What are the visiting hours at FCI Memphis?

Visiting hours vary by unit and rotation schedule. Contact FCI Memphis directly to confirm the current schedule before traveling.

What is the inmate mailing address for FCI Memphis?

Send mail to: INMATE FULL NAME & REGISTER NUMBER, FCI Memphis, P.O. Box 34550, Memphis, TN 38184. Always include the full BOP register number on the second line — mail without it gets held or returned.

How does the RDAP program work at FCI Memphis?

FCI Memphis runs a 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) that takes 9 to 12 months to complete. It is a unit-based program where participants are housed together during treatment. Completing RDAP can result in up to 12 months off the sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e), plus priority consideration for halfway house placement upon release.

What vocational apprenticeship programs are offered at FCI Memphis?

The vocational apprenticeships at FCI Memphis are specific to the satellite minimum-security camp, not the main FCI. The camp offers apprenticeships in Golf Course Management and Engraving. Work assignments at the main FCI include Facilities Maintenance (Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC), Food Service, Library Aide, and several other institutional details.

How do family members schedule a visit at FCI Memphis?

Your LO's case manager handles visitor applications — he submits your information, and the CM runs the background check. Allow 2-4 weeks for processing. Once approved, call FCI Memphis at 901-372-2269 to confirm the current visiting schedule before you make the trip, since hours can change without updated notice online.

By Thatbopguy· 2026-09-13

Memphis Federal Prison FCI: A Families' Guide

FCI Memphis is a medium-security federal prison in Memphis, Tennessee with an adjacent satellite camp. This guide covers visiting, mail, phone calls, RDAP, FSA credits, and what families actually need to know.

Overview FAQ What to Expect Programs Security Visiting Mail Phone

FCI Memphis Facility Details

Facility Type

FCI

Security Level

Medium

BOP Code

MEM

Location

Tennessee

Base Name

Memphis

Complex Parent

Standalone facility

Verified

09/14/2026

FCI Memphis Overview

For more help, other federal prisons in Tennessee.

FCI Memphis is a medium-security federal correctional institution in Memphis, Tennessee, operating alongside an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp. The two facilities share a campus but operate under different rules — if your LO is at the camp versus the main FCI, his daily life, work assignments, and program access differ in ways that affect his release timeline.

▸Location: Memphis, Tennessee
▸Mailing address: P.O. Box 34550, Memphis, TN 38184
▸Security level: Medium (FCI) with adjacent minimum-security satellite camp
▸BOP facility code: MEM
▸Facility phone: 901-372-2269
▸Type: Standalone FCI with satellite camp

FCI Memphis FAQ

What to Expect at FCI Memphis

Medium FCIs run on routine, and FCI Memphis is no different. The monthly unit town hall meetings here are worth paying attention to — when I was at a similar medium facility, those meetings were one of the few low-friction ways to flag case manager problems or FSA credit errors without triggering a formal grievance process. Have your LO document anything related to his PATTERN score or credit calculations and raise it there first, in writing if possible.

The Interlibrary Loan partnership with the Memphis/Shelby County Library is genuinely rare in the BOP. Most facilities are capped at whatever sits on their shelves. At FCI Memphis, specific titles can be requested through that system, which matters for legal research, education work, or just keeping a person mentally intact through a long sentence.

▸FSA credits only move if programming is documented correctly — a quiet case manager error can freeze a release date without any notification to you
▸RDAP at FCI Memphis connects to both the sentence reduction and RRC priority placement — the waitlist is worth it
▸The satellite camp operates under different rules than the main FCI — confirm which programs your LO actually has access to based on his specific housing assignment
▸Mail missing the register number gets held or returned — the most preventable problem families run into
▸Track his release date independently using the federal inmate search — the BOP will not notify you when the date changes

FCI Memphis: Real Photos

Real photos of FCI Memphis from publicly available sources.

Aerial View of FCI Memphis

Leaflet Tiles © Esri — Source: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics

Satellite imagery of FCI Memphis from Esri World Imagery. The red pin marks the facility location. Drag to pan, pinch to zoom.

Programs and Education at FCI Memphis

RDAP available at this facility — completion can reduce a sentence by up to 12 months

▸RDAP: 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program, unit-based, running 9-12 months — completion can result in up to 12 months off the sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e)
▸FSA EBRR activities: First Step Act Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction programs that generate time credits toward release or halfway house placement
▸Work assignments (main FCI): Food Service, Facilities Maintenance (Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC), Landscaping, Orderly/Janitorial, Laundry, Education Tutor, Recreation Aide, Commissary, Chapel Orderly, Library Aide
▸Vocational apprenticeships (satellite camp only): Golf Course Management and Engraving
▸Library access: direct Interlibrary Loan partnership with Memphis/Shelby County Library system
▸Reentry programming: RRC (halfway house) placement evaluation, community-based transitional treatment for RDAP completers

Program waiting lists are managed by the case manager. The fastest move is a written cop-out request to the CM in the first 30 days. FSA credits only accumulate while actively enrolled in approved EBRR activities — idle time earns nothing. Model how his credits shift his projected release date using the federal inmate time calculation.

Calculate FSA Time Credits →

FCI Memphis Security Level: What It Means Inside

Medium security means controlled movement, multiple daily counts, and a double-fenced perimeter. It is more structured than a camp but offers broader programming access than a high-security USP. FCI Memphis runs unit-based monthly town hall meetings — a documented feature that gives residents a direct, documented channel to raise issues with administration.

▸Controlled movement between areas requires a pass
▸Multiple standing counts per day
▸Double-fenced perimeter with detection equipment
▸Cell or dorm housing depending on unit
▸Regular staff interaction through the unit team structure
▸Monthly town hall meetings by unit — use this channel for case manager issues before filing formal grievances

Visiting FCI Memphis: Hours, Rules, Dress Code

Visiting at FCI Memphis in Tennessee runs on a specific rotation schedule. Here's what families need to know before visiting:

Visiting hours at FCI Memphis require direct confirmation before you make the drive. Call 901-372-2269 and ask for the current visiting supplement — schedules shift seasonally and during lockdowns, and the BOP website does not always reflect real-time changes.

Getting approved:

▸Your LO submits your information to his case manager to start the application
▸Standard background check — prior felony convictions may require a waiver
▸Allow 2-4 weeks for processing before your first visit
▸You must be on his approved list before you arrive at the facility

Dress code:

▸No clothing matching inmate uniform colors (khaki, olive, or gray in certain combinations)
▸No underwire bras, open-toe shoes, or revealing clothing
▸No camouflage patterns of any kind
▸Solid, modest clothing — call ahead if unsure

What to bring:

▸Government-issued photo ID
▸Clear bag with cash for vending machines (typically $20-$30 in coins or small bills)
▸Car key only — no key fobs with electronics, no large keyrings

What gets turned away:

▸Outside food or drinks
▸Cell phones, smartwatches, or any electronics
▸Excessive jewelry
▸Anyone not on the current approved visitor list

How to Send Mail to FCI Memphis

Sending mail to your loved one at FCI Memphis requires the exact address format below. Here's what you need to know:

Send mail to this exact address format — a missing register number is the most common reason mail gets held or returned:

INMATE FULL NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
FCI Memphis
P.O. Box 34550
Memphis, TN 38184

▸Letters: standard first-class only; no stickers, glitter, or perfume on envelopes
▸Photos: standard photo prints accepted; no Polaroids, no nudity
▸Books: must ship directly from a publisher or retailer (Amazon, etc.) — no hand-carried or informally sourced books
▸Magazines: publisher-direct only
▸What gets rejected: anything with marker drawings over text, contraband in binding, or non-standard enclosures
▸Delivery time: typically 5-10 business days after receipt; all mail is inspected before delivery
▸Interlibrary Loan: FCI Memphis has a direct partnership with the Memphis/Shelby County Library system — your LO can request specific titles not in the facility library through this program

Phone Calls at FCI Memphis: Cost and Setup

Phone calls at FCI Memphis go through the BOP's contracted phone system. Here's how to set up and receive calls at this facility:

▸Calls go through a prepaid account tied to your LO's register number — fund it from your side before he calls
▸Institutional rate at FCI Memphis: $0.12 to $0.40 per minute depending on call type
▸Standard call cap: 15 minutes per call
▸All calls are recorded and monitored (legal calls to attorneys are privileged and handled separately)
▸Register your number using his BOP register number before his first call — unregistered numbers cannot receive calls
▸If a call drops, he can call back; the minutes still count toward the account balance
▸Calling hours follow unit-specific schedules — he will know his unit's hours within the first week inside