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Marion Camp SCP

Minimum

Satellite Camp

Marion Camp SCP is a satellite prison camp in Marion, Illinois, housing approximately 195 people. Below you'll find insider tips, programs, visiting hours, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

SCPNorth Central RegionMale

What to Expect at Marion Camp SCP

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: Approximately nine miles south of Marion, IL — 300 miles from Chicago, 120 miles from St. Louis. From I-57, take IL-148 to Grange Hall Road, left on Grassy Road, right on Prison Road.
  • •Location & Travel: Comfort Inn & Suites I-57 (618-993-0183) — near Marion.
  • •Location & Travel: Drury Inn (618-997-9600) — near Marion.
  • •Location & Travel: Hampton Inn (618-997-0528) — near Marion.

Communication & Mail

  • •Visiting: 12 visiting points per month. Weekday or holiday visits cost 2 points each. Maximum of 4 adult visitors and 5 children at one time.
  • •Mail: INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER, FCI Marion, Federal Correctional Institution, Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 1000, Marion, IL 62959

Visiting

  • •Visiting: Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays, 8:30 AM–3:00 PM.

Insider Information

Housing

Open dormitories and two-person cubicles. Television viewing hours are 6:00 AM–midnight.

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month. Calls limited to 15 minutes, 30 approved numbers. Camp phones available Monday–Friday 6:00–7:30 AM, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, and after 4:00 PM count until midnight (except 10:00 PM count). Three phones in West Dorm, eight in New Dorm. Unmonitored legal calls available upon request.

Mail

Accepts USPS First Class, Priority, and Express Mail. All incoming packages require prior authorization. Hardcover publications must come from the publisher or bookstore. Limited to six magazines and ten books.

Library

Law library in the Education Department, open during non-working hours every day. Typewriters and copiers available for legal document preparation.

Psychology/Counseling Services

The Psychology Services department at the camp includes psychologists and a drug treatment specialist, with offices located across from Food Service. The camp offers a nine-month, 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), as well as a non-residential drug treatment program, a drug education program, and other voluntary individual and group psychotherapy. Psychologists are available for brief counseling, crisis intervention, and group sessions.

Health Services

The Health Services Department at the camp is located in the old dormitory and administration building. On-site medical care is available weekdays from 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Sick call sign-up is held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:00 to 7:15 AM. Dental sick call at the camp takes place on Wednesday at 7:30 AM. Pill line hours are 6:00 to 6:30 AM (including insulin) and 2:30 to 3:15 PM (insulin only). At least one physician assistant is on duty or on call around the clock. The staff includes physicians, mid-level practitioners, nurses, a pharmacist, a dentist, and a dental hygienist, supported by contracted specialists such as an X-ray technician, optometrist, and pharmacy technician. Outpatient care is provided on-site. Persons under the age of 50 may request a physical examination every two years, while those over 50 may request one annually.

Fitness & Recreation

Physical fitness and leisure programs are designed to reduce stress and support overall health and emotional well-being. Activities include organized and informal games, sports, intramural activities, table games, music programs, and movies. The hobby craft center offers artwork, leather craft, crocheting, knitting, drawing, bead work, and stick art. Persons are also encouraged to participate in housing unit activities such as unit-based hobby craft.

Religious Services

The Religious Services Department provides pastoral care and religious accommodation for individual and group beliefs and practices. Chaplains offer worship services, education, counseling, marriages, spiritual direction, and crisis intervention. The department also oversees the religious diet program, ceremonial meals, and holiday observances. Faith-based reentry programs such as Life Connections and Threshold are available.

Commissary

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

View Marion Camp SCP Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Marion 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 Marion Camp SCP

Marion 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

  • Literacy
  • GED
  • ESL
  • Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
  • College Correspondence Courses
  • Parenting

Vocational Training

  • Occupational Training (Certificate Programs)
  • Apprenticeship Training (Department of Labor Certificate)

Health & Wellness

  • Drug Education Program
  • Individual and Group Psychotherapy
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Sick Call: Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 7:00–7:15 AM
  • Dental Sick Call: Wed 7:30 AM
  • Pill Line: 6:00–6:30 AM, 2:30–3:15 PM

Recreation

  • Intramural Sports
  • Physical Fitness
  • Hobby Crafts (Artwork, Leather Craft, Crocheting, Knitting, Drawing, Bead Work, Stick Art)
  • Music Programs
  • Table Games
  • Movies

Reentry Preparation

  • Life Connections Program
  • Threshold Program

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 195 people, Marion 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 Marion Camp SCP

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

Funds for individuals at Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion, Federal Correctional Institution, Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 1000, Marion, IL 62959.

The commissary at Marion 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.

Marion 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. Marion 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: Literacy, GED, ESL, Adult Continuing Education (ACE), College Correspondence Courses, Parenting. 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 Marion 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 Marion Camp SCP.

Marion Camp SCP is located in Marion, Illinois, within the North Central Region of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Contact the facility directly for driving directions and nearby lodging options.

Compare to Similar Facilities

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Other Federal Prisons in Illinois

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

4500 Prison Road

Marion, Illinois 62959

618-964-1441

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER, FCI Marion, Federal Correctional Institution, Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 1000, Marion, IL 62959

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Minimum
Facility Type
SCP
Region
North Central
Gender
Male
Population
195
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.