Federal Medical Center - Fort Worth

The Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth (FMC Fort Worth) opened in 1971 as a low-security correctional institution. However, in 2017 this facility officially changed status and is classified as a federal medical center that houses male offenders of all security levels that have special medical and mental health needs.

FMC Fort Worth is located in the northern district of Texas and is home to 1740 male inmates. Housing units at this location range from a standard cell to dormitories depending on the security level assigned to the offender.

Notable inmates include Bernard Ebbers, the former CEO of the failed telecommunication company Worldcom. He is currently serving a 25-year sentence for conspiracy and securities fraud.

Prison Insights

Visiting hours for FMC Fort Worth are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Federal holidays.

In an effort to accommodate the high volume of visitors, an even and odd rotation for each day of the weekend and holidays is utilized. The rotation is based on the fifth digit of the inmate’s register number, and will be conducted as follows:

April 15 thru October 14 Schedule:
Saturday: Odd
Sunday: Even
Holiday: AM - Odd PM - Even

October 15 thru April 14 Schedule:
Saturday: Even
Sunday: Odd
Holiday: AM - Odd PM-Even

Every April 15 and October 15, the weekend schedule will be alternated as noted above. This will allow for fair and equitable visitation access throughout the year. Please note the schedule for federal holidays will not alternate, it will remain the same all year. 

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.

Getting on the Approved Visit 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

Each inmate may not have more than six visitors at one time, to include adults and children.

All visitors are subject to a visual and pat search by an officer. You will also be scanned by a metal detector and receive a blacklight stamp on your hand.

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 may bring the following items into the institution:

• One (1) small (half-gallon size) clear, transparent purse, or a clear bag
• Cash, up to the amount of $25.00
• An appropriate amount of child care supplies are permitted, per child, for infant visitors:
  
  • Three diapers
  • One package of baby wipes (unopened)
  • One change of infant clothing
  • Two clear baby bottles with contents of premixed baby formula
  • Two small jars of commercially packed baby food (unopened)
  • One receiving blanket
  • One clear drinking cup
  • Medium clear plastic container/bag no larger than 12" x 16"

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. Everything else must be left in your vehicle.

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

Clothing which interferes with operation of the metal detector or other security devices which cannot be reasonably inspected will not be permitted into the facility, unless medical reasons dictate otherwise.

The items which may interfere with operation of the metal detector may include underwire bras, garter belts, clothing with costume jewelry, large metal buttons, and more.

Tops, shirts or blouses must cover the entire upper body at all times, even in movement, including stomach, shoulders, chest/breast, and back.

Any "pantyhose" type leggings, jeggings, spandex, leotards, etc., or pants with holes, will not be permitted unless the lower body is covered by an appropriate length dress/skirt. Proper undergarments must be worn.

Only walking shorts that reach the top of the knee are permitted.

Shoes must be worn. All visitors are to wear shoes with a back or strap around back.

The following clothing items are not permitted in the visiting room:

• Dresses, shirts, or tops that wrap around the body, and/or any dress/skirt with a slit or hemline more than two (2) inches above the top of the knee for persons over 10 years of age.
• Form fitting or tight pants and dresses such as spandex, bicycle pants, or other form fitting material.
• Sleeveless garments with partial sleeves exposing the armpit area, crop tops, tube tops, tank tops, and halter tops.
• Beach style footwear such as, flip-flops, open-toe shoes, slip on shoes, shower shoes or slippers are not permitted. Footwear with rolling wheels.
• Clothing accessible to the inmate population through the commissary such as gray sweatpants, gray sweatshirts, as well as plain brown, gray, and white t-shirts.
• Khaki or tan colored pants, shirts, jackets or coats resembling inmate clothing, to include orange or red jumpsuits and hooded jackets or shirts
• Obvious clothing or accessories that suggest association with a gang will not be permitted. Camouflage clothing of any type.
• Additionally, professional uniform attire, i.e., medical, clergy, or military uniforms is not permitted.
• No head-wear such as hats, visors, head wraps or headbands (with the exception to religious head-wear and when medical reasons dictate, documentation is required).
• Umbrellas, gloves, sun glasses, non-prescription glasses, and watches.
• Provocative and/or excessively revealing attire

Any clothing not noted above that is deemed inappropriate for wear in a correctional facility will not be authorized.

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 FMC Fort Worth.
• 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

• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
• Drug Abuse Education Course
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Literacy
• GED
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Reading is Fundamental and Words Travel Programs
• High School Diploma (via paid correspondence)
• Post-Secondary Programs (via paid correspondence)
• Occupational Training in Building Service Maintenance and Office Technology.
• Apprenticeship offered in HVAC

Pictures of Federal Medical Center - Fort Worth

Careers at Federal Medical Center - Fort Worth

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, you can find available positions at FMC Fort Worth 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 FMC Fort Worth report that it was a great place to work and offered a lot of advancement opportunities. The work/life balance is average and is suggested to be better suited for a single person.