Federal Correctional Complex – Allenwood

Allenwood FCC is a federal correctional complex for male inmates that is located in Pennsylvania. Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Allenwood complex has three facilities - FCI Low (a low-security facility), FCI Medium (a medium-security facility), and USP Allenwood (a high-security facility).

FCI Low houses approximately 1,200 inmates, FCI Medium also houses approximately 1,200 inmates, and USP Allenwood houses 800 inmates.

One of the most famous inmates at USP Allenwood is James Eagan Holmes who is currently serving 12 life sentences for the 2012 mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater.

The complex is located approximately 75 miles north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s state capital.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

All visiting at FCI Allenwood Medium and USP Allenwood is currently suspended until further notice.

The visiting rules at Allenwood are the same for every security level.

Visiting hours are on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Each inmate is allowed a maximum of five total visitors at one time. But, children under the age of two do not count towards the visitor total. All minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

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 up to $25 in change to the visiting room to use for vending machines. You can also bring a clear plastic purse, photo identification, necessary medication, and female hygiene items. Everything else must be left in your vehicle.

You can also bring in items that an infant needs during a visit, including three diapers, sealed baby food, plastic baby bottles, and baby wipes.

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.

The dress code for visits is as follows:

• No shirts that are low cut or revealing, no tank tops, no tube tops, or halter tops.
• No clothes that are see-through, extremely tight, or reveal the mid drift.
• No sleeveless or strapless dresses, no swimsuits.
• No bandanas, doo-rags, camouflage, military clothing, or clothing that resembles security uniforms.
• No gang or obscene or distracting messages, shapes or designs.
• No coats or jackets and sweatshirts, raincoats or other outer garments.
• No hats except as religiously recognized.
• No sunglasses or excessive jewelry.
• No open-toed shoes, flip-flops, house shoes, or slippers.
• No watches.
• No sleeveless shirts.
• No gray sweatpants or sweatshirts.
• No khaki colored clothing that resembles what the inmate wears.
• No skirts or dresses that hit above the knee.

There is no limit on the amount of mail that inmates receive, but all correspondence must have the inmates 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 Allenwood Low, Allenwood Medium, and USP Allenwood.

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 Allenwood.

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, magazine subscriptions, 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. There is a monthly spend limit of $360.

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

Allenwood Low

• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
• Drug Abuse Education
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• GED
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Parenting Program
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
• High School Diplomas and Post-Secondary programs are available through paid correspondence
• Advanced Occupational Education in Culinary Arts, Office Automation, and Fiber Optics
• Vocational Training in Computer Internet Computing Core Certification
• Apprenticeship programs in Cooking and Housekeeping

Allenwood Medium

• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
• Drug Abuse Education
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• GED
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
• Employment Readiness
• Employment Resource Center
• Breaking Barriers Program (a video series focused on the development of cognitive thinking skills)
• Parenting Program
• High School Diploma and Post-Secondary Programs available through paid correspondence
• Vocational Training in Aquaculture Science, Carpentry, Computers, and Electric
• Apprenticeships in Fishery Worker, Housekeeping, and QA Tech

USP Allenwood

• Drug Abuse Education
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Alcoholic Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Literacy
• GED (English and Spanish)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Parenting Program
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
• High School Diplomas and Post-Secondary programs are also available through paid correspondence
• Vocational Training in Computer Word Processing, Computer Assisted Drafting, IC3 Internet Computing Core Certification
• Apprenticeships in Cook, Quality Control Technician, and Upholsterer

Pictures of Federal Correctional Complex – Allenwood

Careers at Federal Correctional Complex – Allenwood

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

Reviews from employees at Allenwood report a good work/life balance and job security with some overtime required. Overall, this job provides a good income and benefits. However, it can be dangerous to work here because of the environment.