Federal Correctional Institution - Edgefield

The Federal Correctional Institution, Edgefield (FCI Edgefield) is a medium-security prison for male inmates located in South Carolina. It also has an adjacent minimum-security satellite prison camp.

Currently, 1,934 inmates are housed at the facility - 1,368 at the FCI and 566 at the camp.

Inmates at FCI Edgefield are housed in two-person cells, and inmates at the camp are housed in dormitories, which are divided into two-person pods.

In 2002, a correction officer pleaded guilty for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. After an investigation, it was discovered that the officer had accepted over $9,000 in bribes in exchange for bringing marijuana into the facility and passing it to inmates.

In 2010, two different correction officers were indicted for accepting bribes and smuggling contraband.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The visiting hours at both FCI Edgefield and the satellite camp are on Fridays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays from 8:00 am to 2:00 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.

No more than four adult visitors will be permitted for each inmate at one time. There is no limit on the number of children.

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.

Visitors sixteen years of age and over must have valid proof of their identity with them such as a driver's license, state issued identification card, INS card, military identification, or passport. A government issued ID is the only valid photo identification accepted.

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.

The only items that visitors can bring into the visiting room are:

• Wallet or small clear plastic bag not to exceed 6" long by 6" wide by 3" deep. 
• Money to be used for refreshments, no more than $25.00
• Valid Photo identification
• Essential medication (will be limited to the amount needed during the visiting period and controlled by the Visiting Room Officer)

Any unauthorized items must be placed in your vehicle or a storage locker outside of the visiting room. Visitors will not be allowed to bring in or give anything to an inmate.

The following items will be permitted, per child, when infants are visiting:

• Four Diapers
• One package of baby wipes (unopened)
• One change of infant clothing  
• Two baby bottles with contents
• Two small jars of baby food
• One receiving blanket
• One see-through drinking cup

All visitors will be properly attired when coming into the institution to visit inmates. Visitors (including minors) wearing sexually provocative clothing will be prohibited from admission to the institution visiting room.

Visitors will be expected to wear clothing which is within the bounds of good taste. Visitors will not be allowed to wear:

• low-cut or see-through clothing
• tube or tank tops, backless clothing
• camouflage, khaki, or green-colored clothing
• slits in dresses above the bend of the knee, dresses, skirts, and shorts will not be allowed above the bend of the knee
• any other apparel of a suggestive or revealing nature (e.g., skin tight clothing, mini skirts, short culottes or sleeveless 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.

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.

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 Edgefield.
• 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, electronics, 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.

The monthly spend limit for each inmate is $360.

​Programs For ​Inmates

• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) at the camp (not the FCI)
• Drug Abuse Education
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• GED
• English as a Second Language
• High School Diploma (via paid correspondence)
• Post-Secondary Programs (via paid correspondence)
• Adult Continuing Education
• Apprenticeships in Culinary Arts
• Advanced Occupational Education in Culinary Arts, ServeSafe, and General Services Automotive Technician. The camp also offers Forklift Operator.
• Parenting program
• UNICOR facility that produces clothing and textiles

Pictures of Federal Correctional Institution - Edgefield

Careers at Federal Correctional Institution - Edgefield

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, you can find available positions at FCI Edgefield 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 Edgefield are outstanding. They say that it is a great place to work, has a great work/life balance, and nothing in the area can beat the pay and benefits.