FCI Sandstone Federal Prison | Sandstone MN Prison

Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone is a low-security federal prison in Sandstone, Minnesota. It is also known as FCI Sandstone and Sandstone MN prison. The facility houses male inmates.

FCI Sandstone Contact Information

Facility Address & Contact Information

Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone
2300 County Road 29
Sandstone, MN 55072

Phone: 320-245-2262
Fax: 320-245-0385
Email: [email protected]

BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page

Inmate Correspondence Address

FCI Sandstone

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FCI Sandstone
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072

How to Send Money to an Inmate

Sending money to a federal inmate is not as simple as writing a check or sending a money order. Inmates at the Sandstone, MN, prison cannot receive funds directly, so family and friends must use one of the approved methods listed below.

 Western Union: To send money via Western Union, you need the inmate’s name, registration number, and facility address. You also need to provide your name, address, and government-issued ID.

Money Gram: Money Gram works similarly to Western Union, but you will also need a different receiver code and the inmate’s name, registration number, and address of the facility where they are incarcerated.

National Lockbox: The National Lockbox, located in Des Moines, Iowa, only accepts money orders. To send a money order, include the inmate’s name and registration number on the memo line. You must also include your return address so the lockbox can send any unclaimed funds back to you.

You can find more information about sending money to federal inmates at Sandstone federal prison here.

Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone Inmate Information

Inmate Gender

Male Inmates

Prison Security Level

Low-Security Federal Prison

Facility Location

It is located 100 miles northeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul, 70 miles southwest of Duluth, off I-35.

BOP Region

North Central Region

BOP Institution Code

SST for FCI Sandstone

Medical Care Level

Level 1. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.

Mental Health Care Level

Level 1.

Judicial District

District of Minnesota

Population Number

FCI Sandstone houses approximately 960 inmates.

FCI Sandstone | Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution

FCI Sandstone Prison Services Information

Background

Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone is a low-security federal prison in Sandstone, Minnesota. It opened in 1939, closed in 1949, but reopened in 1959. It currently houses male offenders.

Sandstone MN prison is a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility, a United States Department of Justice agency.

Notable inmates include:

  • Former NHL player Mike Danton (convicted of conspiracy to commit murder):
  • Serial bank robber David Brankle (serving a 21-year sentence)
  • Disbarred attorney Marc Dreier (serving 20 years for securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering)

In 2017, Insider Monkey named FCI Sandstone one of the ten easiest federal prisons to do time. In 2012, CNBC named the institution one of the 12 best federal prisons to do time.

Inmate Housing

Inmates live in dormitories divided into two- and four-person cubicles.

Health Services

Health services at FCI Sandstone include:

  • Examinations for new or recurring medical or dental symptoms
  • Chronic care management for chronic and infectious diseases
  • Routine dental care
  • Medical and dental emergency care for injuries and sudden illness
  • Age-appropriate preventive care to promote optimal health and functional status
  • Prescription glasses
  • Medications

A sick call is held at 6:15 a.m. The pill line is conducted at 6:00 a.m., noon, and 4:45 p.m. Insulin line is before breakfast and dinner.

Psychology Services

Psychology services at FCI Sandstone include:

  • Screening, Assessment, and Treatment of Mental Health Problems
  • Individual and Group Counseling
  • Psycho-Educational Classes
  • Self-Help and Supportive Services
  • Health Services Unit Referrals for Medical Treatment of Mental Illness

Psychology Department offerings include Values Training and other voluntary groups. Additionally, the following services are also available to Sandstone, MN inmates:

  • Consultations
  • Crisis Intervention Counseling Sessions
  • Relaxation Training Sessions
  • Self-Study
  • Meditative Techniques

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

FCI Sandstone houses the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Other drug abuse programs, a Drug Abuse Education course, a Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP), and groups for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are also available.

FCI Sandstone Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings

Education Services

FCI Sandstone’s Education Department provides literacy, GED, and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.

Incentive awards recognize inmates progressing and completing the literacy program (i.e., GED and ESL). Inmates may also receive incentives for progressing to various levels in the GED or ESL programs. Inmates graduating from the GED, ESL, and Occupational Education are honored at graduation ceremonies.

Adult Continuing Education (ACE) courses and a parenting program are also available. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.

Advanced Occupational Education

The Sandstone MN, prison does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.

Vocational Training

FCI Sandstone offers vocational training in Auto and Building Trades.

Apprenticeship

Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution offers apprenticeships in Culinary and Welding.

Library Services

The leisure library offers inmates a variety of reading materials, including:

  • Periodicals
  • Newspapers
  • Fiction, Nonfiction, and Reference Books

Inmates in college classes have access to computer word processors, while everyone else has access to NEO word processors. There is also a DVD movie program.

Inmates have access to legal materials and an opportunity to prepare legal documents. The TRULINCS Electronic Law Library provides inmates access to case law, prison policy, federal rules of court, and other information of a legal nature. A copying machine and typewriters are available for inmate use.

UNICOR

The FCI Sandstone UNICOR facility produces clothing and textiles.

Commissary

Inmates can spend up to $360.00 per month in the prison commissary. A bi-weekly spending limitation of $180 is enforced at FCI Sandstone.

A wide variety of prison commissary items are available for inmate purchase, including radios, MP3 players, food, drinks, ice cream, clothing, and shoes.

The commissary is open Monday through Thursday. Inmates can shop between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on their designated shopping day.

Recreation Services

Organized and informal leisure activities at FCI Sandstone include:

  • Games
  • Sports
  • Physical Fitness
  • Table Games
  • Hobby Crafts
  • Music Programs
  • Intramural Activities
  • Social and Cultural Organizations
  • Movies

Art activities include paintings and sketches rendered in pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal. Hobbycraft activities include leatherwork, airbrushing, clay, mosaics, crochet, knitting, etc.

Wellness programs at the Sandstone MN prison include:

  • Screening
  • Assessments
  • Goal Setting
  • Healthy Living
  • Diabetic Education
  • Fitness and Nutrition Plans
  • Counseling

Inside, inmates have access to many recreational activities, such as:

  • Basketball
  • Street Hockey
  • Card Tables
  • TVs
  • Darts
  • Pool Tables
  • Handball
  • Band Room

Outside, Sandstone federal prison inmates have access to:

  • Weights
  • Basketball
  • Handball
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Pickleball
  • Volleyball
  • Horseshoes
  • Bocce Ball
  • Walking and Running Track

Visitation Information for FCI Sandstone

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

FCI Sandstone | Sandstone Federal Prison

FCI Sandstone Prison Culture Information

Prison Politics at Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone

This is not a political yard. According to inmates, politics are only prevalent in the old housing units due to so few TV areas, but this isn’t the case in the newer units, which have both TV rooms and TVs in the day room.

One respondent made a surprising comment: “Staff are very political and are known to run inmate’s paperwork and tell fellow inmates if they are a member of a vulnerable population.”

Level of Violence

There is minimal violence at this facility. According to one inmate, “Most of the small amount of violence is due to interpersonal issues regarding the placement of chairs and television channels.”

Vulnerable Populations

Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can walk the yard. One respondent explained that some sports teams and areas would exclude sex offenders, but this is the exception to the rule.

Good at FCI Sandstone Prison

“Great indoor recreation, good ACE classes.” “I like the Chapel and Library a lot.” “Great food due to the culinary arts program.” “You can get through the day without a lot of BS.” “Food is decent.”

Bad at FCI Sandstone MN Prison

“Cold weather.” “No air conditioning, phones, computers, or laundry in the old housing units.”

Other Inmate Comments

“One of the better spots in the BOP.” “This is a decent place to spend time.”

FCI Sandstone in the News

In 2021, Curtis Brent Carcio, an inmate at FCI Sandstone, pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a controlled substance and was sentenced to an additional three months imprisonment. Carcio’s codefendant had mailed a magazine soaked in K2, a synthetic cannabinoid substance, to the institution.

In December 2020, CBS Minnesota reported that over 80 percent of Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution inmates had contracted COVID-19.

More Information About Federal Correctional Institution Sandstone

Read Christopher Zoukis’ Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Surviving the Federal Bureau of Prisons to learn about life in federal prison. This book provides a comprehensive look at federal prison life, from the intake process to release. Additionally, the book includes information on the different types of facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and tips on making the most of your time in prison.

If you want to learn about Sandstone, MN prison, pick up a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions. This book provides detailed information about FCI Sandstone federal prison, including a list of all the facilities and programs offered.