Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Sending Money

How to Send Money to an Inmate at FCI McDowell (and Why You Can't Mail Cash to the Institution)

If you want money to reach someone at FCI McDowell, you need to follow the Bureau of Prisons-approved process. The biggest mistake people make? Trying to mail cash or a money order directly to the prison.

• 2 min read • bop.gov Verified from official sources

Quick warning: Do not send money to FCI McDowell's facility address. For federal inmates, all funds sent through the mail must be addressed to a processing center in Des Moines, Iowa, not the institution itself.

MoneyGram requires a specific "account number" format for Bureau of Prisons deposits. Take the inmate's eight-digit register number (no spaces, no dashes) and add the inmate's last name right after it. So it looks like this: 12345678DOE.

You'll also need the MoneyGram Receive Code for Bureau of Prisons payments: 7932.

  • ✓ If it’s your first time using MoneyGram, you must set up a profile and account before you can send funds.
  • ✓ MoneyGram payments require a MasterCard or Visa credit card.
  1. Start with MoneyGram (online or in person) - Use a MoneyGram agent location or MoneyGram’s website/app.
  2. Enter the Receive Code - Use 7932 for Bureau of Prisons inmates.
  3. Type the account number in the BOP format - Enter the eight-digit register number followed immediately by the last name, with no spaces or dashes (example: 12345678DOE).
  4. Create your profile if you’re new - First-time users must set up a MoneyGram profile/account before sending.
  5. Pay with the right card (online) - MoneyGram requires a MasterCard or Visa credit card.
  6. Finish and save your confirmation - Keep the transaction details after you submit the payment.

Tip: Keep your receipt or confirmation number. If something goes wrong, that's what you'll need to track the payment and prove it was sent.

Timing is usually quick as long as the information is entered correctly. Funds sent via MoneyGram between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST post to the inmate's account within 2 to 4 hours. Send after 9:00 p.m. EST, and they'll post at 7:00 a.m. EST the next morning.

To find a nearby MoneyGram agent or get help with the process, call 1-800-926-9400 or use MoneyGram's agent locator on their website. Have the Receive Code (7932) ready, along with the inmate's register number and last name so you can build the account number correctly.

Checklist

  • ✓ MoneyGram Receive Code: 7932
  • ✓ Inmate “account number”: 8-digit register number + last name (no spaces/dashes), for example 12345678DOE
  • ✓ MasterCard or Visa credit card (required)
  • ✓ MoneyGram profile/account (if you are a first-time user)
  • ✓ Receipt/confirmation details after you pay

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Phone & Messaging

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.