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McDowell Camp SCP

Minimum

Satellite Camp

McDowell Camp SCP is a minimum-security satellite prison camp for men in Welch, West Virginia, adjacent to FCI McDowell. The camp offers academic programs, substance abuse education, and recreational activities. Below you will find insider tips, programs, visiting information, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

SCPMid-Atlantic RegionMale

What to Expect at McDowell Camp SCP

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: McDowell is in southern West Virginia, about 4 miles north of Welch and 48 miles southwest of Beckley. No local transportation is available.
  • •Location & Travel: From Beckley — take WV-16, stay straight on WV-121 South, right onto Slab Fork Rd/CR-34, right onto WV-97, left onto WV-10, right onto WV-16 South into McDowell County, first right onto 101 Federal Drive (look for the Federal Institution sign).
  • •Location & Travel: From Bluefield — take US-52 North, right onto WV-16 North for about 7 miles (look for the Federal Institution sign).
  • •Location & Travel: Elkhorn Inn & Theater, Eckman — 304-862-2031

Visiting

  • •Visiting: Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM.
  • •Visiting: Up to 5 approved visitors at one time, including children. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an approved adult.

Daily Life

  • •Daily Life: The law library is in the Education Department and is open during non-working hours, including weekends.

Good to Know

  • •Location & Travel: Count Gilu Motel, Welch — 304-436-3041
  • •Location & Travel: Pocahontas Motel, Welch — 304-436-2250

Insider Information

Housing

People at the camp live in open dormitory-style housing.

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month, with calls limited to 15 minutes each. Up to 30 approved telephone numbers on your call list.

Mail

The camp accepts First-Class, Priority, and Express mail via USPS. Contact the facility before sending overnight mail via FedEx or UPS. Publications must come directly from the publisher, bookstore, or book club. Magazine accumulation is limited to five issues (no more than three months old).

Psychology/Counseling Services

Psychologists are available for individual counseling and other mental health services. Unit staff provide informal counseling sessions and formal group counseling activities, and correctional counselors lead self-image groups and other voluntary groups. Drug treatment programs include a 12- to 15-hour drug education course, a 12- to 14-week non-residential drug treatment program, and the 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).

Health Services

Sick call appointments at the camp may be made from 6:30 to 6:45 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (except holidays). The Health Services Department includes a dental department and a consultant eye doctor. Persons under the age of 50 are entitled to a physical examination every two years and a health care prevention visit every three years. Those over 50 are entitled to both a physical exam and a prevention visit every year, along with a yearly EKG.

Fitness & Recreation

Indoor and outdoor activities are available, including a variety of arts and crafts programs and intramural team sports. Physical fitness and weight reduction programs are also offered.

Religious Services

Religious services include pastoral care, counseling, and a variety of programs with regularly scheduled services, studies, special programs, holy day observances, and periodic guest speakers.

Commissary

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

View McDowell Camp SCP Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

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

McDowell 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
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
  • Post-secondary education
  • Parenting classes

Vocational Training

  • Occupational training programs (offerings may vary)

Health & Wellness

  • Drug Education course (12–15 hours)
  • Individual psychological counseling
  • Self-help library (books, audio, and video)
  • Sick call: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 6:30–6:45 AM
  • Dental services available
  • Consultant eye doctor available
  • Physical exam every 2 years (under 50) or annually (50+)
  • Yearly EKG for people 50 and older

Recreation

  • Intramural team sports
  • Indoor and outdoor activities
  • Arts and crafts programs
  • Physical fitness programs
  • Weight reduction programs

Reentry Preparation

  • Religious reentry programming
  • Release preparation assistance

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 40 people, McDowell 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 McDowell Camp SCP

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

Funds for individuals at McDowell 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 McDowell 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 McDowell 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\nFCI McDowell\nFederal Correctional Institution\nSatellite Camp\nP.O. Box 1009\nWelch, WV 24801.

The commissary at McDowell 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.

McDowell 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. McDowell 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, English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Continuing Education (ACE), Post-secondary education, 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 McDowell 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 McDowell Camp SCP.

McDowell Camp SCP is located in Welch, West Virginia, within the Mid-Atlantic 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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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.

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Contact Information

101 Federal Drive

Welch, West Virginia 24801

304-436-7300

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI McDowell

Federal Correctional Institution

Satellite Camp

P.O. Box 1009

Welch, WV 24801

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Minimum
Facility Type
SCP
Region
Mid-Atlantic
Gender
Male
Population
40
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.