Federal Correctional Institution - Cumberland

Federal Correctional Institution - Cumberland is a medium-security federal correctional institution, located in Cumberland, Maryland, with an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp. This is an all male-facility that houses a total of 1,206 Inmates - 966 inmates at the FCI and 240 inmates at the satellite camp. 

Inmates at the FCI are housed in two-person and three-person cells. Inmates at the camp are house in dormitories.

FCI Cumberland has a license plate factory on site that makes plates for government vehicles. This is an opportunity for inmates to make a tiny income in efforts to learn financial responsibility while also fulfilling their required job assignment.

Prison Insights

FCI Cumberland visiting hours are Friday 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays from 8:45 am to 3:00 pm.

FCI Cumberland satellite camp visiting hours are Monday and Friday 4:30pm - 8:30pm and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays from 8:45 am to 3:00 pm.

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.

All visitors are to be dressed appropriately.

PERSONS WEARING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS OF CLOTHING WILL NOT BE ADMITTED

• Khaki shirt and/or trousers similar to FCI inmate clothing
• Mini-skirts, halter tops, or halter dresses
• Strapless blouses, dresses, sleeveless shirts or other apparel which is revealing innature.
• Spandex-like pants or shorts, cotton athletic sweatpants, camouflage attire, or medical scrubs

Visitors must wear clothing which is free from obscene, inappropriate or offensive messages that have been imprinted, embroidered, handwritten or machine applied.

Visitors must also wear appropriate foot apparel at all times. Thongs, flip-flops, or shower shoes are not appropriate forms of foot wear, however sandals and/or open toed footwear is appropriate providing they have a heel strap.

Men and women may wear walking shorts. Women are also permitted to wear culottes or shorts. All shorts or dresses will be no shorter than approximately 4 inches from the center of the knee.

All items authorized for entrance into the Visiting Room will be searched by the Front Lobby Officer.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PERMITTED INTO THE VISITING ROOM:

1) One clear change purse not to exceed 6" by 6" that can be easily searched;
2) Money in the form of U.S. coinage (not to exceed two rolls of quarters totaling $20.00).
Coins must be removed from the paper wrapper prior to entering the institution;
3) A comb or hair brush;
4) Two plastic baby bottles;
5) Two diapers and baby wipes in a clear container;
6) Three, unopened plastic containers of baby food and one small plastic spoon;
7) One set of baby clothes, one baby bib, and one small blanket;
8) Jewelry may be worn, but not carried, into the Visiting Room;
9) A sweater, light jacket, or coat;
10) Females are permitted to carry three feminine hygiene items into the Visiting Room.
11) Life maintenance medication for cardiac patients and epileptic seizure sufferers, and inhaler

All visitors are subject to a visual and pat search by an officer. You will also be scanned by a metal detector.

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.

If you are 16 years of age or older, you must bring a valid photo ID with you to the visit, like a state or federal ID card, driver's license, current passport, or resident alien card. Birth certificates are not valid forms of ID.

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 FCI Cumberland and the FCI Cumberland Satellite Camp.

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 a FCI Cumberland.
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. It 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

• Job Assignments
• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
• Drug Abuse Education Course
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Treatment for inmates who have abused drugs and/or alcohol
• GED in English and Spanish
• English as a second language
• High School Diploma (via paid correspondence)
• Post-Secondary Programs (via paid correspondence)
• Occupational Education Programs in Carpentry and Drywall at the FCI, and Dog Trainer, Pet Grooming, and Veterinary Assistant at the Camp
• Apprenticeships at the FCI in Baker, Carpentry, Maintenance, Peripheral Equipment Operator, and Electrical Maintenance. Apprenticeships in Automobile Mechanic, Computer Peripheral Equipment Operator, and Powerhouse Mechanic at the Camp. Both facilities offer apprenticeships in Cook, Electrical Maintenance, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Landscape/Gardener, Painter, and Welder Fitter.
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
• Parenting Programs
• Art Activities (painting, sketching)
• Craft Activities (ceramics, mosaics, crochet, knitting, and sculpture)
• Wellness Programs
• The Hope House Book Reading Program

Pictures of Federal Correctional Institution - Cumberland

Careers at Federal Correctional Institution - Cumberland

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, you can find available positions at FCI Cumberland 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 FCI Cumberland report that it was a poorly-managed facility, but overall it was a good experience. The work/life balance is above average, and the salary and benefits were competitive.