Gilmer Federal Prison FCI: A Families' Guide
FCI Gilmer is a medium-security federal prison in Glenville, West Virginia with an on-site Glenville State University degree program — but no RDAP. Here's what families need to know about visiting, mail, phone calls, and release planning.
FCI Gilmer Facility Details
Facility Type
FCI
Security Level
MediumBOP Code
GIL
Location
West Virginia
Base Name
Gilmer
Complex Parent
Standalone facility
Verified
09/14/2026
FCI Gilmer Overview
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FCI Gilmer is a medium-security federal correctional institution in Glenville, West Virginia, operating alongside a minimum-security satellite camp on the same grounds. It houses adult men in cell-based units and is notable for an on-site college degree partnership with Glenville State University. The facility does not offer RDAP — if residential drug treatment is part of his release plan, that needs to be addressed with his case manager now.
- ▸Location: Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia
- ▸Security level: Medium (FCI) with adjacent minimum-security satellite camp
- ▸BOP code: GIL
- ▸Phone: 304-626-2500
- ▸RDAP: Not available on-site
- ▸College partner: Glenville State University (on-site Associate's and Bachelor's in Business Management)
- ▸Apprenticeships: 6 named programs including Electrician Maintenance, Carpenter, and Automobile Mechanic
FCI Gilmer FAQ
What to Expect at FCI Gilmer
Medium-security facilities run on routine, and Gilmer is no exception. Counts, work callouts, and program schedules structure every day. What sets Gilmer apart is the Glenville State University partnership — this is a fully accredited on-site degree program, not a GED class. If he's motivated and eligible, he can leave with a Bachelor's in Business Management. That changes what the first year out looks like.
The RDAP gap is the thing I'd flag first. If he has a substance abuse history documented in his PSR and wants that potential 12-month reduction, Gilmer cannot deliver it. He needs to submit a written transfer request to his case manager — not a verbal ask, a written one — and follow up every 30 days until it's moving. Nobody initiates that for him.
- ▸FCI Gilmer has no RDAP — written transfer request must be submitted immediately if he needs it
- ▸Glenville State University's Business Management degree is accredited and earned on-site, not via correspondence
- ▸UNICOR slots are limited; food service and maintenance are more accessible first work assignments
- ▸Apprenticeship completions count toward FSA credits and carry real weight on a pre-release resume
- ▸Pre-release RRC (halfway house) placement discussions should start 12-18 months out — if that window is open, his case manager should already be moving
FCI Gilmer: Real Photos
Real photos of FCI Gilmer from publicly available sources.
Aerial View of FCI Gilmer
Satellite imagery of FCI Gilmer from Esri World Imagery. The red pin marks the facility location. Drag to pan, pinch to zoom.
Programs and Education at FCI Gilmer
RDAP available at this facility — completion can reduce a sentence by up to 12 months
- ▸Associate's degree: Business Management via Glenville State University (on-site, accredited)
- ▸Bachelor's degree: Business Management via Glenville State University (on-site, accredited)
- ▸Vocational: Advanced Occupational Education in Residential Wiring
- ▸Apprenticeships (6): Automobile Mechanic, Cabinet Maker, Carpenter, Electrician Maintenance, Baker, Cook
- ▸UNICOR: Active factory work detail
- ▸Institutional work: Food service, facilities maintenance (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), landscaping, laundry, library aide, recreation aide, commissary, chapel orderly, education tutor
- ▸Reentry: Resume and job skills course; pre-release case management begins 12-18 months before release
- ▸FSA programming: Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) activities that generate time credits
- ▸RDAP: Not available at FCI Gilmer — transfer required
Enrollment in the Glenville State program or any apprenticeship requires a written request to his case manager. These are not automatic. EBRR programming participation is the primary mechanism for accumulating FSA time credits — if those credits are not showing up on his record, that is worth a formal challenge. Use the federal inmate time calculation to check his current numbers.
Calculate FSA Time Credits →FCI Gilmer Security Level: What It Means Inside
Medium security means cell-based housing, controlled movement, multiple formal counts per day, and a double-fenced perimeter. It is not a camp environment. Programming access is real, but every disciplinary infraction is visible and tracked — one incident report can affect FSA credit eligibility and move a release date.
- ▸Housing: Cell-based units, not open dormitories
- ▸Perimeter: Double fencing with detection systems
- ▸Counts: Multiple formal standing counts per day
- ▸Movement: Controlled, scheduled callouts to work and programs
- ▸UNICOR: Active factory detail, but fewer slots than larger medium-security facilities
- ▸FSA impact: PATTERN risk score determines credit-earning rate — disciplinary history affects the score directly
Visiting FCI Gilmer: Hours, Rules, Dress Code
Visiting at FCI Gilmer in West Virginia runs on a specific rotation schedule. Here's what families need to know before visiting:
Visiting schedule:
- ▸Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays
- ▸8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Getting approved:
- ▸Submit a visitor application through your LO's case manager
- ▸Background check required — prior felony convictions may result in denial
- ▸Allow 4-6 weeks for new visitor processing
- ▸Approval stays active unless a disciplinary issue removes it
Dress code:
- ▸No khaki or green clothing (matches inmate uniforms)
- ▸No underwire bras
- ▸No open-toed shoes
- ▸No revealing clothing — shoulders and knees covered
- ▸Solid colors are safest
What to bring:
- ▸Government-issued photo ID
- ▸Car key (minimal key fob)
- ▸Clear change purse with coins for vending machines
- ▸Small amount of cash in ones and fives
What gets turned away:
- ▸Cell phones
- ▸Outside food or drinks
- ▸Excessive jewelry
- ▸Anyone not on the approved visitor list
How to Send Mail to FCI Gilmer
Sending mail to your loved one at FCI Gilmer requires the exact address format below. Here's what you need to know:
Send mail to this exact address block:
INMATE FULL NAME, Register Number
FCI Gilmer
P.O. Box 6000
Glenville, WV 26351
- ▸All mail is inspected before delivery
- ▸White paper and standard envelopes only — no colored paper, glitter, or stickers
- ▸Photos allowed: standard print size, no Polaroids, no nudity
- ▸Books must ship directly from a publisher or retailer (e.g., Amazon) — not from your home
- ▸No cards with foil, confetti, or raised embedded elements
- ▸Return address with your full name and address is required or mail may be rejected
- ▸Delivery typically takes 5-10 business days from postmark
Phone Calls at FCI Gilmer: Cost and Setup
Phone calls at FCI Gilmer go through the BOP's contracted phone system. Here's how to set up and receive calls at this facility:
- ▸Set up a prepaid account through the BOP's authorized phone vendor before he calls
- ▸Calls cut off automatically at 15 minutes — he can call back immediately and the clock resets
- ▸First Step Act-eligible individuals receive 300 free minutes per month
- ▸After free minutes, calls cost $0.06 per minute for up to 210 additional minutes
- ▸Phone access is available 7 days a week
- ▸Outgoing calls appear as a 202 area code or "private number" — save it so you don't miss the call
- ▸All calls are recorded and monitored
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References
Security classification verified against the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Last verified: 2026-09-14.
https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/federal-prisons/