FCI McDowell, WV

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.

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.

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.