FCI Ashland (minimum-security camp)

MALE

Gender

MINIMUM

Security Level

~175

Population (Nov. 2025)

No RDAP

FCI Ashland Camp is a minimum-security federal satellite prison camp for male offenders located in Boyd County, Kentucky, approximately five miles north of Ashland and 125 miles east of Lexington. Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons as part of the Mid-Atlantic Region, the camp opened in 1991 adjacent to the low-security Federal Correctional Institution Ashland, which has operated since 1940. Forbes magazine ranked FCI Ashland Camp as one of America's ten most comfortable federal prisons, noting its wellness programs emphasizing aerobic exercise and stress reduction.

Notes from Alumni

• One resident who served eight years at FCI Ashland (low security) before transferring to a minimum-security camp described the experience: "There were fewer politics, gangs, and lessened security at Ashland. There were lots of programming when I first got to Ashland, such as auto body, car care, HVAC, computer classes, certified welding, and all kinds of educational classes... Ashland was like a college campus that I could never leave." About camps generally, he noted: "At this level of security, you must have less than 10 years to serve... Inmates walk out the front door everyday going to work in the community." American Prison Writing Archive
• Eric Borsuk, who served at FCI Ashland for the "Transy Book Heist" later depicted in the film American Animals, wrote extensively about his experience. While primarily housed at the low-security FCI, he described the compound culture: "All across the compound, there were countless ways of bidding, from gambling to religion, education to gang life, sex, art, and prison jobs." He noted that the three co-defendants created their own self-education program with "mock university courses" covering math, science, history, economics, and foreign languages. The Marshall Project
• Regarding the Master Gardener Program at the camp, one participant named Ronald Clark shared: "I've learned a lot about gardening. The soil samples in the ground, what makes the product grow; I knew nothing about that. I was raised around farming all my life. I never really took the time to put forth the effort to find out what it was in the soil to make the product grow." University of Kentucky
• One review noted: "If you have a choice to go anywhere, I would not come here unless FCI Ashland gets you closer to home." Another observed: "It's very safe here, but the guards can be very disrespectful and sometimes denigrating towards inmates."

Please remember that experiences are unique and may not reflect today's experience.

Notable Alumni

Name	Sentence	Offense	Dates
Notable Alumni needed

History

FCI Ashland's main facility opened in 1940 and was initially designed to house bootleggers, tax evaders, and individuals who violated postal regulations. During the 1970s, the facility transitioned from serving as a Federal Youth Center to housing adult male offenders at low security.

The satellite camp opened in 1991 adjacent to the main institution. The camp was designed for minimum-security offenders who are nearing the end of their sentences or are serving shorter terms and are considered to present minimal risk to public safety.

In 2009, Forbes magazine ranked FCI Ashland Camp as one of America's ten "cushiest" federal prisons, highlighting its wellness programs.

The camp is part of the BOP's Mid-Atlantic Region, with its primary service area including Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Ohio, western Pennsylvania (Greater Pittsburgh area), Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Housing & Facilities

FCI Ashland Camp consists of two large open dormitory housing units with two-person cubicles. The dormitory-style housing features cubicles with walls approximately four and a half feet high, providing some privacy while maintaining sight lines for security.

Amenities include:

• Three pool tables
• Exercise equipment
• Cable television in each housing unit
• Outdoor recreation areas for walking, running, basketball, handball, and softball

Daily Life

Schedule & Counts

The camp operates on a structured daily schedule with regular counts. Yard time is available from 6:00 AM to 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Standard counts occur at 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Movement between areas follows a controlled schedule with ten-minute moves.

The library is available from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Work Assignments

Residents at the camp are expected to maintain employment. Work assignments include:

• Grounds maintenance and landscaping
• Master Gardener Program (producing food for local food banks)
• Kitchen and food service
• Facility maintenance
• Community work details (residents may work outside the facility in the local community)

Average pay ranges from $0.10 to $0.50 per hour. The camp does not house a UNICOR factory; factory work is available only at the adjacent FCI.

Programs & Education

Educational Programs

• General Education Diploma (GED) in English and Spanish
• Pre-GED and Advanced GED courses
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes
• Special Education classes for individuals with disabilities

Residents receive incentives for educational achievement, including $25 for completing GED and ESL programs.

Vocational Training

The camp offers specialized vocational programs:

• Master Gardener Program — Operated through the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, this program certifies residents as Master Gardeners. Participants maintain a 6-acre garden and donate produce (over 30,000 pounds annually) to River Cities Harvest food bank.
• Welding — Vocational training with certification opportunities
• Baking — Apprenticeship program
• Cooking — Apprenticeship program

Religious Programs

Religious services and programs are available for various faith traditions. The facility provides chapel services and access to religious materials through the library.

Psychology Services

Psychology services include:

• Individual and group counseling
• Psycho-educational classes
• Criminal Thinking intervention
• Anger Management
• Emotional Regulation
• Basic Cognitive Skills
• Smart Recovery

Substance abuse programs available include:

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Drug Abuse Education Course

Note: The Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is not available at the camp. RDAP is offered only at the adjacent FCI Ashland low-security facility.

Medical Care

FCI Ashland Camp is designated as a Medical Care Level 2 facility.

Medical services include:

• Admission physical examination
• Emergency medical care
• Medical sick call
• Dental sick call
• Prescription medications
• Chronic care clinics
• Mental health services

Residents needing specialized medical care may be transported to community hospitals. Transportation to outside medical appointments is sometimes facilitated by other residents rather than officers.

Communication

Telephone

Residents have access to telephone services with 300 minutes per month. All calls are monitored except attorney-client communications. Phone calls are considered a privilege and may be restricted based on conduct.

Email

Electronic messaging is available through the TRULINCS (Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System) terminals. Residents can send and receive emails for a per-minute fee.

Video Visits

Video visitation services are available through the TRULINCS system. Families should schedule video visits in advance through the BOP's approved vendor.

Mail

General correspondence is permitted with family, friends, and community contacts. Staff may open and inspect general mail for contraband. Legal mail (from attorneys or government agencies) is opened only in the recipient's presence.

Mailing Address:

Resident Name, Register Number

FCI Ashland

Federal Correctional Institution

Satellite Camp

P.O. Box 6000

Ashland, KY 41105

Important: Do NOT send money to this address. All funds must be sent to the Federal Bureau of Prisons processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Commissary

Residents may spend up to $360.00 per month at the commissary. Shopping occurs on designated days based on housing unit assignment, which rotates quarterly. Hours of operation are typically 10:15 AM to 11:45 AM and 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Available items include:

• Food items and snacks
• Drink mixes and beverages
• Clothing
• Hygiene products
• Over-the-counter medications
• Electronics (MP3 players, headphones)

Staff Misconduct

• 2014 — James Lewis, a correctional officer at FCI Ashland, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring with resident Gary Musick and Musick's girlfriend, Cindy Gates, to smuggle marijuana, nude photographs, and cell phones into the facility between December 2010 and February 2012.

Location & Visitation

Location

FCI Ashland Camp is located adjacent to the low-security FCI Ashland in the unincorporated area of Summit in Boyd County, Kentucky.

Address:

FCI Ashland Camp

State Route 716

Ashland, KY 41105

Phone: 606-928-6414
Email: ASH/[email protected]

Visitation

Camp visitation is more limited than the main FCI. Approved visitors may visit:

• Saturdays: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Sundays: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Federal Holidays: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Visitation Points System:

Residents at the camp are allotted ten visiting points per month:

• First visit of the month: 5 points (regardless of day)
• Each subsequent visit: 1 point

Requirements:

• Maximum of 4 adults per visit
• Up to 2 additional children may accompany adults (maximum 6 total visitors)
• Visitors will not be processed after 2:00 PM
• All visitors must be on the approved visitation list
• Valid government-issued photo identification required
• Visitors should review dress code requirements before arriving
• Contact the facility before visiting to confirm visitation has not been suspended

For complete visiting regulations, see the official BOP page for FCI Ashland.

See Also

• FCI Ashland — The adjacent low-security federal correctional institution
• Federal Prison Camps — Overview of minimum-security facilities
• BOP Mid-Atlantic Region
• USP Big Sandy — High-security facility also in Kentucky
• FCI Manchester — Medium-security facility in Kentucky
• FMC Lexington — Federal Medical Center in Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does FCI Ashland allow conjugal visits?

No. FCI Ashland 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.

Q: What types of visitation are allowed at FCI Ashland?

FCI Ashland 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 page.