FCI Leavenworth
Find messaging, video, and phone options for FCI Leavenworth. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- Federal Facility
- Security Level
- Medium
- Inmate Capacity
- 1,700 approx.
- Established
- 1906
- Operated By
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
FCI Leavenworth Inmate Communication Overview
FCI Leavenworth is a medium-security federal prison located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, about 25 miles northwest of Kansas City. It is one of the oldest active federal prisons in the country, having opened in 1906 on a site where military prisoners had been held since the 1870s. The facility's distinctive dome and imposing architecture have made it one of the most recognizable federal prisons in American history. It was formerly the United States Penitentiary Leavenworth and was renamed FCI Leavenworth in 2024 when the BOP updated the names of several former penitentiaries to match their current security levels. Today, FCI Leavenworth operates as a medium-security institution housing adult male federal inmates, managed by the Bureau of Prisons. The facility also has a satellite minimum-security camp on the same grounds.
Like all BOP facilities, FCI Leavenworth uses CorrLinks for electronic messaging and the BOP's inmate telephone system, accessible through ConnectNetwork, for phone calls. Families new to the federal system often expect the process to mirror what they have experienced with state or county jails, but BOP communication works differently. For CorrLinks, the inmate must initiate contact or approve your request before any messaging is possible. For phone calls, you fund a prepaid account through ConnectNetwork linked to your phone number, and the inmate calls you from facility phones. Separate accounts are needed for each service.
FCI Leavenworth does not offer remote video visitation. In-person visits are permitted and must be arranged through standard BOP visitor approval procedures, which require submitting a visitor application and waiting for background review before being added to the inmate's approved visitor list. Because Leavenworth is within reasonable driving distance of Kansas City, in-person visits are more accessible for many Midwest families than visits to more remote federal institutions. Families new to the BOP system should review the Bureau of Prisons website for current visiting rules and any updates to phone or messaging procedures before beginning the setup process.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
1300 Metropolitan Avenue, Leavenworth, KS 66048
Main Phone
(913) 682-8700
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Inmate Full Name, Register Number FCI Leavenworth P.O. Box 1000 Leavenworth, KS 66048
Include the inmate name and ID on all mail.
Commissary / Sending Money
BOP Trust Fund: send money via MoneyGram, Western Union, or money order to the Federal Bureau of Prisons processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. Do not send money to the facility address.
Communication Options
Available communication services at FCI Leavenworth.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: CorrLinks
Available via CorrLinks. Inmate must approve contact before messaging begins.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Remote video visitation is not available at FCI Leavenworth.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photos by mail only, subject to BOP content guidelines. No digital photo platform.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Inmate-initiated calls via BOP phone system. Fund a ConnectNetwork prepaid account to receive calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Trust fund deposits via ConnectNetwork or money order to BOP lockbox.
Communication Providers at FCI Leavenworth
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
CorrLinks
Federal electronic messaging via TRULINCS/CorrLinks. Inmate must initiate or approve contact.
View CorrLinks ServicesConnectNetwork
BOP phone system. Fund a prepaid account at connectnetwork.com to receive inmate-initiated calls.
View ConnectNetwork ServicesCommunication Rules at FCI Leavenworth
- CorrLinks contact requires inmate initiation or approval. You cannot simply create an account and send a message.
- All BOP communications are subject to monitoring under standard Bureau of Prisons policies.
- Remote video visitation is not offered at FCI Leavenworth.
- Visitor approval requires submitting a BP-629 form and passing a background check. Allow several weeks.
- Phone and commissary accounts are funded separately through ConnectNetwork.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions — FCI Leavenworth
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I start messaging someone at FCI Leavenworth?
- Go to corrlinks.com and create a free account. You cannot initiate contact directly. The inmate must either send you an invitation from the TRULINCS terminal inside the facility or approve a contact request you submit. Once approved, both parties can send and receive messages for a per-message fee charged to the sender.
- How do I set up phone calls from FCI Leavenworth?
- Phone calls from FCI Leavenworth are handled through ConnectNetwork, the BOP's calling platform. Create an account at connectnetwork.com and add funds linked to your phone number. The inmate will call your number from facility phones. You cannot call the facility to speak with an inmate directly.
- Is video visitation available at FCI Leavenworth?
- No. FCI Leavenworth does not offer remote video visitation. In-person visits are the alternative, and they require advance approval through the BOP visitor application process. Visit bop.gov for current procedures and required forms.
- Can I send photos to someone at FCI Leavenworth?
- Physical photographs can be sent by regular mail and must comply with BOP content guidelines — no nudity, no violence, and no images that could compromise security. There is no digital photo upload service at federal BOP facilities. Photos are inspected upon arrival.
- How do I send money to a FCI Leavenworth inmate?
- Funds for the inmate's trust account can be deposited through ConnectNetwork at connectnetwork.com. You can also send a money order made payable to the inmate via the BOP's national mail processing lockbox. Western Union Quick Collect and MoneyGram are also accepted. Allow one to three business days for funds to post.
Troubleshooting at FCI Leavenworth
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my CorrLinks invite code not working?
- Invite codes expire, and a code only works for the inmate who sent it. Ask the inmate to send a fresh invite, and enter the code exactly as shown. Also confirm the inmate added you to their approved contact list, since messaging cannot start before that step. See our guide: CorrLinks invite code not working
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