-Secondary Programs via paid correspondence
• Advanced Occupational Education in Building Trades, Diesel Technology, and Drafting Technology
• UNICOR job facility that makes office furniture
• Indoor and outdoor activities
• Music Rooms
• Fitness Area and Gym
• Intramural Sports

FCI Forrest City Medium:

• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• GED
• Literacy
• English as a Second Language
• High School Diplomas and Post-Secondary Programs via paid correspondence
• Advanced Occupational Education in Building Trades, Diesel Technology, and Office Technology
• UNICOR facility that makes office furniture
• Indoor and Outdoor activities
• Fitness area and Gym
• Intramural Sports

Pictures of Federal Correctional Complex - Forrest City

Careers at Federal Correctional Complex - Forrest City

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, you can find available positions at FCC Forrest City by visiting USAJobs.gov. The salaries at the facility begin around $40,000 and can go up into the six-figure range, depending on the position.

Reviews from employees at FCC Forrest City report that it was a depressing place to work, and it needed a better human resources department. Jobs at FCC Forrest City offer an average work/life balance, decent pay, and good benefits.