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Ashland Low FCI

Low

Federal Correctional Institution

FCI Ashland is a low-security federal facility in northeastern Kentucky's highlands, about 125 miles east of Lexington. If you or a loved one is preparing for a designation here, understanding the layout, programs, and daily operations can make the transition significantly easier.

Last verified: February 12, 2026

FCIMid-Atlantic RegionMale

What to Expect at Ashland Low FCI

Location & Travel

  • •The facility sits in the highlands of northeastern Kentucky, roughly 125 miles east of Lexington and about five miles outside the city of Ashland. The nearest hotels are in the Ashland area. Days Inn: 606-547-4537 | Hampton Inn: 606-928-2888 | Fairfield Inn and Suites: 606-928-1222
  • •GPS is the easiest way to get here. The facility is off KY Route 716, a few miles west of Ashland near the Kentucky State Police Barracks. Look for the parking lot on your left shortly after a four-way stop.

Communication & Mail

  • •520 phone minutes a month: The prison pays for the first 300 free phone minutes per month if you are enrolled in First Step Act programming; calls cost around $0.06/minute for the additional 210 minutes. Each call cuts off at 15 minutes, and calls come from a 202 number or private caller. Phone access is seven days a week.
  • •People live in two-person cells, two-person dorms, or two-person cubicles. Some units also have single-person rooms. Wheelchair-accessible units are available. Each unit has a television room where programming is decided by majority vote.
  • •Visiting uses a point system: each person receives 10 points per month. Weekday visits cost one point; weekend and holiday visits cost three points. A maximum of five visitors (no more than four adults) are allowed per visit.
  • •Mail is accepted via USPS First-Class, Priority, and Express. Contact the institution before sending overnight packages through FedEx or UPS.

Visiting

  • •Visiting hours are Saturday and Sunday, including all federal holidays, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Daily Life

  • •Commissary shopping is once per week, assigned by unit. The Bureau of Prisons sets a monthly spending limit of $360.
  • •The FCI manufactures office furniture through UNICOR for U.S. government agencies. Work sections include Quality Assurance, Business Office, and Warehouse, building skills in accounting, clerical work, and quality control.
  • •The law library is open during school hours, Monday through Thursday evenings from 4:30 to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A copy machine and Electronic Law Library are available. Books and magazines may come from any source, but hardcover books and newspapers must come directly from the publisher.

Good to Know

  • •Three full-time chaplains serve the FCI and camp, representing all faiths. Religious dietary accommodations can be arranged through the chaplains.

Insider Information

FCI Ashland is adjacent to Ashland Camp SCP. The FCI houses people in two-person cells, dorms, and cubicles, with single-person rooms available in one unit. Some units are wheelchair accessible. Each unit has a television room where programming is chosen by majority vote. The law library includes a copy machine and Electronic Law Library for legal research. Three full-time chaplains serve both the FCI and camp across all faiths, and religious dietary accommodations are available. UNICOR operations at the FCI manufacture office furniture for U.S. government agencies.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Ashland Low FCI below, including available items and pricing.

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Ashland Low FCI by posting journal entries, release plans, and book reports at PrisonProfessors.org—so others can hold you accountable while you build skills and earn freedom through merit.

Preparing for Self-Surrender at Ashland Low FCI

Ashland Low FCI is a Federal Correctional Institution. FCIs house people of varying security levels and typically offer educational, vocational, and treatment programs to support rehabilitation and reentry.

Pre-Surrender Checklist

  • •Bring your contact list and release plan
  • •Close out work and professional obligations
  • •Set up power of attorney and financial access
  • •Handle all medical preparations
  • •Choose one primary point of contact
  • •Prepare your family for phone and visitation limits
  • •Pack only what the facility allows
  • •Arrange transportation and surrender details
  • •Form a reading list before you arrive
  • •Know which programs are actually offered

Helpful Resources

Top 10 Self Surrender Checklist

Visitation Information For Families

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Programs & Services

Education Programs

  • Business Technology
  • Computer Applications

Vocational Training

  • Autobody Helper
  • Autobody Technician
  • Autobody Painter
  • Welding
  • Baker Apprenticeship
  • Cook Apprenticeship
  • Electrician Apprenticeship
  • Combination Welder Apprenticeship

Health & Wellness

  • Drug Education (40-hour)
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Breaking Barriers
  • 12-Step Study Group
  • Narcotics Anonymous
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Criminal Thinking
  • Crisis Counseling
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Suicide Prevention

Recreation

  • Competitive Athletics
  • Exercise Equipment
  • Cable Television

Reentry Preparation

  • UNICOR Office Furniture Manufacturing
  • Plumbing
  • Painting
  • Masonry
  • Food Service

Visiting Information

Regular Visiting Hours

  • Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Sunday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Federal Holidays: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Important Notes

  • • Valid government-issued photo ID required
  • • All visitors subject to search
  • • Dress code enforced

Note: Visiting schedules may vary. Contact the facility directly for the most current visiting hours and procedures. For a complete breakdown of visitation rules, dress code, and how to get approved, visit our Visitation Guide.

What a Smaller Facility Means for You

With a population of approximately 1,176 people, Ashland Low FCI is a smaller facility — and that has real implications for daily life, programming, and how you're treated.

Pros

  • ✓Easier to build relationships with staff — case managers and counselors are more likely to know you personally, which can help with halfway house and home confinement recommendations
  • ✓Shorter lines for commissary, phones, sick call, and laundry — daily logistics have less friction
  • ✓Fewer interpersonal conflicts — smaller populations generally mean a calmer, more predictable environment
  • ✓More structured environment — staff can maintain closer oversight, which often means clearer expectations and fewer surprises

Cons

  • ✗Fewer program options — vocational training, education, and RDAP slots may be limited, and waitlists can be unpredictable
  • ✗Less anonymity — staff and other people know your business, which can feel suffocating
  • ✗Limited work assignments — fewer UNICOR slots and job options mean less flexibility in how you spend your time
  • ✗Disciplinary issues are more visible — any problems stand out quickly in a smaller population

Frequently Asked Questions About Ashland Low FCI

Ashland Low FCI is a low-security Federal Correctional Institution. Unlike a federal prison camp, it generally has double perimeter fencing and more structured movement, though programming and work opportunities are still available.

No. Ashland Low FCI does not currently offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program. Individuals seeking RDAP placement must be designated to an institution that provides the program.

With a population of approximately 1,176, Ashland Low FCI operates as a larger facility. This can affect program availability, staff visibility, and housing density.

Individuals reporting to Ashland Low FCI typically undergo intake processing including identification verification, medical screening, housing assignment, and orientation specific to this institution's low-security level and cell-based housing structure.

Visiting at Ashland Low FCI typically takes place on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. All visitors must be on the approved visiting list and present a valid government-issued photo ID upon arrival. Visitors should follow the BOP dress code: no revealing clothing, no clothing that resembles prisoner uniforms (typically khaki or orange), and no open-toed shoes at some facilities. Contact Ashland Low FCI directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Ashland Low FCI should be sent through BOP-approved methods: MoneyGram, Western Union, or U.S. Postal Money Orders. All funds are processed through the Federal Bureau of Prisons' centralized National Finance Center in Des Moines, Iowa — not sent directly to Ashland Low FCI. Money orders should be made payable to the individual's committed name and include their BOP register number. Allow 7–10 business days for processing.

Individuals at Ashland Low FCI have access to three primary communication channels. Phone: you receive 300 free phone minutes per month if you are First Step Act eligible, then you pay six cents a minute for up to 210 additional minutes. Calls cut off after 15 minutes, and calls will come from a 202 number or private caller. Phone access is seven days a week. Email: the TRULINCS system allows electronic messaging for a small per-minute fee. Regular mail: letters and cards can be sent and received through the U.S. Postal Service. Mail can be sent to: FCI: Inmate Name & Register Number, FCI Ashland, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 6001, Ashland, KY 41105 | Camp: Inmate Name & Register Number, FCI Ashland, Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 6000, Ashland, KY 41105.

The commissary at Ashland Low FCI operates on a set schedule and offers snacks, beverages, hygiene products, over-the-counter medications, writing materials, stamps, and limited clothing items. The standard monthly spending limit is $360 (excluding telephone credits, stamps, and OTC medications). Some facilities implement this as a bi-weekly $180 cap. A current commissary list is typically available through the unit team.

Length of stay at Ashland Low FCI varies based on sentence length, offense type, and good conduct time calculations. Individuals at low-security facilities typically serve sentences ranging from one year to well over a decade, depending on circumstances.

The Bureau of Prisons requires all facilities to offer literacy and GED programs for individuals without a high school diploma. Ashland Low FCI provides educational programming that may include GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), and post-secondary education opportunities through correspondence or partnerships. Current offerings include: Business Technology, Computer Applications. Availability may change based on staffing and enrollment.

The BOP enforces a dress code for all visitors. Clothing must not be revealing — no low-cut tops, shorts above the knee, or see-through materials. Visitors should avoid wearing colors that match prisoner uniforms (typically khaki, orange, or olive drab). Open-toed shoes may be prohibited at some facilities. Undergarments are required. Visitors who do not meet dress code standards may be turned away. Contact Ashland Low FCI in advance if you have questions about specific items.

Yes, but publications must be sent directly from the publisher, a bookstore, or a book club — not from an individual. Hardcover and softcover books, newspapers, and magazines are generally permitted as long as they do not contain content deemed a security threat. Used books are typically not accepted. All incoming publications are subject to inspection by mailroom staff at Ashland Low FCI.

Ashland Low FCI is located in Ashland, Kentucky, within the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Contact the facility directly for driving directions and nearby lodging options.

Other Federal Prisons in Kentucky

How Long Will You Actually Serve?

Federal sentences are not always served in full. Good time credit, the First Step Act, and RDAP can significantly reduce your time served.

Estimate Your Actual Release Date

Contact Information

ST. ROUTE 716, ASHLAND, KY 41105

Ashland, Kentucky 41105

606-928-6414

Mailing Address

FCI: Inmate Name & Register Number, FCI Ashland, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 6001, Ashland, KY 41105

Camp: Inmate Name & Register Number, FCI Ashland, Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 6000, Ashland, KY 41105

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Low
Facility Type
FCI
Region
Mid-Atlantic
Gender
Male
Population
1,176
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

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Security Notice

All phone calls are recorded. All emails are saved. Mail can be read by staff.