Federal Correctional Institution - Elkton

Federal Correctional Institution - Elkton is a low-security federal correctional institution located in Northeast Ohio that has an adjacent low-security satellite prison (FSL), and the two facilities house a total of 2,470 male offenders.

The low-security FCI houses inmates in two-person pods, in a total of six housing units. The satellite prison has dormitory-style housing with rows of bunk beds similar to an army barracks.

FCI Elkton opened in 1997, and it is a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) facility.

Notable inmates include former boss of the Gambino crime family Peter Gotti - who is serving a 25-year sentence for extortion and conspiracy to commit murder - and Floyd Lee Corkins, who pled guilty to terrorism charges in 2013 for shooting a security guard at the Family Research Council’s Washington DC headquarters as retaliation for the group’s opposition to gay marriage.

Prison Insights

FCI Elkton visiting hours are on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.

FSL Elkton visiting hours are on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays from 8:00am to 3:00pm. and Fridays from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.

Inmates will be allowed only six visitors at any given time. 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 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.

You can bring money (no bills larger than $5) to the visiting room to use for vending machines. You can also bring a small change purse or a clear plastic bag, photo identification, and necessary medication. Everything else must be left in your vehicle.

You can also bring in items that an infant needs during a visit. Items allowed are as follows-

Visitors with infants may carry in one (1) small bag containing baby wipes, one (1) baby blanket, four (4) extra diapers, and three (3) clear plastic bottles with formula, or infant food stored in a plastic container. These items must be opened and inspected prior to being allowed inside.

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, or current passport. Birth certificates are not valid forms of ID.

All visitors must be dressed in an appropriate manner. Any visitor who arrives inappropriately dressed will be denied the privilege of visiting.

All visitors must be fully attired, including shoes. No open toed shoes and no strapless heels are authorized. All shoes must be strapped to the foot, and you can’t wear slippers, shower shoes, or flip-flops.

Clothing which is similar to and resembles the style or color of that is issued to inmates (for example, khaki colored clothing) is not allowed to be worn inside the Visiting Room.

Visitors are to refrain from wearing apparel which is revealing or suggestive, or any clothing that contains sexually suggestive/offensive writing or writing/logos that reference gangs.

Dresses or skirts must be no shorter than knee length, and may not have a slit above the knee.

The following clothing will not be permitted:

• Shorts
• Sweat suits or Athletic wear
• Items revealing any part of the buttocks or crotch area
• Sheer clothing
• Tank tops
• Halter tops
• Midriff tops
• Strapless tops or dresses
• Spandex
• Bib overalls
• Khaki, dark brown, orange (any clothing)
• Camouflage clothing
• Medical Scrubs or clothing resembling staff uniforms
• Hats, caps, scarfs
• Hooded shirts, jackets or sweaters
• Watches or other electronic wristbands
• No form fitting clothing

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.

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.

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:

1. Wait until an inmate has physically arrived at a FCI Elkton.

2. Gather the information you'll need, which includes the inmate’s name and number.

3. Visit moneygram.com to complete your payment.

Information needed to complete MoneyGram payment:

1. Account Number: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE).

2. Company Name: Federal Bureau of Prisons

3. City & State: Washington, DC

4. Receive Code is always: 7932

5. 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, 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

• 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
• High School Diploma (via paid correspondence)
• Post-Secondary Programs (via paid correspondence)
• Art Activities (painting, sketching)
• Craft Activities (ceramics, mosaics, crochet, knitting, and sculpture)
• Wellness Programs
• Parenting
• Vocational Training in Culinary Food Preparation and Serving Arts
• Apprenticeship in Computer Operator, Cook, Electrician, and HVAC.
• Mental health and group counseling (groups include Cage Your Rage, Re-Entering on Firm Footing, Mentoring, Successful Living, Responsibility for Your Relationships, Attitude – the Choice is Yours, Positive Mental Attitude, Who Moved My Cheese, Memory Power, Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, Self-Discovery, Beat the Street, and Victim Awareness/Impact Panel.
• Non-Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-NR)

Pictures of Federal Correctional Institution - Elkton

Careers at Federal Correctional Institution - Elkton

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, you can find available positions at FCI Elkton 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 Elkton are overwhelmingly positive stating that it was a great experience and they learned a lot.