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{{PrisonInfobox
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-around; text-align: center; align-items: stretch;">
|security_level = Low (FCI) / Minimum (camp)
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|gender = Male
<div style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8px;">MALE</div>
|population = ~1,000 (FCI) + ~114 (camp)
<div style="font-size: 14px; color: #666;">Gender</div>
|rdap = No
</div>
|address = 1900 Simler Avenue, Big Spring, TX 79720
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<div style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8px;">MINIMUM</div>
 
<div style="font-size: 14px; color: #666;">Security Level</div>
The '''Federal Correctional Institution, Big Spring''' is a low-security federal prison for male inmates in Big Spring, Texas. It sits in Howard County, in the western part of the state, roughly midway between Dallas and El Paso. The [[Index of Federal Prison Facilities|Federal Bureau of Prisons]] runs it. Next to the main institution is an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp that holds about 114 men.<ref name="bop">{{cite web |title=FCI Big Spring |url=https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/big/ |publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref><ref name="wiki">{{cite web |title=Federal Correctional Institution, Big Spring |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Correctional_Institution,_Big_Spring |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>
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The prison opened in 1979. It occupies buildings that once belonged to Webb Air Force Base, a pilot-training installation the Air Force closed in 1977. The main institution holds about 1,000 inmates. The camp holds about 114 more.<ref name="wiki"/><ref name="zoukis">{{cite web |title=FCI Big Spring |url=https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/federal-bureau-prisons/fci-big-spring/ |publisher=Zoukis Consulting Group |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>
<div style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 8px;">112</div>
 
<div style="font-size: 14px; color: #666;">Population (Nov. 2025)</div>
Big Spring is sometimes confused with the privately run prison next door. A separate facility, the Big Spring Correctional Center, also sat on the old Webb Air Force Base grounds and was operated under federal contract by a private company. That is a different institution. FCI Big Spring and its camp are run by the Bureau of Prisons directly.<ref name="wiki"/><ref name="ci">{{cite web |title=Big Spring Correctional Center |url=https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/federal-bureau-prisons/big-spring-correctional-center/ |publisher=Zoukis Consulting Group |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>
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== Overview ==
<div style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;">No RDAP</div>
 
</div>
FCI Big Spring is a low-security institution. The camp beside it is minimum-security. The two are distinct. The FCI has a secured perimeter. The camp is open, with no fence around the housing area, and the men there work jobs on the grounds.<ref name="bop"/><ref name="prisonpro">{{cite web |title=Big Spring Federal Correctional Institution |url=https://www.prisonpro.com/content/big-spring-federal-correctional-institution |publisher=PrisonPro |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>
</div>
 
</div>
The complex includes more than the FCI and its camp. The Bureau of Prisons lists the location as a small cluster of units with separate mailing addresses for the main facility and the satellite camp.<ref name="bop"/>
 
Low-security institutions like Big Spring hold inmates with longer sentences than a camp population but lower security needs than a medium. Housing is dormitory-style. The Bureau runs work assignments, education, and standard programming. The institution does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program, the 500-hour residential track that can shorten sentences. Inmates who need that program transfer to a facility that runs it.<ref name="bop"/><ref name="prisonpro"/>
 
== History ==


The Federal Prison Camp at FCI Big Spring is a minimum-security satellite facility located adjacent to the main Federal Correctional Institution in Big Spring, Texas. The camp houses male inmates who meet the criteria for minimum-security classification, typically those with shorter sentences, non-violent offenses, and limited criminal history. Unlike the main institution, the camp operates with a lower staff-to-inmate ratio and fewer physical barriers, emphasizing work details and pre-release preparation. The facility does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), so inmates seeking that intensive substance abuse treatment program must transfer to other Bureau of Prisons facilities that provide it.
Webb Air Force Base trained Air Force pilots outside Big Spring for three decades. The Air Force shut it down in 1977 as part of a wider round of base closures. The land and buildings passed to other uses.<ref name="webb">{{cite web |title=Webb Air Force Base |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webb_Air_Force_Base |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>


== Programs and Services ==
The Bureau of Prisons took part of the former base and opened a federal facility there in 1979. Over the following years the institution settled into its current form: a low-security FCI with an adjacent minimum-security camp.<ref name="wiki"/><ref name="zoukis"/>


As a minimum-security camp, FCI Big Spring Camp provides basic educational and vocational programming, though the range of services is more limited than at the main institution. Inmates have access to the Adult Continuing Education (ACE) program, which includes GED preparation and post-secondary correspondence courses. The camp also offers occupational training opportunities through work assignments in food service, grounds maintenance, and facility operations. Religious services are available for multiple faith groups, with visiting chaplains and volunteers conducting regular worship services and spiritual counseling. Medical care for camp inmates is provided through the main institution's health services unit, with sick call conducted several times per week and emergency care available 24 hours a day.
A separate privately operated prison also used the old base grounds. The Big Spring Correctional Center housed federal contract inmates, many of them noncitizens facing deportation after their sentences. That contract facility operated apart from the Bureau-run FCI and is not the same prison.<ref name="ci"/>


== Notes from Alumni ==
== Notable Inmates ==


We have not yet heard any notes or tips from alumni of FCI Big Spring (minimum-security camp). If you or a family member served time at this facility, your firsthand experience could help others prepare for what to expect. Consider sharing insights about daily routines, work assignments, communication procedures, or advice for incoming inmates and their families. Log in above and then tap Edit at the top of this page to get started.
* '''Derek Chauvin''' was transferred to FCI Big Spring in August 2024. He is the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. He is serving 22.5 years on the state murder count and a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights. The Bureau moved him to Big Spring about nine months after he was stabbed at a federal prison in Arizona.<ref name="nbc">{{cite news |title=Derek Chauvin, ex-officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, moved to new prison after being stabbed |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/derek-chauvin-ex-officer-convicted-murdering-george-floyd-moved-new-pr-rcna167437 |work=NBC News |date=2024-08-20 |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref><ref name="kvue">{{cite news |title=Derek Chauvin moved to Texas federal prison in Big Spring |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/derek-chauvin-moved-new-prison-in-big-spring-texas-after-stabbing/269-38ea3f49-1af2-4683-bff4-ff7d82263f84 |work=KVUE |date=2024-08-20 |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>


''Please remember that experiences are unique and may not reflect today's experience.''
* '''David Duke''', the former Louisiana state representative and longtime white nationalist, served time at Big Spring after pleading guilty to tax and mail fraud. He was released in 2004.<ref name="wiki"/>


== Location & Visitation ==
* '''Leland Yee''', a former California state senator, served part of his sentence at Big Spring. He was convicted in a racketeering and corruption case that included a gun-trafficking count. He was released in 2020.<ref name="wiki"/>


=== Location ===
* '''Anthony Pellicano''', the Hollywood private investigator convicted of wiretapping and racketeering, served time at the facility before his release in 2019.<ref name="wiki"/>


Physical location: BIG SPRING, TX 79720
== Location and Visitation ==


Mailing address: 1900 SIMLER AVE, BIG SPRING, TX 79720
FCI Big Spring is at 1900 Simler Avenue, Big Spring, Texas 79720. Mail to inmates at the camp uses the same city with the satellite camp designation. The institution sits inside the city of Big Spring, the Howard County seat.<ref name="bop"/>


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=== Visitation ===
Visiting at Big Spring follows standard Bureau of Prisons procedure. Visitors must be approved in advance through a background check that can take several weeks. Visits are contact visits in a supervised room, held on designated days, usually weekends and federal holidays. Visitors present valid government identification and follow the facility dress code. The Bureau does not permit conjugal visits at any federal facility, the camp included. For current days and hours, check the institution's official page on the Bureau of Prisons website: [https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/big/ Official BOP Page]. See also our [[Visiting Policies and Procedures|Visitation Guide]].


Visitation at FCI Big Spring Camp typically occurs on weekends and federal holidays, though specific hours and procedures are subject to change based on institutional needs and security considerations. As with all federal facilities, visitors must be approved in advance through the Bureau of Prisons visitor application process, which includes background checks that can take several weeks to complete. All visitors must present valid government-issued identification and comply with the facility's dress code, which prohibits clothing that resembles inmate attire, excessively revealing garments, or items that could pose security concerns. Contact visits are permitted, allowing brief embraces and hand-holding during approved times, though continuous physical contact is not allowed.
== See also ==


There are many specific rules and procedures to be aware of when you're considering visiting the institution. Read more on our [[Visiting_Policies_and_Procedures|Visitation Guide]].
* [[Index of Federal Prison Facilities]]
* [[Bureau of Prisons Classification Methods]]
* [[Residential Drug Abuse Program]]


For full, current visiting rules and scheduling, always check the institution's official page on the Bureau of Prisons website: [https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/big/ Official BOP Page].
== References ==


== Frequently Asked Questions ==
<references />
 
{{FAQSection/Start}}
 
{{FAQ
|question = Does FCI Big Spring allow conjugal visits?
|answer = No. FCI Big Spring does not allow conjugal visits. The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not permit conjugal visits at any facility regardless of security level. This includes all minimum-security federal prison camps, low-security FCIs, medium-security facilities, and high-security USPs. Only four state prison systems (California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington) allow conjugal visits for state prisoners. Federal inmates have no access to conjugal or extended family visits anywhere in the BOP system.
}}
 
{{FAQ
|question = What types of visitation are allowed at FCI Big Spring?
|answer = FCI Big Spring allows contact visits during designated visiting hours, typically on weekends and holidays. Contact visits permit brief embraces at the start and end of visits, but prolonged physical contact is not allowed. All visits occur in supervised visiting rooms. Visitors must be pre-approved through a background check process and must follow dress code requirements. For full details, see the [[Visiting_Policies_and_Procedures|Visiting Policies and Procedures]] page.
}}
 
{{FAQ
|question = How do inmates communicate with family at FCI Big Spring Camp?
|answer = Inmates at FCI Big Spring Camp can communicate with approved contacts through phone calls, email via the TRULINCS system, and regular postal mail. Phone calls are typically limited to 300 minutes per month and must be made to pre-approved phone numbers during designated hours. The TRULINCS email system allows inmates to send and receive electronic messages for a fee, though messages are monitored and do not occur in real-time. Traditional mail is also permitted, with incoming and outgoing correspondence subject to inspection. Inmates cannot receive packages except for approved publications sent directly from publishers or bookstores.
}}
 
{{FAQ
|question = What items can inmates purchase at the commissary?
|answer = The commissary at FCI Big Spring offers a range of food items, hygiene products, clothing, and electronics within spending limits set by the Bureau of Prisons. Inmates can typically purchase snacks, beverages, canned goods, and supplemental food items to enhance their diet beyond institutional meals. Personal care items such as soap, shampoo, lotion, and over-the-counter medications are available, as are athletic shoes, sweatpants, and other approved clothing. Inmates may also buy MP3 players, radios with headphones, and watches. Commissary orders are usually placed once per week, with spending limits that vary based on inmate security level and institutional policies.
}}
 
{{FAQ
|question = Does FCI Big Spring Camp have work programs?
|answer = Yes. As a minimum-security facility, FCI Big Spring Camp emphasizes work assignments as part of the daily routine. Inmates are typically assigned to jobs in food service, facilities maintenance, landscaping, or other institutional support roles. These work details help maintain facility operations while providing inmates with structure and, in some cases, marketable skills. Wages for institutional work assignments are minimal, typically ranging from $0.12 to $0.40 per hour depending on the job and skill level. Some camps also offer Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) programs where available, though not all camps have UNICOR operations.
}}
 
{{FAQ
|question = Why doesn't FCI Big Spring Camp offer RDAP?
|answer = The Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is an intensive 500-hour treatment program that requires dedicated housing units and specialized staff, resources that are typically concentrated at larger facilities rather than satellite camps. Inmates who need RDAP to qualify for sentence reduction must request transfer to institutions that offer the program. The Bureau of Prisons maintains a list of RDAP-designated facilities, and inmates should work with their case managers early in their sentence to arrange transfer if RDAP participation is a priority. Non-residential drug education and treatment programs may still be available at the camp for those seeking substance abuse support without the sentence reduction benefit.
}}
 
{{FAQSection/End}}


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[[Category:Minimum-Security Facilities]]


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{{MetaDescription|FCI Big Spring is a low-security federal prison in Big Spring, Texas, with an adjacent minimum-security camp on the former Webb Air Force Base. Opened 1979. Notable inmates include Derek Chauvin.}}

Latest revision as of 14:18, 3 June 2026

Male
Gender
Low (FCI) / Minimum (camp)
Security Level
~1,000 (FCI) + ~114 (camp)
Population (Nov. 2025)


The Federal Correctional Institution, Big Spring is a low-security federal prison for male inmates in Big Spring, Texas. It sits in Howard County, in the western part of the state, roughly midway between Dallas and El Paso. The Federal Bureau of Prisons runs it. Next to the main institution is an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp that holds about 114 men.[1][2]

The prison opened in 1979. It occupies buildings that once belonged to Webb Air Force Base, a pilot-training installation the Air Force closed in 1977. The main institution holds about 1,000 inmates. The camp holds about 114 more.[2][3]

Big Spring is sometimes confused with the privately run prison next door. A separate facility, the Big Spring Correctional Center, also sat on the old Webb Air Force Base grounds and was operated under federal contract by a private company. That is a different institution. FCI Big Spring and its camp are run by the Bureau of Prisons directly.[2][4]

Overview

FCI Big Spring is a low-security institution. The camp beside it is minimum-security. The two are distinct. The FCI has a secured perimeter. The camp is open, with no fence around the housing area, and the men there work jobs on the grounds.[1][5]

The complex includes more than the FCI and its camp. The Bureau of Prisons lists the location as a small cluster of units with separate mailing addresses for the main facility and the satellite camp.[1]

Low-security institutions like Big Spring hold inmates with longer sentences than a camp population but lower security needs than a medium. Housing is dormitory-style. The Bureau runs work assignments, education, and standard programming. The institution does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program, the 500-hour residential track that can shorten sentences. Inmates who need that program transfer to a facility that runs it.[1][5]

History

Webb Air Force Base trained Air Force pilots outside Big Spring for three decades. The Air Force shut it down in 1977 as part of a wider round of base closures. The land and buildings passed to other uses.[6]

The Bureau of Prisons took part of the former base and opened a federal facility there in 1979. Over the following years the institution settled into its current form: a low-security FCI with an adjacent minimum-security camp.[2][3]

A separate privately operated prison also used the old base grounds. The Big Spring Correctional Center housed federal contract inmates, many of them noncitizens facing deportation after their sentences. That contract facility operated apart from the Bureau-run FCI and is not the same prison.[4]

Notable Inmates

  • Derek Chauvin was transferred to FCI Big Spring in August 2024. He is the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. He is serving 22.5 years on the state murder count and a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights. The Bureau moved him to Big Spring about nine months after he was stabbed at a federal prison in Arizona.[7][8]
  • David Duke, the former Louisiana state representative and longtime white nationalist, served time at Big Spring after pleading guilty to tax and mail fraud. He was released in 2004.[2]
  • Leland Yee, a former California state senator, served part of his sentence at Big Spring. He was convicted in a racketeering and corruption case that included a gun-trafficking count. He was released in 2020.[2]
  • Anthony Pellicano, the Hollywood private investigator convicted of wiretapping and racketeering, served time at the facility before his release in 2019.[2]

Location and Visitation

FCI Big Spring is at 1900 Simler Avenue, Big Spring, Texas 79720. Mail to inmates at the camp uses the same city with the satellite camp designation. The institution sits inside the city of Big Spring, the Howard County seat.[1]

Visiting at Big Spring follows standard Bureau of Prisons procedure. Visitors must be approved in advance through a background check that can take several weeks. Visits are contact visits in a supervised room, held on designated days, usually weekends and federal holidays. Visitors present valid government identification and follow the facility dress code. The Bureau does not permit conjugal visits at any federal facility, the camp included. For current days and hours, check the institution's official page on the Bureau of Prisons website: Official BOP Page. See also our Visitation Guide.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "FCI Big Spring". Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Federal Correctional Institution, Big Spring". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "FCI Big Spring". Zoukis Consulting Group. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Big Spring Correctional Center". Zoukis Consulting Group. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Big Spring Federal Correctional Institution". PrisonPro. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  6. ↑ "Webb Air Force Base". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  7. ↑ "Derek Chauvin, ex-officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, moved to new prison after being stabbed".NBC News.2024-08-20.Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  8. ↑ "Derek Chauvin moved to Texas federal prison in Big Spring".KVUE.2024-08-20.Retrieved 2026-06-03.


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