# Federal prison support groups, by facility

The best intel about any specific prison is in a Facebook group run by spouses and moms. Not lawyers. Moms. Visiting rules, package tips, which CO (a uniformed guard) to avoid, when the phones are down. Find your facility below.

Under that are the groups that cover the whole system, the [First Step Act](https://federalprisondude.com/first-step-act) groups where release date questions get answered, the nonprofits worth knowing, and the places people talk that are not Facebook.

**These aren't private or secret.**

Every group on this page turned up in a plain Facebook or Google search. That is how I found them, and it is the same search anybody can run, the BOP (the federal Bureau of Prisons) included. Nothing here was leaked to me, nothing here is hidden, and the facility your person is at almost certainly knows its group exists. Joining one is not sneaking around. Thousands of families are already in them.

What that does mean is that you should post like the institution is reading, because it might be. Keep a register number away from a complaint about a named officer, and don't put anything in writing that asks somebody to break a rule. Visiting hours, mail, packages, the drive, which lobby officer is having a bad week: that is what these groups are for, and it's what they're good at.

## By facility

38 groups across 46 facilities. A group that covers a whole complex is listed under every prison in it.

- [FPC Alderson](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/ald-fpc-alderson-federal-prison-camp-west-virginia) West Virginia [Alderson Federal Prison Families](https://www.facebook.com/groups/183740078380771/) [Alderson FPC Womens Prison Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1147902382413589/)
- [FCI Ashland](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/ash-fci-ashland-federal-correctional-institution-kentucky) Kentucky [FCI ASHLAND FAMILY, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS](https://www.facebook.com/groups/916062655492657/)
- [FCI Beaumont Medium](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/bmm-fci-beaumont-medium-federal-correctional-institution-texas) Texas [FCI Beaumont Medium Loved Ones](https://www.facebook.com/groups/285146493896268/)
- [FCI Beckley](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/bec-fci-beckley-federal-correctional-institution-west-virginia) West Virginia [FCI Beckley Families, Friends, and Partners Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/640683703360703/)
- [FCI Beckley Camp](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/bec-camp-fci-beckley-camp-federal-prison-camp-west-virginia) West Virginia [FCI Beckley Families, Friends, and Partners Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/640683703360703/)
- [USP Big Sandy](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/bsy-usp-big-sandy-united-states-penitentiary-kentucky) Kentucky [Big Sandy USP Prison Wives Diamond 💎 Edition](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1437603379737300/)
- [USP Canaan](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/caa-usp-canaan-united-states-penitentiary-pennsylvania) Pennsylvania [USP Canaan Families Unite](https://www.facebook.com/groups/157961154766465/)
- [FCC Coleman](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/cox-fcc-coleman-federal-correctional-complex-florida) Florida [USP Coleman 1 Federal Prison Families](https://www.facebook.com/groups/486728655155741/)
- [USP Coleman I](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/cop-usp-coleman-i-united-states-penitentiary-florida) Florida [USP Coleman 1 Federal Prison Families](https://www.facebook.com/groups/486728655155741/)
- [FCI Coleman Medium](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/com-fci-coleman-medium-federal-correctional-institution-florida) Florida [loved ones on Coleman federal correctional institution medium Fl. support](https://www.facebook.com/groups/819027839893728/)
- [FCI Cumberland](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/cum-fci-cumberland-federal-correctional-institution-maryland) Maryland [Cumberland Loved Ones Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/FCICumberland/)
- [FCI Edgefield](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/edg-fci-edgefield-federal-correctional-institution-south-carolina) South Carolina [FCI Edgefield SUPPORT GROUP](https://www.facebook.com/groups/edgefieldfcifamilies/)
- [FCI El Reno](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/ere-fci-el-reno-federal-correctional-institution-oklahoma) Oklahoma [FCI El Reno Oklahoma prison Inmates WIVES&FAMILIES](https://www.facebook.com/groups/519274726794623/)
- [FCI El Reno Camp](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/ere-camp-fci-el-reno-camp-federal-prison-camp-oklahoma) Oklahoma [FCI El Reno Oklahoma prison Inmates WIVES&FAMILIES](https://www.facebook.com/groups/519274726794623/)
- [FCI Elkton](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/elk-fci-elkton-federal-correctional-institution-ohio) Ohio [FCI ELKTON Families, we stand for our love ones!!!](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2887422721318611/)
- [FCI Elkton Satellite Low](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/elk-fsl-fci-elkton-satellite-low-federal-correctional-institution-ohio) Ohio [FCI ELKTON Families, we stand for our love ones!!!](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2887422721318611/)
- [FCI Fort Dix](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/ftd-fci-fort-dix-federal-correctional-institution-new-jersey) New Jersey [Ft Dix FCI Loved Ones](https://www.facebook.com/groups/235667530880745/)
- [FCI Fort Dix Camp](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/ftd-camp-fci-fort-dix-camp-federal-prison-camp-new-jersey) New Jersey [Ft Dix FCI Loved Ones](https://www.facebook.com/groups/235667530880745/)
- [FCC Hazelton](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/hax-fcc-hazelton-federal-correctional-complex-west-virginia) West Virginia [Hazelton Federal Prisons Loved Ones Information Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/hazeltonfederalprisonsinformation/)
- [FCI Hazelton](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/haf-fci-hazelton-federal-correctional-institution-west-virginia) West Virginia [Hazelton Federal Prisons Loved Ones Information Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/hazeltonfederalprisonsinformation/)
- [USP Hazelton](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/haz-usp-hazelton-united-states-penitentiary-west-virginia) West Virginia [Hazelton Federal Prisons Loved Ones Information Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/hazeltonfederalprisonsinformation/) [USP Hazelton Loved Ones](https://www.facebook.com/groups/424718054956027/)
- [USP Hazelton Camp](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/haz-camp-usp-hazelton-camp-federal-prison-camp-west-virginia) West Virginia [Hazelton Federal Prisons Loved Ones Information Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/hazeltonfederalprisonsinformation/)
- [FCI Hazelton Secure Female Facility](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/haf-sff-fci-hazelton-secure-female-facility-west-virginia) West Virginia [Hazelton Federal Prisons Loved Ones Information Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/hazeltonfederalprisonsinformation/) [HAZELTON FCI SFF SUPPORT GROUP](https://www.facebook.com/groups/695295071420854/)
- [FCI Jesup](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/jes-fci-jesup-federal-correctional-institution-georgia) Georgia [Jesup FCI Family & Friends Inmates Support](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2555444434706164/)
- [USP Lee](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/lee-usp-lee-united-states-penitentiary-virginia) Virginia [Team USP Lee](https://www.facebook.com/groups/620328971660731/) [USP LEE ( JONESVILLE VA. Federal prison )](https://www.facebook.com/groups/466817124920756/)
- [FMC Lexington](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/lex-fmc-lexington-federal-medical-center-kentucky) Kentucky [FMC Lexington Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/949062233261567/)
- [FCI Loretto](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/lor-fci-loretto-federal-correctional-institution-pennsylvania) Pennsylvania [FCI Loretto Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fciloretto/)
- [FCI Manchester](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/man-fci-manchester-federal-correctional-institution-kentucky) Kentucky [FCI Manchester Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimanchester/)
- [FCI Marianna](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mna-fci-marianna-federal-correctional-institution-florida) Florida [FCI Marianna Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/722334466775576/)
- [USP McCreary](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mcr-usp-mccreary-united-states-penitentiary-kentucky) Kentucky [USP McCreary Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/mccreary1/)
- [FCI McDowell](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mcd-fci-mcdowell-federal-correctional-institution-west-virginia) West Virginia [FCI McDowell Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimcdowell1/)
- [FCI McDowell Camp](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mcd-camp-fci-mcdowell-camp-federal-prison-camp-west-virginia) West Virginia [FCI McDowell Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimcdowell1/)
- [FCI McKean](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mck-fci-mckean-federal-correctional-institution-pennsylvania) Pennsylvania [FCI McKean LO's](https://www.facebook.com/groups/663552504334294/)
- [FCI Memphis](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mem-fci-memphis-federal-correctional-institution-tennessee) Tennessee [FCI Memphis Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimemphis/)
- [FCI Mendota](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/men-fci-mendota-federal-correctional-institution-california) California [FCI Mendota Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimendota/)
- [FCI Milan](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mil-fci-milan-federal-correctional-institution-michigan) Michigan [FCI Milan - Loved Ones](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimilanlovedones/) [FCI Milan Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimilan/)
- [FCI Milan Detention Center](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mil-fdc-fci-milan-detention-center-federal-detention-center-michigan) Michigan [FCI Milan - Loved Ones](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimilanlovedones/)
- [FPC Montgomery](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mon-fpc-montgomery-federal-prison-camp-alabama) Alabama [FPC Montgomery Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcimontgomery/)
- [FTC Oklahoma City](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/okl-ftc-oklahoma-city-oklahoma) Oklahoma [FTC Oklahoma Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftcoklahoma/)
- [FCI Otisville](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/otv-fci-otisville-federal-correctional-institution-new-york) New York [Loved Ones of the Incarcerated at FCI & Camp Otisville, NY](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1343941502819149/)
- [FCI Otisville Camp](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/otv-camp-fci-otisville-camp-federal-prison-camp-new-york) New York [Loved Ones of the Incarcerated at FCI & Camp Otisville, NY](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1343941502819149/)
- [FCI Otisville Detention Center](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/otv-fdc-fci-otisville-detention-center-federal-detention-center-new-york) New York [Loved Ones of the Incarcerated at FCI & Camp Otisville, NY](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1343941502819149/)
- [FCI Oxford](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/oxf-fci-oxford-federal-correctional-institution-wisconsin) Wisconsin [FCI Oxford Friends and Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcioxford/)
- [FCC Pollock](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/pox-fcc-pollock-federal-correctional-complex-louisiana) Louisiana [Pollock Federal Prison Inmates Family & Friends](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1466736750471374/)
- [FCI Sandstone](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/sst-fci-sandstone-federal-correctional-institution-minnesota) Minnesota [Sandstone FCI Family and Friends](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1709433529196568/)
- [FCC Victorville](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/vix-fcc-victorville-federal-correctional-complex-california) California [Wives and Loved Ones of USP FCI Victorville](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1638632220288370/)

## Anywhere in the system

These aren't tied to one prison. Useful when your person hasn't been designated yet, when they get transferred, or when the facility group is small and slow.

- [Federal BOP Prison Watch Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/federalbopprisonwatch/) Facebook group
- [Federal BOP Prison Wives](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1024057174650295/) Facebook group
- [Federal inmates wives,girlfriends,and family members!!!!](https://www.facebook.com/groups/234055490080966/) Facebook group
- [Federal Prison Families (Loved Ones of the Incarcerated)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/613174504022191/) Facebook group
- [Federal Prison Tips](https://www.facebook.com/groups/318248941334894/) Facebook group
- [Inmate Support Loved Ones Of The Incarcerated](https://www.facebook.com/groups/842620995799311/) Facebook group
- [Prison Talk - Inmate Families & Loved Ones Support Community](https://www.facebook.com/PrisonTalkCommunity/) Facebook page
- [Prison Wives & Girlfriends Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/481315609615910/) Facebook group
- [Prison Wives Support Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/808524766257781/) Facebook group
- [Remedy Navigators](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1438773337730754/) Facebook group
- [Standing Strong Prison Wives](https://www.facebook.com/groups/509242057014668/) Facebook group
- [Strong Prison Wives](https://www.facebook.com/groups/StrongPrisonWives/) Facebook group
- [Strong Prison Wives/Girlfriends & Family](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1909211602661142/) Facebook group
- [Support Group for families of loved ones incarcerated](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1455840661417409/) Facebook group

## First Step Act, credits and release dates

Release math is the most asked question in every one of these groups, so two of them are just that. Check what you're told against [the estimator](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prison-release-date-calculator) and against [the program statements](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/bop-program-statements). Confident wrong answers are common, and this is the one subject where a wrong answer costs months.

- [Early Release from Federal Prison/First Step Act](https://www.facebook.com/groups/firststepact/) Facebook group The busiest one. Facility-specific questions get answered here too.
- [Federal Prison | Early Release | First Step Act](https://www.facebook.com/groups/734872520997917/) Facebook group

## Advocacy and nonprofits

Organizations rather than chat. Some do policy work, some run programs you can use today.

- [CAN-DO Clemency](https://candoclemency.com/) Website Clemency and commutation. No Facebook group, the site is the way in.
- [FAMMilies in Action](https://www.facebook.com/groups/FAMMiliesInAction/) Facebook group · Private Private. Join through the FAMM Action Center at famm.org, or text FAMM to 40419.
- [Federal BOP Prison Support/The Legal Advocation Center](https://www.facebook.com/groups/984894693478178/) Facebook group
- [Federal Prisons Living Conditions](https://www.facebook.com/groups/197734574385292/) Facebook group
- [FIRST-Network](https://www.facebook.com/groups/firstnetwork.org/) Facebook group
- [Invisible Shackles](https://strongprisonwivesandfamilies.com/) Facebook group · Private Private. The join request goes through the Strong Prison Wives and Families site.
- [Loved Ones Coalition (LOC)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1210992757330682/) Facebook group
- [Prison Families Alliance](https://www.facebook.com/PFANV/) Facebook page
- [Prisoner Visitation and Support](https://prisonervisitation.org/) Website Volunteers with blanket BOP authorization to visit any federal prisoner, including people with nobody on their list.
- [Rights for Federal Inmates and their Families](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1097939980227778/) Facebook group
- [White Collar Support Group](https://prisonist.org/) Zoom meeting · Private Not a Facebook group. A Zoom meeting, Mondays at 7pm Eastern.

## By state

Mostly state prison families, but federal families use them too. They're the better source for anything local: the drive, the motels, the nearest halfway houses.

- [Florida Inmate & Family Support (Prison, Jail, Reentry)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/FloridaInmateAndFamilySupport) Facebook group · Florida
- [Prison wives of VA (Support Group)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/622347574573377/) Facebook group · Virginia

## Off Facebook

Not everybody wants to do this under their real name, next to their kid's school photos. These don't ask for one.

- [PrisonTalk Online](https://www.prisontalk.com/) Forum
- [r/CriminalJusticeReform](https://www.reddit.com/r/CriminalJusticeReform/) Reddit
- [r/fedprison](https://www.reddit.com/r/fedprison/) Reddit
- [r/FirstStepAct](https://www.reddit.com/r/FirstStepAct/) Reddit
- [r/prison](https://www.reddit.com/r/prison/) Reddit
- [r/Prisonwivesclub](https://www.reddit.com/r/Prisonwivesclub/) Reddit
- [The Visiting Room](https://thevisitingroom.org/) Forum

## Related

Groups tell you how a place feels. For the numbers (stamp rates (the inmate currency), store markups, photo rules, and how each level generally runs), see [the facility guide](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons). If somebody in a group is telling you to pay a consultant, read [before you pay anyone](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/before-you-pay-anyone) first.

**Need help with this? Just ask.**

These pages cover the general rules. Your situation has details they don't. Email me a question. **Answers are free** , and "you don't need to pay anyone for this" is my most common answer.

[hello@federalprisondude.com](mailto:hello@federalprisondude.com)

I answer in the order received, usually within a couple of days. I have a day job. If your situation genuinely needs more than an email, I take a limited number of consults, so say so and we'll work it out.