FCI Schuylkill | Schuylkill Federal Correctional Institution

Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill is a medium-security federal prison in Minersville, Pennsylvania. It is also known as FCI Schuylkill. FCI Schuylkill Camp is adjacent to the central institution. Both federal prisons house inmates.

FCI Schuylkill Contact Information

Facility Address & Contact Information

Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill
Interstate 81 & 901 West
Minersville, PA 17954

Phone: 570-544-7100
Fax: 570-544-7224
Email: [email protected]

BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page

Inmate Correspondence Address

FCI Schuylkill

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FCI Schuylkill
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 759
Minersville, PA 17954

FCI Schuylkill Prison Camp

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FCI Schuylkill
Camp
Satellite Prison Camp
P.O. Box 670
Minersville, PA 17954

How to Send Money to Inmates

Inmates incarcerated in federal prison are not permitted to receive funds directly. Instead, their family and friends must use one of three approved methods to send money to them.

The first option is to send money through Western Union. The sender must create a profile on the Western Union website and fill out an electronic form with the inmate’s information.

The second option is to send money through Money Gram. The sender must complete a form with the inmate’s information and submit it to a Money Gram agent.

The third and final option is to send money through the National Lockbox in Des Moines, Iowa. Senders need to purchase a U.S. Postal Money Order from any Post Office. The inmate’s name and number should be on the Pay To and Memo lines. The completed money order should then be mailed to the National Lockbox.

There is no limit on how much money can be sent through these methods, but fees may be associated with each transaction. Please read our page on sending money to inmates at Schuylkill FCI for more information.

Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill Inmate Information

Inmate Gender

Male Inmates

Prison Security Level

Facility Location

FCI Schuylkill is located 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 46 miles northeast of Harrisonburg, and west of I-81 off State Highway 901.

BOP Region

Northeast Region

BOP Institution Code

SCH for FCI Schuylkill

Medical Care Level

Level 2. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.

Mental Health Care Level

Level 2.

Judicial District

Middle District of Pennsylvania

Population Number

FCI Schuylkill houses approximately 990 inmates. The camp houses around 120 inmates.

FCI Schuylkill | Schuylkill Federal Correctional Institution

FCI Schuylkill Prison Services Information

Background

Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill is a medium-security federal prison in Minersville, Pennsylvania. It opened in 1991. Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill Camp is next to the main institution. Both federal prisons house male federal inmates.

FCI Schuylkill includes a unit for pre-trial detainees that opened in 1992.

The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons manages and operates all Schuylkill FCI institutions.

Notable inmates include:

  • American rap artist Beanie Sigel (served two years for tax evasion)
  • The former boss of the Philadelphia Crime Family, John Stanfa (serving a life sentence for multiple murders, kidnapping, and other crimes)
  • Organized crime leader James Coonan (serving a 75-year sentence for murder, kidnapping, and other crimes, and for dominating the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City for over 20 years)

Media reports indicate that at least two prisoners have escaped from the camp.

Inmate Housing

Inmates live in one of four housing units containing several two-person cells. Inmates at the camp live in dormitories in two-person cubicles.

Health Services

Schuykill federal prison offers various healthcare services to inmates, including:

  • Sick Call
  • Dental Sick Call
  • Routine Dental Care
  • Emergency Medical Treatment
  • Medications
  • Physical Examinations
  • Preventative Health Care Examinations
  • Optometry
  • Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines

Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day. A sick call is conducted at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays.

Psychology Services

All FCI Schuylkill inmates must complete a Psychology Services screening. If a crisis exists, any staff member can contact a member of the Psychology Department for inmates. Inmates can also talk with a member of the Psychology Department during the lunch meal.

Priority services include suicide prevention, intake screening, the treatment of major mental disorders, and crisis intervention. Other services include adjustment counseling, short-term individual counseling, and group therapy.

The Psychology Department provides educational and therapeutic groups that address inmates’ unique concerns. The group classes vary and have previously included Criminal Lifestyles, Relapse Prevention, and Anger Management.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

FCI Schuylkill has the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). The camp does not have a Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). A Drug Abuse Program, Drug Abuse Education class, the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP), a 12-Step Group, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are also available.

FCI Schuylkill Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings

Education Services

FCI Schuylkill provides literacy, GED, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. Pre-release, parenting, and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) programs are also available to the inmate population.

Incentive awards of $25.00 are given upon completing the GED and ESL programs. Graduates are issued a graduation ceremony, certificates of achievement, a tassel, and two cap and gown photos.

Upon completion of specific achievement levels, additional certificates are given when selected as “Student of the Month.” High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.

Learn more about inmate education programs in federal prisons here.

Advanced Occupational Education

FCI Schuylkill offers advanced occupational education in Basic Residential Wiring and Culinary Arts. The camp offers advanced occupational education in Commercial Driver’s License Class A, Horticulture, and Landscaping.

Vocational Training

Schuylkill Federal Correctional Institution and the camp do not offer any vocational training besides advanced occupational education and apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeship

FCI Schuylkill and the camp offer an apprenticeship in Cooking.

Library Services

Schuylkill federal prison provides both a leisure and law library. The leisure library includes newspapers, magazines, periodicals, and reference books. An interlibrary loan program is also available. Inmates can use the law library to conduct legal research through

TRULINCS Electronic Law Library terminals. Federal Register documents, institution supplements, and the Black’s Law Dictionary are maintained in hard copy format in the main law library and the Special Housing Unit. Typewriters and a photocopier are available for inmate use. Hours of operation are 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:15 p.m.

UNICOR

The FCI Schuylkill UNICOR facility disassembles electronic products. The camp does not house a UNICOR facility.

Commissary

Prisoners can spend $360.00 monthly in the inmate commissary on their assigned shopping days. Inmates can shop at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 12:00 p.m. Clothing, shoes, food, drink mixes, and other items are available. Quantity limits on certain items may apply.

Recreation Services

The Recreation Department at FCI Schuylkill comprises a gymnasium, an outside recreation yard, and Leisure Center (arts and crafts/music).

The Recreation Department offers activities including:

  • Basketball
  • Racquetball
  • Bocce Ball
  • Soccer
  • Handball
  • Volleyball
  • Horseshoes
  • Jogging and Walking
  • Softball
  • Whiffle Ball
  • Flag Football
  • Indoor Floor Hockey
  • Physical Fitness
  • Health Education Programs

Leisure activities include table games such as:

  • Backgammon
  • Bid Whist
  • Billiards
  • Gin
  • Checkers
  • Dominoes
  • Foosball
  • Chess
  • Spades
  • Table Tennis
  • Bridge
  • Pinochle

A music program and arts and hobby crafts are available, as are special programs and activities throughout the year (e.g., movies, holiday sporting events, tournaments/contests, and inmate music shows).

The indoor recreation area has a hobby craft area, weight room, music room, and a game room with various table games in the camp. The outdoor recreation yard offers:

  • Softball
  • Basketball
  • Bocce Ball
  • Weightlifting
  • Handball
  • Racquetball
  • Volleyball
  • Horseshoes

Visitation Information for FCI Schuylkill

On Sunday, Friday, and Saturday, visiting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.

FCI Schuylkill | Schuylkill Federal Prison

FCI Schuylkill Prison Culture Information

Prison Politics at Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill

This is a moderately political yard. One respondent said, “Everything is segregated by race or state.”

Level of Violence

Inmates report a low level of violence. One inmate stated that it is “safe compared to other spots.” Another respondent agreed, saying there is a “very small amount of violence.”

Vulnerable Populations

While LGBT inmates can walk the yard, inmates report that sex offenders and informants are typically run off.

Good at FCI Schuylkill Federal Prison

“It is not violent.”

Bad at FCI Schuylkill Prison

“There are times that we stay locked down due to a fight even when there doesn’t need to be a lockdown.”

Other Inmate Comments

“The facility breaks down with burst pipes, so the hot water sometimes goes out.”

FCI Schuylkill in the News

On September 16, 2001, Michael Hart, a guard at the Federal Correctional Institution at Schuylkill, was suspended and reassigned to a prison camp for hanging a small American flag in a window overlooking the recreation area.

Schuylkill Prison Camp in the News

In March 2018, Raymond Collazo, a prisoner at Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill Camp, escaped by walking away.

In December 2017, Harvey Shaner escaped from FCI Schuylkill Camp but was recaptured in less than two weeks.

More Information About Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill

Christopher Zoukis is a leading expert on federal prisons, and his books are essential for anyone who wants to understand what life is like behind bars.

The Federal Prison Handbook offers a comprehensive overview of the federal prison system, from the types of facilities that the Bureau of Prisons operates to inmates’ daily routines.

For readers who want to know more about a specific prison, the Directory of Federal Prisons provides detailed information on every facility, including Schuylkill FCI.

These books are essential for anyone wanting to understand the reality of federal prison life.