FCI Elkton | Elkton Federal Prison

Federal Correctional Institution Elkton is a low-security federal prison located in Lisbon, Ohio. It is also known as FCI Elkton. Federal Satellite Low Elkton is adjacent to the main institution. Both federal prisons house male inmates.

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FCI Elkton Contact Information

Facility Address & Contact Information

Federal Correctional Institution Elkton
8730 Scroggs Road
Lisbon, OH
44432

Phone: 330-420-6200
Fax: 330-420-6436
Email: [email protected]

BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page

Inmate Correspondence Address

FCI Elkton

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FCI Elkton
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 10
Lisbon, OH
44432

FSL Elkton

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FSL Elkton
Federal Satellite Low
P.O. Box 10
Lisbon, OH 44432

How to Send Money

Federal inmates may not receive funds directly. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners. Here, you can learn how to send money to an inmate, including sending funds to the National Lockbox in Des Moines, Iowa.

Federal Correctional Institution Elkton Inmate Information

Inmate Gender

Male Inmates

Prison Security Level

Facility Location

FCI Elkton is less than one hour from Pittsburgh, Youngstown, and Canton in northeastern Ohio.

BOP Region

Northeast Region

BOP Institution Code

ELK for FCI Elkton

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

Northern District of Ohio

Population Number

FCI Elkton houses approximately 1,250 inmates. The satellite low houses around 375 inmates.

FCI Elkton | Federal Correctional Institution Elkton

FCI Elkton Prison Services Information

Background

Elkton Federal Correctional Institution is a low-security federal prison in Lisbon, Ohio, which houses male inmates. It opened in 1997.

Elkton federal satellite prison is also a low-security federal prison that houses male inmates. It is adjacent to the primary institution.

FCI Elkton is a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) facility. The psychology department is more robust, and approximately 40 percent of the inmate population is incarcerated for a current or past sexual offense.

Notable inmates include:

  • Peter Gotti, former boss of the Gambino crime family: serving 25 years for extortion and conspiracy to commit murder.
  • Joseph Vas: served six years for corruption and other federal criminal charges.

Media reports indicate that one inmate has been murdered, and two escaped from the institution.

Inmate Housing

Elkton Ohio prison inmates are housed in two- and three-person pods, with six housing units. The satellite low has dormitory-style housing consisting of two- and three-person cubicles. There is a total of four housing units.

Health Services

On-site medical care is available 16 hours a day at Elkton, Ohio prison. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day. Services include intake evaluation, routine health care, dental care, and emergency care. Inmates must submit a triage form to Health Services to be scheduled for routine care.

The triage form must be submitted between 6:30 and 6:45 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday. The dental sick call is on Tuesday and Friday from 6:30 to 6:45 a.m. Pill and insulin lines are at 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Psychology Services

After arriving at FCI Elkton and FSL Elkton, all inmates are reviewed by Psychology. Various mental health classes and group counseling programs are available. Depending upon need and interest, individual counseling for mental health concerns is also available.

Psychiatric medication is prescribed through Health Services. Self-image groups and other voluntary groups are available for interested inmates.

Groups include:

  • Cage Your Rage
  • Re-Entering on Firm Footing
  • Mentoring
  • Successful Living
  • Responsibility for Your Relationships
  • Attitude – the Choice is Yours
  • Positive Mental Attitude
  • Who Moved My Cheese
  • Memory Power
  • Seven Habits of Highly Successful People
  • Self-Discovery
  • Beat the Street
  • Anger Management
  • AA/NA
  • Victim Awareness/Impact Panel

A Non-Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-NR) is also available at the satellite low.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

FCI Elkton has the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). The satellite low does not have the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Both facilities offer a Drug Abuse Program and the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP).

FCI Elkton Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings

Education Services

Elkton prison and the satellite low provide GED and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. A parenting program and Adult Continuing Education classes (ACE) are also available.

At the satellite low, current ACE offerings include:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Reentry
  • Basic Auto Care and Maintenance
  • Spanish
  • CDL
  • Music Theory
  • Practical Mythology

High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.

Hours of operation are:

  • Monday through Thursday: 6:30 to 10:00 a.m., 12:30 to 2:50 p.m., and 5:15 to 8:00 p.m
  • Friday: 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Sunday: 6:00 to 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Learn more about prison education options in federal prisons here.

Advanced Occupational Education

FCI Elkton offers advanced occupational education in Hospitality Management and Building Trades. The satellite low does not provide any advanced occupational education programs.

Vocational Training

Elkton federal prison offers vocational training in Culinary Food Preparation and Serving Arts 1 & 2. The satellite low does not offer any vocational training programs.

Apprenticeship

FCI Elkton offers apprenticeships in Computer Operator, Cook, Electrician, and HVAC. The satellite low does not offer any apprenticeship programs.

Library Services

The Elkton Ohio prison’s law library is in the Education Department. It contains various legal reference materials via the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library to prepare legal papers.

Reference materials include:

  • United States Code Annotated
  • Federal Reporter
  • Supreme Court Reporter
  • Bureau of Prisons Program Statements
  • Institution Supplements
  • Indexes
  • Other Legal Materials

An inmate law library clerk is available to assist with basic legal research. Typewriters and a copy machine are also available. Legal materials are available to inmates in detention or segregation status, ordinarily through a delivery system or satellite collection.

In the leisure library, inmates can check out books, magazines, and newspapers. Movies and DVDs are also available.

UNICOR

The Federal Correctional Institution Elkton UNICOR facility is a data services factory that provides proofreading and editing services. FSL Elkton does not have a UNICOR facility.

Commissary

Elkton Ohio prison inmates are permitted to spend up to $360.00 per month in the prison commissary. Stamps, telephone credits, over-the-counter medications, items approved by the Chaplain for religious purposes, and items approved by the Supervisor of Education for educational purposes are exempted from the spending limitation.

Inmates can purchase a wide variety of items from the commissary, including food, snacks, candy, soda, drink mixes, electronics, clothing, and shoes. Inmates can shop once a week on their assigned shopping day. Sales are currently conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:40 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Recreation Services

The Recreation Departments at FCI Elkton and FSL Elkton consist of indoor and outdoor areas. Recreation wellness, leisure time, and health education programs are offered. Inmates can also participate in intramural sports leagues and hobby craft programs. Group and individual activities are also available.

Indoors, inmates have access to:

  • Billiards
  • Music Room
  • Guitars
  • Piano
  • Drums
  • Ellipticals
  • Treadmills
  • Stationary Bikes
  • Foosball
  • Ceramics
  • Leathercraft
  • Painting
  • Stair Steppers
  • Group workout classes (e.g., abs, cardio, yoga, over 45, etc.)

Outdoors, inmates have access to:

  • Softball
  • Soccer
  • Handball
  • Racquetball
  • Bocce Ball
  • Horseshoes
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Pickleball
  • Cornhole
  • Track

Hours of operation are 8:45 to 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. On the weekends, hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Visitation Information for FCI Elkton

Visiting hours on Sundays and Saturdays are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On Monday, Thursday, and Friday, visitation is held between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.

FCI Elkton | Elkton Federal Prison

FCI Elkton Prison Culture Information

Prison Politics at Federal Correctional Institution Elkton

The Elton Ohio prison facility has virtually no level of prison politics. According to several inmates, some of the smaller TV rooms are run by racial cars that require clean paperwork to enter.

The same respondents noted that sex offenders aren’t allowed to change the TV channels in the day rooms, but that’s about it for politics. As succinctly put by one inmate, “Politics are minimal. Races mix except for TV rooms.”

Level of Violence

There is minimal violence at this prison. According to one respondent, “As long as people mind their own business and treat others with respect, they don’t tend to have problems.” Another inmate agreed, stating, “Violence is practically non-existent. The yard is very safe.”

Vulnerable Populations

Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can walk the yard. There are many sex offenders on the compound. One inmate stated, “Anyone can walk the yard. There are large populations of sex offenders, gay, and transgender prisoners.”

Good at FCI Elkton

“The view from rec is amazing — lots of hills and trees. The guards are fairly laid back if you stay out of the way. Food is pretty decent.”

Bad at FCI Elkton

“The prison is very overcrowded, and the rec yard is small. There are only four computers and phones for 150+ inmates. There is no restroom in the commissary where you can be stuck for an hour.”

“Some of the RDAP guys are loudmouth morons.” “The mailroom is hardcore against almost all photos if it is not clearly a family photo.”

Other Inmate Comments

“All in all, this is a safe place.”

FSL Elkton Prison Culture Information

Prison Politics at Federal Satellite Low Elkton

The Elkton Ohio prison is generally not a political yard. One respondent noted that the only real politics concerns racially segregated TV rooms. Another stated that “there is very little political structure amongst the inmates.”

Another observed that “blacks tend to sit with blacks, Hispanics with Hispanics and non-sex offenders with non-sex offenders, but there are no off-limits areas to anyone, and plenty of people from each group do talk to other groups.”

Level of Violence

There is minimal violence at this prison, with only a fight or so each month. An inmate explained that it is a “very safe compound” and “you have to go looking for a fight to get in one.”

One prisoner explained, “Even loud verbal threats and arguing are heard less than once per month.” Another inmate agreed, stating that there was “no violence” and that the institution was “extremely safe.”

Another respondent stated, “I have witnessed NO violence in the nine months I have been here. I would say that the FSL is very safe.” Yet another inmate stated, “Violence is very rare; fairly safe.”

Vulnerable Populations

Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can walk the Elkton Ohio prison yard. There is a large population of sex offenders and transgender inmates because it is a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP) facility.

One inmate stated that “sex offenders are the dominant majority on the compound, with three of the four dorms primarily filled with them.” He said, “We have transgender and gay inmates with no issues.”

One inmate observed, “Everyone is allowed to walk the yard. There are a lot of gay men here, and no one seems to have any problems. There is only one transgender woman here, and while I have heard people say things behind her back, many people are nice to her, and she seems happy and safe.” Another inmate stated that these groups “rarely have any problems.”

Good at FSL Elkton

“A very easy place to do time. Units are very quiet at night and reasonably quiet during the days.” “Very safe place for sex offenders.” “The staff is laid back and leaves you alone if you leave them alone.”

“The good thing about the prison is that it is very, very safe. There is no fear of fights or violence, and everyone gets along pretty well. There is a very open and laid-back feeling here.”

“A very calm and easy place to do time.” “No real violence or major arguments.” “Very quiet.”

“Very laid-back place to do time.” “While this is a Low, it is treated a lot like a Camp.”

Bad at FSL Elkton

“Boring at times, and there just isn’t much to do in the winter months.” “Only complaint is everyone snitches about anything and everything.” “There are a lot of drugs, inmates overdosing, and a few cops have been indicted for smuggling.”

“Lack of programming, vocational opportunities, and recreational opportunities.” “Nothing really to do.” “We are starting to lose hours for rec and education as staff shortages continue.” “While there are a few bad seeds — both staff and inmates — they really are nothing to worry about.”

Other Inmate Comments

“If you have to do time as a sex offender or person who just wants to do their time and go home and not have to deal with all the typical prison BS, FSL Elkton is the place to do your time. People who have been to other SOMP yards say that this is the easiest place to do time.”

“Generally, this is a crappy place unless you’re into K2 or want a cell phone.” “Overall, I’m not too unhappy with the situation here.”

“This is a safe place for sex offenders, gay men, and transgender inmates. There is a very high percentage of sex offenders here. It is a relaxed prison, from what I understand. I feel lucky to be here.”

FCI Elkton in the News

In August 2018, Steven Merlak, the warden of Federal Correctional Institution Elkton, retired.

In December 2010, David A. Goetzke, a prisoner at Elkton prison, was sentenced to 235 months for a sex offense involving a minor and was beaten to death by other inmates.

In April 2008, Americ Joslin shot himself in the head as he was being driven to FCI Elkton to begin serving a five-year sentence for fraud.

In 2001, Rafael Herrera and Juan Gonzales Valencia, imprisoned at Elkton federal prison, escaped.

More Information About Federal Correctional Institution Elkton

For a comprehensive look at life in federal prison, pick up a copy of Christopher Zoukis’ Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Surviving the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For more detailed information about FCI Elkton, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.