Kentucky houses five stand-alone federal prisons and five federal prison camps. Each of these Kentucky federal prisons is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. In total, 6,123 inmates are housed inside federal prisons in Kentucky.
Table of contents
Kentucky Federal Prisons by Security Level
High-Security Federal Prisons in Kentucky
- USP Big Sandy (Inez, KY)
- USP McCreary (Pine Knot, KY)
Medium-Security Federal Prisons in Kentucky
- FCI Manchester (Manchester, KY)
Low-Security Federal Prisons in Kentucky
- FCI Ashland (Ashland, KY)
Minimum-Security Federal Prisons in Kentucky
- FCI Ashland Camp (Ashland, KY)
- USP Big Sandy Camp (Big Sandy, KY)
- FMC Lexington Camp (Lexington, KY)
- FCI Manchester Camp (Manchester, KY)
- USP McCreary Camp (Pine Knot, KY)
Administrative-Security Federal Prisons in Kentucky
- FMC Lexington (Lexington, KY)
Federal Prisons in Kentucky
FCI Ashland
Federal Correctional Institution Ashland is a low-security level federal prison located in Ashland, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. FCI Ashland is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 955 male inmates.
FCI Ashland Camp
Federal Correctional Institution Ashland Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Ashland, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. FCI Ashland Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 116 male inmates.
USP Big Sandy
United States Penitentiary Big Sandy is a high-security level federal prison located in Inez, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. USP Big Sandy is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 1,249 male inmates.
USP Big Sandy Camp
United States Penitentiary Big Sandy Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Inez, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. USP Big Sandy Camp is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 32 male inmates.
FMC Lexington
Federal Medical Center Lexington is an administrative-security level federal prison located in Lexington, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. FMC Lexington is a Medical Care Level 3/4 prison. It houses 1,134 male inmates.
FMC Lexington Camp
Federal Medical Center Lexington Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Lexington, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. FMC Lexington Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 150 female inmates.
FCI Manchester
Federal Correctional Institution Manchester is a medium-security level federal prison located in Manchester, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. FCI Manchester is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 973 male inmates.
FCI Manchester Camp
Federal Correctional Institution Manchester Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Manchester, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. FCI Manchester Camp is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 99 male inmates.
USP McCreary
United States Penitentiary McCreary is a high-security level federal prison located in Pine Knot, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. USP McCreary is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 1,307 male inmates.
USP McCreary Camp
United States Penitentiary McCreary Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Pine Knot, Kentucky. It is overseen by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. USP McCreary Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 108 male inmates.
List of Kentucky Federal Prisons
There are five stand-alone federal prisons in Kentucky and five federal prison camps. By clicking on the below links, you will be taken to each facility’s detailed profile where you can learn about specific facility offerings, information, and contact details.
Ashland FCI
Federal Correctional Institution Ashland is a low-security federal prison for male inmates that opened in 1940. It is located five miles from the town of Ashland, Kentucky in Boyd County. Many of FCI Ashland’s inmates are completing shorter sentences after being transferred from facilities in the surrounding states. They must maintain prison employment and may pursue educational, vocational, and self-enrichment courses throughout their incarceration.
Ashland Prison Camp
This minimum-security satellite prison camp for male offenders is located adjacent to Federal Correctional Institution Ashland in Boyd County, Kentucky, five miles from the town of Ashland. Perceived as one of the most desirable federal prisons in Kentucky, it offers inmates exercise and recreation programs to facilitate wellness, including aerobics and stress reduction. GED, ESL, and ACE classes are available to the inmate population.
Big Sandy USP
United States Penitentiary Big Sandy is a high-security prison for male inmates situated near Inez, Kentucky in Martin County. Located in the eastern part of the state, it is about 130 miles from Lexington and 140 miles from Frankfort. Opened in 2003, it houses a large population of inmates who were convicted of violent crimes, many of which occurred in Washington, D.C. As is the case with other Kentucky federal prisons, inmates may further their educations and participate in personal enrichment classes. Medically-abled inmates are assigned to a prison work detail where they are required to perform work.
Big Sandy Prison Camp
United States Penitentiary Big Sandy Camp is a minimum-security satellite prison camp located adjacent to the high-security Big Sandy penitentiary in Inez, Kentucky. Although inmates must still maintain jobs and make take educational, self-enrichment, and vocational courses, security is less strict.
Lexington FMC
Federal Medical Center Lexington is an administrative-security facility serving male inmates located in Fayette County in the city of Lexington. It is designated for inmates of all security levels who require robust mental or physical health care. Although the facility has been open since 1935, it has only been designated as a federal prison since 1974.
Lexington Prison Camp
Federal Medical Center Lexington Camp is a minimum-security prison camp for female inmates located in Fayette County, Kentucky in the city of Lexington. Inmates incarcerated here are in generally good health but may have chronic conditions such as medically-controlled diabetes or epilepsy that require regular evaluation by a clinician. All inmates are deemed nonviolent and have less than 10 years remaining on their sentences. Additionally, sex offenders are not eligible for placement at a federal prison camp.
Manchester FCI
Federal Correctional Institution Manchester is a medium-security federal prison for male inmates. Located in Clay County near Manchester, Kentucky, it is in the eastern part of the state about 75 miles south of Lexington. Inmates are expected to work, and those without a high school diploma must pursue their GED. Additional courses and support groups are available to prepare offenders for their eventual release and reintegration into civilian society.
Manchester Prison Camp
Federal Correctional Institution Manchester Camp is a minimum-security satellite prison camp located adjacent to the medium-security FCI Manchester prison. The camp serves male inmates. Although inmates here are expected to work and pursue literacy, educational, and self-enrichment goals, rules and security measures are less strict than at higher security institutions.
McCreary USP
United States Penitentiary McCreary is a high-security prison for male inmates in McCreary County near Pine Knot, Kentucky. It is 125 miles south of Lexington and approximately 200 miles south of Cincinnati. Besides being assigned to a prison job, inmates at this facility who are not proficient in English or who do not have their high school diploma must take relevant courses to enhance their skills. Educational programs include GED, ESL, and Adult Continuing Education classes. The penitentiary also provides life skills, counseling, and other enrichment courses.
McCreary Prison Camp
United States Penitentiary McCreary Camp is a minimum-security satellite prison camp for male inmates. It is on the grounds of USP McCreary in McCreary County near Pine Knot, Kentucky. Unlike higher-security Kentucky federal prisons where inmates are housed in cells, those at this prison camp live in dormitories. They have access to recreational, educational, substance abuse, self-enrichment, and vocational training programs.
Wikipedia Pages About Each Kentucky Facility
For more information about these federal prisons, please click on the above links. These will take you to our detailed and comprehensive prison profiles where you can learn about each facility. These profiles are verified and updated by our prison consultants. Alternatively, you can click on the below links to be taken to each prison’s Wikipedia page where you can learn about each facility’s background, history, and other information.
- Ashland FCI (Ashland, KY)
- Big Sandy USP (Inez, KY)
- Lexington FMC (Lexington, KY)
- McCreary USP (Pine Knot, KY)
- Manchester FCI (Manchester, KY)
Published Oct 1, 2020 by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA | Last Updated by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA on Jun 9, 2023 at 12:33 am