FCI Beckley (medium-security)
Federal Correctional Institution, Beckley (FCI Beckley) is a medium-security United States federal prison for male inmates. It sits in Beaver, West Virginia, in Raleigh County, in the southern part of the state. The site lies about 51 miles southeast of Charleston. The institution is run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, part of the United States Department of Justice. A minimum-security satellite camp shares the grounds and holds a smaller group of men.[1][2]
The main institution opened in 1994.[2] Although the prison carries the Beckley name, it stands in the smaller community of Beaver, a few miles south of the city of Beckley itself. The complex holds roughly 1,660 inmates, with about 430 of them at the camp.[2]
Overview
FCI Beckley confines adult male inmates at the medium-security level. The medium-security institution keeps a secured perimeter and more restrictive housing than the open camp next to it. The satellite camp holds men with lower security scores, often those nearer the end of a sentence or carrying nonviolent convictions.[1][2]
The prison runs a Residential Drug Abuse Program, known as RDAP. The program is an intensive course of treatment for inmates with a documented substance abuse history. Inmates who finish it may qualify for a reduction in their sentence. The camp does not host the residential version of the program, though a non-residential drug treatment track is available there.[3]
Beyond drug treatment, the institution offers the standard range of Bureau programming. Inmates can earn a GED and take English-as-a-second-language classes. Vocational training covers trades such as HVAC, carpentry, and masonry. Psychology staff run anger management and stress management groups. The facility also operates a UNICOR shop, the Bureau's prison industries program, where inmates hold paid work assignments.[3]
Notable Inmates
Several inmates of public note have served time at FCI Beckley.
- James Kopp (register #11761-055) is serving a life sentence. He was convicted in 2007 in connection with the 1998 sniper killing of Dr. Barnett Slepian, a physician who performed abortions in Amherst, New York. Kopp had been placed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list before his capture.[2]
- Steven Warshak (register #04431-061) was the founder of the supplement company Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, maker of the Enzyte product. He was convicted of fraud and money laundering in a case prosecutors said cost customers a large sum. He served roughly nine years and was released in 2016.[2]
- Eric DeWayne Boyd (register #31710-074) was convicted for his role in helping a suspect flee after the 2007 carjacking and murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in Knoxville, Tennessee. He completed his federal term and was released in June 2022.[2]
Location and Visitation
The prison is at 1600 Industrial Road, Beaver, West Virginia 25813.[3] Beaver lies in Raleigh County, in a hilly stretch of southern West Virginia, about 51 miles southeast of Charleston.[2]
Visiting rules at federal institutions change often. Approved visitor lists, scheduling windows, dress codes, and identification requirements are set by the institution and can shift without much notice. Anyone planning a visit should confirm the current rules before traveling. The Bureau of Prisons posts visiting information for each facility on its official institution page: FCI Beckley on bop.gov.
For general guidance on federal prison visits, see the Prisonpedia Visitation Guide.
See also
- Index of Federal Prison Facilities
- FCI Beckley (satellite camp)
- Bureau of Prisons Classification Methods
References