FCI Ashland (minimum-security camp)

MALE

Gender

MINIMUM

Security Level

~175

Population (Nov. 2025)

No RDAP

FCI Ashland Camp is a minimum-security federal satellite prison camp for male offenders in Boyd County, Kentucky. It sits about five miles north of Ashland, roughly 125 miles east of Lexington. The Federal Bureau of Prisons runs it as part of the Mid-Atlantic Region. The camp opened in 1991 right next to Federal Correctional Institution Ashland, a low-security facility that's been operating since 1940. Forbes magazine listed FCI Ashland Camp among America's ten most comfortable federal prisons, pointing out its wellness programs that stress aerobic exercise and stress reduction.

Notes from Alumni

• An inmate who spent eight years at FCI Ashland on low security before transferring to the minimum camp had this to say: "There were fewer politics, gangs, and lessened security at Ashland. There were lots of programming when I first got to Ashland, such as auto body, car care, HVAC, computer classes, certified welding, and all kinds of educational classes... Ashland was like a college campus that I could never leave." When talking about camps in general, he added: "At this level of security, you must have less than 10 years to serve... Inmates walk out the front door everyday going to work in the community." American Prison Writing Archive

• Eric Borsuk served time at FCI Ashland for the "Transy Book Heist," which later became the film American Animals. He wrote extensively about his experience there. Based mainly at the low-security FCI, he described life on the compound: "All across the compound, there were countless ways of bidding, from gambling to religion, education to gang life, sex, art, and prison jobs." The three co-defendants set up their own self-education program with "mock university courses" that covered math, science, history, economics, and foreign languages. The Marshall Project

• Ronald Clark, who took part in the Master Gardener Program at the camp, reflected: "I've learned a lot about gardening. The soil samples in the ground, what makes the product grow; I knew nothing about that. I was raised around farming all my life. I never really took the time to put forth the effort to find out what it was in the soil to make the product grow." University of Kentucky

• One review said: "If you have a choice to go anywhere, I would not come here unless FCI Ashland gets you closer to home." Another observation: "It's very safe here, but the guards can be very disrespectful and sometimes denigrating towards inmates."

Keep in mind that these experiences are individual and may not match what you'd find today.

Notable Alumni

Name	Sentence	Offense	Dates
Notable Alumni needed

History

The main FCI Ashland facility opened in 1940. It was designed originally to house bootleggers, tax evaders, and people who broke postal laws. Through the 1970s, the facility changed from a Federal Youth Center to a low-security adult male prison.

In 1991, the satellite camp opened next to the main institution. It was designed for minimum-security inmates who are getting close to release or serving shorter sentences and pose minimal danger to the public.

Forbes ranked FCI Ashland Camp in 2009 as one of the ten "cushiest" federal prisons in America, highlighting its wellness offerings.

It's part of the BOP's Mid-Atlantic Region. The region covers Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Ohio, western Pennsylvania (the Greater Pittsburgh area), Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Housing & Facilities

Two large open dormitory units make up FCI Ashland Camp, each with two-person cubicles. The cubicles have walls roughly four and a half feet high. They give some privacy while letting staff keep watch.

What's available:

• Three pool tables
• Exercise equipment
• Cable television in each housing unit
• Outdoor recreation areas for walking, running, basketball, handball, and softball

Daily Life

Schedule & Counts

The camp follows a structured daily schedule with regular counts happening throughout the day. Residents can use the yard from 6:00 AM to 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Counts take place at 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Moving between different areas happens on a set schedule with ten-minute intervals.

The library opens from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Work Assignments

Everyone at the camp is supposed to work. Available jobs include:

• Grounds maintenance and landscaping
• Master Gardener Program (producing food for local food banks)
• Kitchen and food service
• Facility maintenance
• Community work details (some residents work outside the facility in the local community)

Pay runs from $0.10 to $0.50 per hour. There's no UNICOR factory at the camp; that's only at the adjacent FCI.

Programs & Education

Educational Programs

• General Education Diploma (GED) in English and Spanish
• Pre-GED and Advanced GED courses
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes
• Special Education classes for people with disabilities

Those who complete educational programs get incentives. You'll earn $25 for finishing GED and ESL work.

Vocational Training

Several vocational programs are on offer:

• Master Gardener Program - The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service runs this. Residents become certified Master Gardeners. They maintain a 6-acre garden and give away produce (over 30,000 pounds yearly) to River Cities Harvest food bank.
• Welding - Vocational training with certification
• Baking - Apprenticeship program
• Cooking - Apprenticeship program

Religious Programs

The facility offers religious services and programs for different faith traditions. Chapel services are available, and the library has religious materials.

Psychology Services

Psychological support includes:

• Individual and group counseling
• Psycho-educational classes
• Criminal Thinking intervention
• Anger Management
• Emotional Regulation
• Basic Cognitive Skills
• Smart Recovery

The camp also runs substance abuse programs:

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Drug Abuse Education Course

Important: The Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) isn't available here. Only the adjacent FCI Ashland low-security facility offers RDAP.

Medical Care

FCI Ashland Camp is classified as Medical Care Level 2.

Medical services include:

• Admission physical examination
• Emergency medical care
• Medical sick call
• Dental sick call
• Prescription medications
• Chronic care clinics
• Mental health services

For specialized medical needs, residents might get transported to community hospitals. Sometimes other inmates drive them to outside appointments rather than officers.

Communication

Telephone

Residents get 300 minutes per month for phone calls. All calls are recorded except for attorney-client communications. Telephone use is a privilege and can be taken away based on behavior.

Email

Electronic messaging works through TRULINCS (Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System) terminals. You can send and receive emails but you'll pay a per-minute fee.

Video Visits

Video visitation is available through TRULINCS. Families should set up video visits in advance through the BOP's approved vendor.

Mail

You can send and get regular mail with family, friends, and community contacts. Staff will open and check general mail for contraband. Legal mail from attorneys or government offices is opened only when the recipient is present.

Address:

Resident Name, Register Number

FCI Ashland

Federal Correctional Institution

Satellite Camp

P.O. Box 6000

Ashland, KY 41105

Heads up: Don't send money to this address. All funds go to the Federal Bureau of Prisons processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Commissary

You can spend up to $360.00 per month at the commissary. Shopping happens on certain days based on your housing unit, and this rotates every quarter. Usually open from 10:15 AM to 11:45 AM and 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

You'll find:

• Food items and snacks
• Drink mixes and beverages
• Clothing
• Hygiene products
• Over-the-counter medications
• Electronics (MP3 players, headphones)

Staff Misconduct

• 2014 - Correctional officer James Lewis at FCI Ashland got 15 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to conspiring with resident Gary Musick and Musick's girlfriend Cindy Gates to bring marijuana, nude photographs, and cell phones into the facility between December 2010 and February 2012.

Location & Visitation

Location

FCI Ashland Camp sits next to the low-security FCI Ashland in the unincorporated area of Summit in Boyd County, Kentucky.

Address:

FCI Ashland Camp

State Route 716

Ashland, KY 41105

Phone: 606-928-6414
Email: ASH/[email protected]

Visitation

Visiting at the camp is more limited than at the main FCI. If you're approved, you can visit:

• Saturdays: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Sundays: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Federal Holidays: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

How the Visiting Points System Works:

Residents get ten visiting points per month:

• First visit of the month: 5 points (any day)
• Each additional visit: 1 point

What you need to know:

• Maximum of 4 adults per visit
• Up to 2 additional children can come along (6 people total maximum)
• Visitors won't get processed after 2:00 PM
• You must be on the approved visitation list
• Bring valid government-issued photo identification
• Check dress code requirements before you arrive
• Call the facility first to make sure visiting hasn't been suspended

Check the official BOP page for FCI Ashland for the complete visiting rules.

See Also

• FCI Ashland - The nearby low-security federal correctional institution
• Federal Prison Camps - Overview of minimum-security facilities
• BOP Mid-Atlantic Region
• USP Big Sandy - High-security facility also in Kentucky
• FCI Manchester - Medium-security facility in Kentucky
• FMC Lexington - Federal Medical Center in Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does FCI Ashland allow conjugal visits?

No. The Federal Bureau of Prisons doesn't permit conjugal visits at any facility, regardless of security level. This applies to all minimum-security federal prison camps, low-security FCIs, medium-security facilities, and high-security USPs. Just four state prison systems (California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington) allow conjugal visits for state prisoners. Federal inmates can't access conjugal or extended family visits anywhere in the BOP system.

Q: What types of visitation are allowed at FCI Ashland?

FCI Ashland allows contact visits during designated visiting hours, usually on weekends and holidays. Brief embraces are okay at the start and end of visits, but prolonged physical contact isn't permitted. All visits happen in supervised visiting rooms. You'll need to be pre-approved through a background check and follow dress code requirements. See the Visiting Policies and Procedures page for full details.