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Butner Low FCI

Low

Federal Correctional Institution

Butner Low FCI is a low-security federal correctional institution for men, part of the Butner Federal Correctional Complex near the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. The facility is about five miles off I-85 and served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport. It offers vocational trades, UNICOR factory work, extensive recreation, and a staffed mental health hospital on the complex.

Last verified: February 12, 2026

FCIMid-Atlantic RegionMale

What to Expect at Butner Low FCI

Location & Travel

  • •Nearby lodging: Econo Lodge Creedmoor (919-575-6451), Comfort Inn Research Triangle Park (919-361-2656), Carolina Inn Chapel Hill (919-933-2001).

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. Phones operate 6am–11:55pm daily, and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Calls cut off after 15 minutes.
  • •Visiting hours are Thursday and Friday 2:30–8pm, and Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and federal holidays 8:30am–3pm. You get 12 visiting points per month — two points for weekends, one for weekdays, none for holidays. Up to 5 adult visitors at a time (children not counted). Weekend visits rotate by housing unit.
  • •Sick call runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:45–7:15am. A physician's assistant is on duty or on call 24 hours. Medical staff are on site 6am–10pm seven days a week.
  • •Housing is four units (Durham, Granville, Vance, Wake) with two sides each holding up to 170 people. Most are in three-person cubicles. Each side has two TV rooms — one with five TVs for general/sports and a smaller one for Spanish-language programming.
  • •Softcover publications may come from any source. Hardcover books and newspapers must come directly from a publisher, bookstore, or book club.

Daily Life

  • •The commissary is open Monday through Thursday, 12:45–2:30pm and 4:45–7:30pm. Shopping is once per week on a rotating schedule. The monthly spending limit is $360.
  • •The law library is open weekdays with extended hours and Saturdays until 3:30pm. Copy cards cost $5.20 for 50 copies from the commissary. The leisure library has an interlibrary loan program.

Insider Information

Butner Low FCI is located on Old NC Highway 75 in Butner, NC, near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. The area is served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Amtrak, and commercial bus lines. From Raleigh, take US 70 West to I-85 North, exit 189, turn left on Central Avenue to Veazey Street, right onto Veazey, left onto Old Highway 75 — FCI Butner Low is on the first right (about one mile). Email: BUF-ExecAssistant-S@bop.gov. Fax: 919-575-5023. County: Granville.

Commissary

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

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Butner 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 Butner Low FCI

Butner 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

  • GED classes
  • ESL courses
  • Adult Continuing Education

Vocational Training

  • Meineke Vocational Trades program
  • HVAC certificate program (3-4 months)
  • UNICOR textile factory (sewing)
  • UNICOR CAPS data entry

Health & Wellness

  • Drug education program
  • AA/NA support groups
  • Self-image groups
  • Individual psychotherapy
  • Group psychotherapy
  • Mental health hospital on complex

Recreation

  • Intramural team sports
  • Aerobics
  • Exercise bicycles
  • Racquetball (5 courts)
  • Musical instruments
  • Piano rooms
  • Pool tables
  • Ping-pong
  • Bingo
  • Card and table games
  • Music listening room
  • Painting
  • Ceramics
  • Knitting
  • Drawing

Reentry Preparation

  • Pre-release preparation

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 1,017 people, Butner 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 Butner Low FCI

Butner 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. Butner 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 1,017, Butner Low FCI operates as a larger facility. This can affect program availability, staff visibility, and housing density.

Individuals reporting to Butner 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 Butner 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 Butner Low FCI directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Butner 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 Butner 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 Butner 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: INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER | FCI Butner Low | Federal Correctional Institution | P.O. Box 999 | Butner, NC 27509.

The commissary at Butner 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 Butner 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. Butner 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: GED classes, ESL courses, Adult Continuing Education. 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 Butner 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 Butner Low FCI.

Butner Low FCI is located in Butner, North Carolina, 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 North Carolina

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

OLD NC HWY 75, BUTNER, NC 27509

Butner, North Carolina 27509

919-575-5000

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI Butner Low

Federal Correctional Institution

P.O. Box 999

Butner, NC 27509

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Low
Facility Type
FCI
Region
Mid-Atlantic
Gender
Male
Population
1,017
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.