The Right Way to Address Mail and Parcels for an Inmate at FCI Morgantown
Getting the address right is the fastest way to avoid delays and returned mail. At FCI Morgantown, you'll need your loved one's full name, their register number, and the correct unit designation if they're housed at the camp or the Federal Satellite Low.
Every letter or parcel sent to someone at FCI Morgantown needs the inmate's full name and register number on the addressee line. The register number is how staff match mail to the right person, especially when multiple inmates share similar names.
Do not mail money to FCI Morgantown: Funds cannot be sent using the facility’s address. Any funds sent through the mail must go to the centralized processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.
FCI Morgantown uses different address formats depending on where an inmate is housed: the main facility, the satellite camp, or the Federal Satellite Low (FSL). If your loved one is at the camp, add "SATELLITE CAMP" to the addressee line along with their name and register number. If they're at the FSL, use "FEDERAL SATELLITE LOW" instead. Getting this designation right helps route mail to the correct part of the complex.
- ✓ Confirm whether the inmate is at the main facility, the satellite camp, or the Federal Satellite Low (FSL)
- ✓ Use the matching designation on the inmate line (“SATELLITE CAMP” for the camp, “FEDERAL SATELLITE LOW” for the FSL)
- ✓ Always include the inmate’s full name and register number
Before mailing anything, double-check the exact wording the Bureau of Prisons uses for the unit designation. You can find this on the facility's mailing instructions. Even a small mismatch on the unit line can slow delivery, even when the name and register number are correct.
Freight and non-USPS parcels follow different rules. Instead of the standard inmate mailing address, these shipments go to the facility's staff/warehouse shipping address and should be labeled with a staff name and "ATTN: WAREHOUSE." This applies to any carrier delivery that isn't coming through the U.S. Postal Service.
- Confirm the carrier type: Make sure the shipment is truly freight or non-USPS (handled by a commercial carrier rather than USPS).
- Get the exact warehouse shipping address: Use the facility’s instructions for freight and non-USPS parcels so you have the correct staff/warehouse address format.
- Label it for the warehouse: Address it using the staff name provided and add “ATTN: WAREHOUSE” so it is routed to the right intake point.
Expect every piece of general incoming mail to be opened and inspected by staff. They're checking for contraband and any content that could threaten the security or good order of the institution.
Special mail works differently: If incoming mail is specially marked “special mail,” it can only be opened in the inmate’s presence. Staff will still inspect it for physical contraband and confirm any enclosures qualify as special mail.
The practical takeaway: most letters go through screening as part of normal operations, so delays can happen even when you address everything correctly. Special mail is different only in that it must be opened in the inmate's presence. It's still inspected for physical contraband, and staff can review whether the contents and enclosures qualify for special mail handling.
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