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Big Sandy Camp SCP

Minimum

Satellite Camp

Big Sandy Camp is a minimum-security federal satellite camp for men in Inez, Kentucky, adjacent to USP Big Sandy. The camp offers educational and vocational programs, substance abuse treatment through the residential Challenge Program, and full primary health care. Visiting takes place on weekends and federal holidays on a point-based system.

Last verified: March 4, 2026

SCPMid-Atlantic RegionMale

What to Expect at Big Sandy Camp SCP

Communication & Mail

  • •The camp sits next to a high-security USP — camp residents have significantly more freedom but should understand the broader facility environment
  • •Bring a prepared contact list and mailing addresses; mail rules are strict about source (publisher or bookstore only)
  • •Visiting uses a point system (10 points/month) so coordinate with family to maximize visits
  • •Phone time is available seven days a week from 6 AM to 9:15 PM with 15-minute call limits

Insider Information

Big Sandy Camp is a minimum-security satellite camp adjacent to USP Big Sandy, a high-security penitentiary in eastern Kentucky. The camp houses male residents and operates with more freedom of movement than the main USP.

Phone Policy

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. All calls are limited to 15 minutes with a 30-minute wait between calls. Phones are available from 6:00 AM to 9:15 PM daily, seven days a week.

Mail

The facility accepts U.S. Postal Service First Class, Priority, and Express mail. Contact the facility before sending overnight packages via FedEx or UPS. People in custody may have up to five books, five magazines, and five newspapers at a time, all of which must come directly from a publisher or bookstore.

Visiting

Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Visits operate on a point system — ten points per month, one point per visit. A maximum of five visitors (including children) per visit; split visits allow up to ten visitors and two groups per day.

Location Notes

Eastern Kentucky, roughly 133 miles from Frankfort and 140 miles from Lexington. Use GPS for directions to 1197 Airport Road, Inez, KY.

Nearby Lodging (up to 3)

- Ramada Inn Paintsville: 606-789-4242 - Days Inn Paintsville: 606-789-3551 - Brookshire Inn and Suites Pikeville: 606-433-0888

Psychology/Counseling Services

Crisis intervention services are available on an as-needed basis. Psychiatric treatment is offered for prisoners requiring psychotropic medication for psychotic disorders. A self-help library with books and tapes on mental health topics is available. Drug abuse treatment services include drug education and non-residential substance abuse treatment.

Health Services

The camp provides full primary health care including diagnosis, education, treatment, and counseling. Sick call is held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during designated unit movement times. In case of emergency, prisoners must first contact their supervising officer. Pill line hours begin at 6:00 AM, running until the last unit is called for the morning meal, and again at 8:00 PM. Prisoners under 50 may request a physical examination every three years, while those over 50 may request one annually.

Fitness & Recreation

Physical exercise is available in activity rooms at specified times. Table games and other passive recreation may be conducted in activity rooms or designated areas. All activity ceases at 9:45 PM. Details on recreation times, gym hours, and hobby crafts are outlined in the facility's Education and Recreation Handbook.

Religious Services

A wide range of religious programs is offered. Chaplains of various faiths are available for pastoral care, counseling, and other professional services, supplemented by volunteers. Current schedules are posted in the Chapel area and housing units. Religious books, audiotapes, and videotapes are available for group or personal use.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Big Sandy Camp SCP below, including available items and pricing.

View Big Sandy Camp SCP Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Big Sandy Camp SCP 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 Big Sandy Camp SCP

Big Sandy Camp SCP is a Federal Prison Camp. Camps generally have greater freedom of movement, no perimeter fencing, lower levels of violence, and access to First Step Act programming.

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

  • GED preparation and testing
  • Adult continuing education courses
  • Select college-level courses
  • Parenting classes

Vocational Training

  • Plumbing maintenance training
  • Construction skills training
  • Electrical work training
  • UNICOR textile factory — production, business, and quality assurance departments

Health & Wellness

  • Crisis intervention services available as needed
  • Psychiatric treatment and psychotropic medication management
  • Self-help library with mental health books and tapes
  • Drug education program
  • Non-residential substance abuse treatment
  • Residential substance abuse treatment (Challenge Program) — covers anger management, criminal thinking, stress management, victim impact, and values
  • Full primary health care including diagnosis, education, treatment, and counseling
  • Sick call Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during unit movement times
  • Pill line at 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM
  • Physical exams every three years (under 50) or annually (50 and older) upon written request

Recreation

  • Activity rooms with physical exercise equipment at scheduled times
  • Table games and passive recreation in designated areas
  • Hobby craft programs
  • All activity ends at 9:45 PM; details in the Education and Recreation Handbook

Reentry Preparation

  • Religious services with chaplains of various faiths
  • Pastoral care, counseling, and volunteer-led programs
  • Religious library with books, audiotapes, and videotapes

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 Camp Means for You

With a population of approximately 76 people, Big Sandy Camp SCP is a smaller facility — and that has real implications for daily life, programming, and how you're treated.

Pros

  • ✓Easier to get noticed for the right reasons — consistent behavior, good work ethic, and program participation are visible to staff, which can help with halfway house recommendations and early release planning
  • ✓Shorter lines for commissary, phones, sick call, and laundry — daily life has less friction
  • ✓Fewer interpersonal conflicts — smaller populations generally mean a calmer environment with less drama
  • ✓Staff may have more flexibility with halfway house and home confinement recommendations because they actually know who you are

Cons

  • ✗Easier to get noticed for the wrong reasons too — if you get a disciplinary infraction, miss a count, or get caught with contraband like a cell phone, staff will know immediately and consequences come fast, including the SHU and potential transfer to a higher-security facility
  • ✗Fewer program options — vocational training, education, and RDAP slots may be limited, and waitlists can be unpredictable
  • ✗The prison hustle is harder to run — in a smaller camp, there's nowhere to hide; paying someone to cover your work assignment or moving contraband is far riskier because everyone sees everything
  • ✗Less anonymity — your business is everyone's business, which can feel suffocating

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Sandy Camp SCP

Big Sandy Camp SCP is a minimum-security Federal Prison Camp (FPC). It typically has dormitory-style housing, no perimeter fencing, and more flexible movement compared to higher-security institutions.

No. Big Sandy Camp SCP does not currently offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program. Individuals seeking RDAP placement must be designated to an institution that provides the program.

Individuals reporting to Big Sandy Camp SCP typically undergo intake processing including identification verification, medical screening, housing assignment, and orientation specific to this institution's minimum-security level and dormitory housing structure.

Visiting at Big Sandy Camp SCP 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 Big Sandy Camp SCP directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Big Sandy Camp SCP 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 Big Sandy Camp SCP. 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 Big Sandy Camp SCP 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: INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER | USP Big Sandy | U.S. Penitentiary | Satellite Camp | P.O. Box 2068 | Inez, KY 41224.

The commissary at Big Sandy Camp SCP 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.

Big Sandy Camp SCP is a minimum-security facility where most individuals serve sentences ranging from several months to 10+ years. Sentence length depends on the offense, sentencing guidelines, and any applicable reductions such as good conduct time or RDAP completion.

The Bureau of Prisons requires all facilities to offer literacy and GED programs for individuals without a high school diploma. Big Sandy Camp SCP 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: GED preparation and testing, Adult continuing education courses, Select college-level courses, Parenting classes. 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 Big Sandy Camp SCP 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 Big Sandy Camp SCP.

Big Sandy Camp SCP is located in Inez, 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

1197 Airport Road

Inez, Kentucky 41224

606-433-2400

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

USP Big Sandy

U.S. Penitentiary

Satellite Camp

P.O. Box 2068

Inez, KY 41224

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Minimum
Facility Type
SCP
Region
Mid-Atlantic
Gender
Male
Population
76
Updated: Mar 4, 2026

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Security Notice

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