FCI Hazelton

FCI Hazelton welcomes visitors, but check the visiting regulations and any travel advisories before planning your trip. The inmate must add you to their visiting list, and you'll complete a visitor authorization form so the Warden can run a background check. The BOP defines who qualifies as a relative and caps friends/associates at 10 on the visiting list. Call ahead to confirm the current schedule—people in special housing units follow modified hours, and visits can be limited or denied for security, disciplinary, or overcrowding reasons. Staff enforce a dress code, and limited contact (handshakes, hugs, and kisses in good taste) is generally allowed unless restricted for safety.

FCI Hazelton offers several communication options, though most are monitored. Approved inmates and contacts can use TRULINCS electronic messaging—text-only, capped at 13,000 characters, and screened. These services are funded through the Inmate Trust Fund, not taxpayer dollars. Phone calls go through the TRUFONE system, which collects telephone list numbers, uses biometric voice verification, and records conversations. Recordings are deleted after 180 days unless kept for legal or administrative reasons. A monitoring notice is posted by each inmate phone; unmonitored attorney calls are permitted in certain circumstances. For electronic messaging or vendor-run video visits, you'll need to create an account with the approved vendor, get approved as a contact, accept the online terms, and keep a payment method on file if required.

FCI Hazelton follows standard Bureau of Prisons mail rules. Don't send money to the facility address—funds must go to the processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. For letters, include the inmate's full name and register number, one letter per envelope. Inmates can receive commercially published books, magazines, and similar materials without prior approval, as long as the content doesn't threaten security or discipline (or facilitate criminal activity). Material that's legally non-distributable gets returned. Books and magazines should come directly from the publisher or an approved vendor. Packages from home aren't allowed without prior written approval—only release clothing and authorized medical devices may be sent with advance permission.

Sending money to someone at FCI Hazelton is simple once you know the right method. MoneyGram transfers sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST typically post within 2–4 hours. Transfers after 9:00 p.m. EST post at 7:00 a.m. the next morning. Need help finding a MoneyGram location? Use their agent locator or call their helpline. Don't send cash or funds to FCI Hazelton's street address—mailed money must go to the designated processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. Processing times vary by vendor and method, so check your provider's posting window and required fields before submitting.