FCI McDowell, WV
Explore
Find an Inmate at FCI McDowell, WV
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Guides for This Facility
How to Visit Facility
Before you travel, call 603-342-4000 to confirm the current visiting schedule. The posted hours cover the most common time slots, but they don't apply to every situation. If the person you're visiting is in a special housing unit, they'll likely be on a modified schedule. Confirm what applies to them specifically before you make the trip.
Read Guide
How to Contact an Inmate at Facility
Before you make the trip to FCI McDowell, call 603-342-4000 to confirm the current visiting schedule. The hours listed on the facility page reflect the typical schedule, but they don't always apply. People housed in a special housing unit often have a modified visiting schedule. The Warden can also restrict or cancel visits for safety and security reasons, including severe weather or other incidents that disrupt normal operations.
Read Guide
How to Send Money to Facility
Planning to mail money for someone at FCI McDowell? The most important rule is simple: do not send it to the facility address. All mailed funds must go to the Bureau of Prisons processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Read GuideAt a Glance
Visitation
- Complete and mail the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire to the institution for consideration for visiting privileges.
- Confirm FCI McDowell’s visiting schedule by phone before traveling.
- By entering or attempting to enter Bureau grounds, a visitor consents to being searched; refusal to be searched may result in being prohibited from entering.
Communication
- TRULINCS messages at FCI McDowell are text-only, do not allow attachments, and have a 13,000-character limit.
- A notice is posted next to every inmate telephone advising that calls are monitored.
- Third-party or alternative call arrangements are not permitted for inmate telephone use at FCI McDowell.
Sending Money
- Do not send money to an inmate using FCI McDowell's street address; mailed funds must go to the processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.
- The commissary provides a bank-style account and stores funds deposited by family and friends in the inmate's commissary account.
- For MoneyGram transfers, use the inmate's eight-digit register number immediately followed by their last name with no spaces or dashes.
Based on official sources and community feedback. Learn how we verify
Topic Overviews
Visitation
Visiting FCI McDowell takes a little planning. You'll need to complete and return the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire to the institution address before you can be considered for visiting privileges. Before making the trip, confirm the facility's visiting schedule by phone and review Bureau of Prisons visiting regulations along with any applicable state or local travel advisories. By entering (or attempting to enter) Bureau grounds, you consent to being searched. Refusing a search can get you turned away. Certain items are prohibited on Bureau grounds, including cameras, recording equipment, telephones, radios, pagers, and other electronic devices, so check the facility's rules on what you can bring. Be accurate on your questionnaire: false statements can carry federal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Attorneys follow a separate BP‑A0243 process, and that information may be shared with law enforcement when relevant.
Read full guideCommunication
FCI McDowell handles electronic messaging through TRULINCS. Messages are text-only (no attachments), and each one is limited to 13,000 characters. Phone calls are monitored. You'll see a notice posted next to each inmate telephone confirming this. If you plan to communicate through visits, remote video options, or electronic messages, expect to set up an account with the facility's approved vendor first. That typically means accepting the online terms, then following the vendor's steps for scheduling and any required payments.
Read full guideSending Money
FCI McDowell does not accept money sent directly to the institution. If you're mailing funds, address them to the BOP processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. The money goes into the inmate's commissary (trust) account, a bank-type account that holds funds for commissary purchases and services. Sending via MoneyGram? Enter the inmate's eight-digit register number immediately followed by their last name (no spaces or dashes) as the account identifier, and use Receive Code 7932. Transfers sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST typically post within 2 to 4 hours. After 9:00 p.m. EST, they post at 7:00 a.m. EST the next morning. First-time MoneyGram users need to set up a profile and pay with MasterCard or Visa.
Read full guideCommon Questions
Showing 6 of 9How do I apply to visit someone at FCI McDowell?
Complete and return the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire to the institution address. The form must be received before you can be considered for visiting privileges. Ask the inmate to add you to their approved visiting list, and follow any additional Bureau clearance steps before traveling.
VisitationCan I bring my cellphone or camera when visiting FCI McDowell?
No. Visitors are prohibited from possessing cameras, recording equipment, telephones, radios, pagers, and other electronic devices on Bureau grounds.
VisitationWill I be searched when I visit FCI McDowell?
Yes. By entering or attempting to enter Bureau grounds you consent to being searched, and refusal to be searched may result in being prohibited from entering the facility.
VisitationCan I send attachments to an inmate through TRULINCS at FCI McDowell?
No. TRULINCS messages at FCI McDowell are text-only and do not permit attachments. Messages are also limited to 13,000 characters.
CommunicationAre phone calls with inmates at FCI McDowell monitored?
Yes. A notice is posted next to each inmate telephone confirming that calls are monitored. This monitoring is standard practice for security reasons.
CommunicationCan I use a third-party calling service to receive calls from an inmate at FCI McDowell?
No. FCI McDowell does not permit third-party or alternative call arrangements for inmate telephone use.
CommunicationMore Guides
Ready to Connect?
Search for your loved one to start communicating today
Did You Know?
This page covers FCI McDowell in West Virginia. Before you travel, call the facility to confirm the visiting schedule.
This guide is compiled from official facility documentation and community feedback. Learn how we verify