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Butner Medium I Camp SCP

Minimum

Satellite Camp

Butner Medium I Camp is a minimum-security satellite prison camp for men located near the Research Triangle of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill in North Carolina. The camp sits adjacent to FCI Butner Medium I on Old NC Highway 75, about five miles off I-85, and is served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

SCPMid-Atlantic RegionMale

What to Expect at Butner Medium I Camp SCP

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–11:30pm daily. Calls cut off after 15 minutes. You can have up to 30 numbers on your approved phone list and update it once per month. ITS credits transfer from your commissary account after 4:30pm.
  • •Visiting hours are Friday 5–8pm, and Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and federal holidays 8:30am–3pm. You get 16 visiting points per month — four points for weekends, one for Fridays, none for holidays. Up to 3 adult visitors at a time (children not counted). Larger groups need approval from your unit manager.
  • •The commissary operates on a rotating schedule posted in the housing units. Shopping is once per week. The monthly spending limit is $360.

Daily Life

  • •The law library is located in the Education department and open during convenient hours including weekends and holidays. A law library clerk can help locate materials. Typewriters are available for legal documents — bring your own ribbon. A copier is available.

Good to Know

  • •Housing is in two-person dorm cubicles that are wheelchair accessible.

Psychology/Counseling Services

The camp offers a non-residential drug treatment program, a drug education program, Alcoholics Anonymous, self-image groups, and other voluntary groups. Newly committed prisoners whose offense is directly related to drugs or alcohol are required to attend the 40-hour Drug Education Program. Psychologists are available for individual and group psychotherapy.

Health Services

The camp provides outpatient medical and dental care. Sick call for camp prisoners is held from 7:15 to 7:45 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Camp pill line hours on weekdays are 6:45–7:15 AM, 11:45 AM–12:00 PM, and 7:30–8:00 PM. On weekends and holidays, camp pill line runs from 7:15–7:45 AM, 11:00–11:30 AM, and 7:00–7:30 PM. Physical examinations are available every three years for prisoners under 50 and annually for those over 50. Medical staff members are on duty or on call around the clock.

Fitness & Recreation

The recreation department offers team sports, exercise bicycles, stairmasters, weight reduction and stress reduction programs, pool tables, and ping-pong tables. The hobby craft center provides painting, leather craft, and art supplies; completed projects may be mailed home. Musical instruments are available in the recreation area.

Religious Services

The institution is staffed by three full-time chaplains, with contract rabbi services also available. A community of volunteers provides services for most faiths. Special religious diets, holiday observances, and other worship activities are coordinated through the Chaplain's Office.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Butner Medium I Camp SCP below, including available items and pricing.

View Butner Medium I Camp SCP Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I Camp SCP

Butner Medium I 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
  • ESL
  • Adult Continuing Education
  • College Courses (contract instructors from local colleges)

Vocational Training

  • UNICOR Textile Factory (military shirts)
  • UNICOR CAPS Data Entry

Health & Wellness

  • Drug Education Program (40-hour)
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Self-Image Groups
  • Psychology Services (individual and group)

Recreation

  • Team Sports
  • Exercise Bicycles
  • Stair Climbers
  • Weight Reduction Program
  • Stress Reduction Program
  • Pool Tables
  • Ping-Pong
  • Hobby Craft (painting, leather craft, art)
  • Musical Instruments

Reentry Preparation

  • Release Planning

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 263 people, Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I Camp SCP

Butner Medium I 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. Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I Camp SCP directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I 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 Butner Medium I 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 | FCI Butner Medium I | FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION | SATELLITE CAMP | P.O. BOX 1000 | BUTNER, NC 27509.

The commissary at Butner Medium I 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.

Butner Medium I 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. Butner Medium I 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, ESL, Adult Continuing Education, College Courses (contract instructors from local colleges). 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 Medium I 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 Butner Medium I Camp SCP.

Butner Medium I Camp SCP 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

919-575-4541

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI Butner Medium I

FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

SATELLITE CAMP

P.O. BOX 1000

BUTNER, NC 27509

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Minimum
Facility Type
SCP
Region
Mid-Atlantic
Gender
Male
Population
263
Updated: Mar 5, 2026

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Security Notice

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