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Philadelphia Federal Prison Life: Locations, Conditions, Visitation, Communication
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Philadelphia Federal Prison Life: Locations, Conditions, Visitation, Communication
If you or a loved one is facing federal charges in Philadelphia, you probably have a lot of questions about what prison will be like. This article provides an overview of federal prisons in and around Philadelphia, what daily life is like for inmates, visitation policies, and how you can stay in touch.
Federal Prisons Located in Philadelphia
There are two main federal prisons located right in Philadelphia:
- Federal Detention Center Philadelphia (FDC Philadelphia) – A pretrial facility that houses both men and women who are awaiting trial or sentencing on federal charges. Located right in central Philly.
- Federal Prison Camp Schuylkill – A minimum-security federal prison camp housing both men and women who have already been sentenced. Located in north Philly.
In addition, there are several other federal facilities within a few hours drive of Philadelphia:
- FCI Fort Dix – A low-security federal correctional institution in New Jersey, about 1.5 hours from Philly
- USP Canaan – A high-security U.S. Penitentiary in northeast PA, about 2 hours from Philly
- FCI Fairton – A medium-security facility in south Jersey, about 1.5 hours from Philly
So if you’re convicted of a federal crime in Philadelphia, you’ll most likely end up in one of those facilities.
What is Daily Life Like in Federal Prison?
Once convicted and designated to a federal prison facility, inmates generally settle into a steady routine and rhythm of life inside. Here’s a quick overview of what federal prison life is like day-to-day:
Housing Units
Inmates are housed together in different units inside the prison. Cells are small, usually with bunk beds, a desk, toilet and sink. Showers are communal.
Meals
Inmates eat together cafeteria-style three times a day. Food quality varies but is generally decent.
Jobs
Many inmates have jobs within the prison like maintenance, kitchen duty, tutors, orderlies etc. These jobs pay just cents per hour.
Recreation Time
Prisons allow for recreation time outdoors and in gyms. Sports like basketball, cardio equipment, and sometimes weights are available.
Education & Training
Inmates can enroll in GED programs, take vocational training like auto repair or computers, or even college classes through correspondence courses.
Medical & Dental Care
Prisons provide health clinics for medical, dental and mental health needs. Care is basic but available.
Religious Services
Prisons offer Catholic mass and services, Muslim services, as well as other major religions.
Visits
Inmates are allowed visitors on weekends and holidays, with rules about physical contact. Frequency and length of visits varies by facility.
Phone Calls
Inmates have access to phones to call approved family and friends periodically. Calls are limited to 15 minutes and monitored.
Commissary & Money
Inmates can buy food, hygiene items, electronics and more at the commissary using money from their prison job or sent by family.
How to Visit an Inmate at a Philadelphia Federal Prison
If your loved one gets sent to a federal prison in or near Philadelphia, you’ll obviously want to visit as much as possible. Here are some key things to know about visiting federal inmates in Philly:
Approval Process
All visitors must fill out a visiting form and be approved before visiting. Background checks are done. Approval can take 6 weeks.
Visiting Hours
Most federal prisons allow visiting on evenings and weekends. Holiday visits are also common. Hours range from 2 hours to all day.
Dress Code
Visitors must adhere to a strict dress code prohibiting revealing clothing, shorts, sleeveless items and more.
Security Screening
Expect to go through metal detectors, pat downs and drug sniffing dogs. Some federal prisons even do strip searches of visitors.
Things to Know
You can bring money for vending machines. No gifts or packages allowed. Physical contact rules vary. Special kids areas common.
Be sure to check the visiting details for the specific federal facility you are visiting.
How to Stay in Touch with an Inmate
Even if you can’t visit frequently, there are options to stay in communication with your incarcerated loved one:
Phone Calls
Schedule regular phone calls – inmates can make collect calls or use phone cards purchased from commissary.
Some federal prisons have email systems for inmates. Messages printed and delivered for fees.
Send Letters
Good old fashioned snail mail still works! Send letters, cards, photos.
Video Visits
Some facilities allow remote video visitation – like Skype from inside the prison.
Money Transfers
You can send money orders, checks or use services to transfer money to inmate accounts.
Staying in touch requires planning and coordination, but it makes a huge positive difference in an inmate’s life.
References:
https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/phi/
https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/sch/
https://www.bop.gov/inmates/visiting.jsp