Federal Prison

Federal prisons are run by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, a division of the Department of Justice. The BOP operates approximately 120 facilities across the United States, ranging from minimum-security camps to maximum-security penitentiaries. People end up in federal prison when they are convicted of crimes that violate federal law, such as drug trafficking across state lines, bank robbery, wire fraud, and certain firearms offenses. Sentences in federal facilities are generally served without parole under the federal sentencing guidelines.

Communication with federal inmates is handled through a different system than state prisons. Electronic messaging at all BOP facilities goes through CorrLinks, which is the Bureau of Prisons' own messaging platform. Phone calls and video visits are managed through ConnectNetwork. Money transfers for commissary can be made through ConnectNetwork or by money order. There is no JPay access at any federal facility. Families new to the system sometimes set up the wrong account before learning this distinction.

Each federal inmate has a unique BOP register number, which typically looks like eight digits followed by a three-letter district code, for example 12345-678. You will need this number to find your loved one in the BOP online inmate locator, to send messages through CorrLinks, and to make money deposits. The BOP's free inmate locator is available at bop.gov and allows you to search by name or register number to find the current facility.