Federal Correctional Institution · Hopewell, Virginia
FCI Petersburg Low
- Security level
- Low + minimum camp
- Medical care level
- 2 of 4
- Mental health care level
- 2 of 4
- Population
- 202
- Phone
- 804-733-7881
Last checked: November 3, 2026 (BOP documents for this prison) Intel last checked: November 3, 2026 BOP status updated: Nov 4, 2026, 11:20 pm ET News updated: Nov 4, 2026, 1:10 pm ET
Your loved one here? Look up their exact committed name
Petersburg Low at a glance
FCI Petersburg Low is closing. On July 1, 2026 the BOP announced it will close FCI Petersburg Low. The BOP release gives no closing date, and says staff at Petersburg Low will be moved to other units onsite or nearby. Call 804-733-7881 before you travel or send mail, and ask where your loved one will be moved. Petersburg Low is a low-security federal prison for men in Hopewell, Virginia, with a minimum-security camp. It is part of the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Petersburg. The BOP's handbook and audit cover the whole complex, so some facts below are for the complex.
- How many people
- No count listed for the FCI and 202 at the camp (BOP, October 29, 2026).
- Medical care level 2
- Stable outpatients who need to see a clinician anywhere from monthly to every 6 months. Examples the BOP gives: diabetes controlled with medication, epilepsy, emphysema. The BOP list gives the whole Petersburg complex level 2. Click here to read the source: BOP "Institution Care Levels for Medical Assignment," February 13, 2024 (released under FOIA 2024-03455) ↗
- Mental health care level 2
- Routine outpatient mental health care, or short crisis care such as suicide watch. The mental health list gives Petersburg Low ("PET") level 2. The BOP does not post care levels on its website. This list is dated February 13, 2024 and came out through a public records request. Click here to read the source: BOP "Institution Care Levels for Medical Assignment," February 13, 2024 (released under FOIA 2024-03455) ↗
- Complex size
- The 2023 audit says the whole complex was built for 2,210 people and held 2,451 on an average day in the year before the audit. It says the complex was over capacity at some point in that year. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FCC Petersburg (onsite October 31 to November 2, 2023) ↗
- Ages
- On the first day of the 2023 audit, ages ran from 19 to 88 in the Medium, 19 to 78 in the Low and 21 to 75 in the camp. All are men. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FCC Petersburg (onsite October 31 to November 2, 2023) ↗
- Population count
- The BOP population list for October 29, 2026 shows 202 people at the camp and gives no count for the main Low prison, so the page says "no count listed." That does not mean no one is there. Ask the prison.
How far is it from you?
Driving directions (Google Maps) → Bus or train (Google Maps) →
Plan your drive around this: The handbook gives no arrival cutoff time. Visiting is 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Arrive early and call 804-733-7881 to ask about the last time visitors are let in.
Our miles and time are an estimate from your ZIP code's center. Google Maps gives the exact route. Your ZIP code never leaves your phone unless you tap a Google Maps button.
Visiting hours and days
| Who | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Low and camp (general population) | Saturday and Sunday | 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
The handbook gives no arrival cutoff time. Visiting is 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Arrive early and call 804-733-7881 to ask about the last time visitors are let in.
The handbook gives only Saturday and Sunday. It does not list federal holidays or any weekday visiting (unconfirmed). Special visits and family emergencies are set up with the unit manager. The BOP does not link a separate visiting-rules paper for Petersburg, so call 804-733-7881 before you drive.
The rules at the door: ID, points, what you can bring
- How many people
- Children of any age count as an adult toward the number of visitors allowed in the visiting room. The handbook does not give that number (unconfirmed). Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Who can be on the list
- Immediate family (father, mother, stepparents, brothers, sisters, wife, children, stepchildren, legal guardian, foster parents or grandparents, checked against the pre-sentence report). A common-law spouse is usually treated as family if the state recognizes it. A total of 6 other relatives, friends and associates can be added after clearance. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- ID
- A valid unexpired state driver's license or state ID card. Birth certificates and social security cards are not accepted. No ID, no visit. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Screening
- Visitors must clear the x-ray and metal detector. A medical condition, oxygen tank or prosthetic needs written documentation and approval from the unit team before the visit. Purses and briefcases may be searched. Use the lockers or leave things in your car. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Money for vending machines
- Cash no more than $40.00. You cannot hand them coins or money. Money for their account goes to the lockbox. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- What you can carry
- A reasonable number of diapers, other infant care items and sanitary napkins. No outside food, including gum. The only thing you can give them is food from the visiting room vending machines, and it must be eaten in the room. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- What not to wear
- Walking shorts or culottes no more than 3 inches above the knee. Skirts within 3 inches of the knee, no high splits. No see-through clothing, tank tops or anything showing the middle or cleavage. No military-style clothing such as camouflage, no spandex or tight clothes, no solid grey sweatpants or sweatshirts, no medical scrubs. No solid khaki or tan at the Low. No solid green for camp visitors. Shoes are required: sandals are fine, flip-flops are not. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Touching
- Kissing, embracing and a handshake only on arrival and departure. All visits begin and end in the visiting room. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Denied or ended
- Reasons include the wrong day, not on the list, improper clothing, expired ID, contraband, a visiting restriction, rule violations or crowding. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
How to get on the visiting list
- Your loved one gives their unit team the names for their visiting list. The handbook does not name the form (the national visitor form is BP-A0629; not confirmed in the Petersburg handbook).
- The people on the list must be cleared before they can visit.
- Your loved one tells you who was approved. Do not drive until you are approved.
- Up to 6 friends, other relatives and associates plus immediate family.
Driving directions (from the BOP)
- Directions in the handbook (to the Low prison on River Road)
- From I-95 North or South, take Exit 54 toward Temple Avenue. Turn right on Temple Avenue and follow it about 3.2 miles. Turn left on River Road and follow it about 3.6 miles. The Low is on the left side of River Road, just outside the sharp right bend. The BOP address list gives its street address as 1100 River Road, Hopewell.
- From I-295
- Take Exit 9B (Fort Lee) onto Oaklawn Boulevard. Go through three lights, then exit right immediately after the Burger King onto VA 144/Temple Avenue. At the first light turn right on River Road and follow it about 3.6 miles.
- Taxi and bus
- There are no mass transit buses to the prison. Greyhound or Amtrak riders need a taxi. The handbook lists Boulevard Cab Co. at (804) 732-3636 and Yellow Cab of Colonial Heights at (804) 833-3909.
Street address for your GPS: 1100 River Road, Hopewell, VA 23860. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
The BOP beats to its own drum. The front desk has the final say. Keep a spare outfit in the car.
FCI Petersburg Low
3 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.
| Skirts and dresses | Skirts within 3 inches of the knee; no higher slits. |
|---|---|
| Shorts | Walking shorts or culottes allowed, no more than 3 inches above knee. |
| Colors to avoid | No solid khaki/tan clothing at Medium or Low. No solid green clothing for Camp visitors. No solid orange clothing at the Medium. No solid grey sweatpants or sweatshirts. |
| Leggings, spandex | No spandex-type clothing. No tight-fitting apparel. |
| Bras and metal | Not in the written rules. Some prisons ban underwire bras anyway, and the penalty can be more than being sent home. Wear a sports bra or a bra with no wire. |
| Camouflage, military | No camouflage. No military-style clothing similar to inmate wear. |
| Shoes | Sandals OK but no flip-flops; footwear required. |
| Children | Not in the written rules. |
All 19 rules, in the BOP's own words
Length and fit
- Skirts within 3 inches of the knee; no higher slits.
F. Skirts must be within 3" of the knee. No splits up higher.
- Walking shorts or culottes allowed, no more than 3 inches above knee.
A. Visitors (male and female) may wear walking shorts (or culottes) no more than 3" above
- No tank tops.
D. No tank tops or other wear that exposes the midriff or cleavage area.
- No clothing exposing the cleavage area.
D. No tank tops or other wear that exposes the midriff or cleavage area.
- No clothing exposing the midriff.
D. No tank tops or other wear that exposes the midriff or cleavage area.
- No see-through clothing.
B. No see through clothing.
- No tight-fitting apparel.
G. No spandex type clothing or other tight fitting apparel.
- No spandex-type clothing.
G. No spandex type clothing or other tight fitting apparel.
- No solid grey sweatpants or sweatshirts.
H. No solid grey sweatpants or sweatshirts.
Colors and uniforms
- No solid khaki/tan clothing at Medium or Low.
I. No solid colored khaki/tan colored clothing at the Medium or Low facility.
- No solid green clothing for Camp visitors.
K. No solid green colored clothing for Camp visitors.
- No solid orange clothing at the Medium.
J. No solid orange colored clothing at the Medium.
- No solid grey sweatpants or sweatshirts.
H. No solid grey sweatpants or sweatshirts.
- No camouflage.
C. No military style clothing similar to inmate wear. (i.e. camouflage)
- No military-style clothing similar to inmate wear.
C. No military style clothing similar to inmate wear. (i.e. camouflage)
Shoes
- Sandals OK but no flip-flops; footwear required.
E. Footwear is required. Sandals are acceptable with the exception of flip-flops.
Everything else
- No medical scrubs.
L. No medical scrubs.
If they say no
- Visitors can be denied entry for improper clothing.
to the following: incorrect visiting day, visitor is not on the visiting list, improper clothing,
- Front entrance officer decides; questions go to Operations Lieutenant or CDO.
officer is responsible for determining suitable attire.
Inmate mailing address
JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES Reg. No. 12345-678 FCI Petersburg Low P.O. Box 1000 Petersburg, VA 23804
The handbook says to use: their full committed name and register number, Federal Correctional Complex, P.O. Box 1000, Petersburg, VA 23804. Spell out "Federal Correctional Complex." Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
The camp uses the same P.O. Box.
Use the P.O. Box only. Never mail to the street address (1100 River Road, Hopewell, VA 23860).
- White paper, 5 sheets
- Envelopes and paper must be white. General mail must be single-sided 8.5 by 11 paper, no more than 5 sheets per envelope. No card stock except commercial greeting cards. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Rejected
- Glitter, stickers, lipstick, crayon, marker, oily substances, perfume and cologne. Picture books and catalogs, and sexually explicit photos, are rejected. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- No labels
- General mail with a label for the address or return address may be rejected. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Photocopied
- All incoming general mail, including cards and photos, is photocopied (photos in color). Original photos are held 30 days, then destroyed. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Their letters to you
- Inmates in the Low and the camp may seal their outgoing mail. Outgoing mail needs TRULINCS labels and no mail service runs on weekends and holidays. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Books and magazines
- Newspapers and hardcover books must come straight from the publisher, a bookstore or a book club. Books and magazines are limited to five per mailing. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Packages
- Packages are only for medical devices and release clothing. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Legal mail
- Special mail must say "Special Mail, Only to be Opened in the Presence of the Inmate" and identify the sender. Otherwise staff may open and read it. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Money
- Never put cash in a letter. Money goes to the BOP lockbox (see the Money tab). Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
Books and magazines: at a low security prison, soft-cover books and magazines can come from anyone. Hardcovers only from a publisher or bookstore.
How to send money to an inmate here
Money never goes to Petersburg Low. It goes to the BOP, and the BOP puts it on their account. There are 3 ways. Each one below shows you the actual form and exactly what to write in each box, already filled in with their name and number.
First, they must sign the power-of-attorney form (BP-A0407) when they arrive. Until they do, MoneyGram and Western Union money cannot post. Click here to read the source: Program Statement 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (May 7, 2026) ↗
1. Postal money order Our pick
"Postal" means the U.S. Post Office. A postal money order is one you buy at the counter of a U.S. Post Office, from the United States Postal Service. Money orders sold at Walmart, a grocery store, a bank, Western Union, MoneyGram or a check-cashing store are not postal money orders.
Why it matters: a postal money order has no hold. Once the BOP's lockbox in Des Moines gets it, it goes on their account. Every other money order and every personal or company check is put on a 15-day hold first, and the 15 days only start when the lockbox receives the envelope. Add the days it spends in the mail, and it can be close to three weeks before they can spend it.Click here to read the source: BOP, Sending money by U.S. mail ↗ Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗ Foreign money orders and checks are held 45 days. The postal money order is also the cheapest way.
The Post Office's own steps
- Decide the amount. Up to $1,000 in one money order.
- Go to any Post Office.
- Bring cash or a debit card. The Post Office does not take credit cards for money orders.
- Fill it out at the counter with the clerk. Use the boxes below.
- Pay the amount plus the fee: $2.65 for up to $500, $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000.
- Keep your receipt. You need it to track the money order or replace it if it is lost.Click here to read the source: U.S. Postal Service, Money Orders ↗
- Pay toJOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONEStheir committed name, exactly as the BOP Inmate Locator shows it
- Address (under Pay to)Federal Bureau of Prisons, P.O. Box 474701, Des Moines, IA 50947-0001
- FromMARIA SMITH-JONESyour name
- Address (under From)123 Main Street, Trenton, NJ 08608your address
- MemoReg. No. 12345678their 8-digit register number, no dash
Unconfirmed: the BOP does not say in writing what goes on the "Pay to" line. Their name is what families use. The name and number on the envelope are what the BOP requires.
123 Main Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Federal Bureau of Prisons JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES 12345678 Post Office Box 474701 Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001
Lost it? Tracking and replacing a money order
- Keep the receipt. You need the serial number, post office number and amount to track it at tools.usps.com/money-orders.htm.
- Lost or stolen: take the receipt to any post office and ask for a Money Order Inquiry. It costs $23 and can take up to 60 days.
2. MoneyGram
Posts in about 2 to 4 hours if sent 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, any day. Up to $300 per payment. In a store, you fill out the blue ExpressPayment form. This is the BOP's own filled-in sample:
- Company NameFederal Bureau of Prisons
- City & StateWashington, DC
- Receive Code7932always the same
- Account Number of the Bill to Pay12345678SMITHJONESone letter or number per box
- Amount to Payup to $300
- Message to Biller or Beneficiary NameJOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES
Top section: your own name, address, phone and signature. Pay cash. Keep the receipt with the reference number.
Unconfirmed: some stores now type it into a screen instead of using the paper form. The boxes are the same.
Doing it online or in the MoneyGram app instead
- Go to moneygram.com (Pay Bills) or the MoneyGram app and log in or sign up.
- Search the biller 7932 or "Federal Bureau of Prisons."
- Enter the amount (up to $300) and the account number
12345678SMITHJONES. - Pay with a debit or credit card. A credit card can charge a cash-advance fee.
3. Western Union
Posts in about 2 to 4 hours. In a store, ask for the Quick Collect form ("To Send Money Form for Bill Payments"). Do not ask for a regular money transfer. This is a real Quick Collect form filled in with the BOP's values:
- Dollar Amountyour amount
- Pay toFederal Bureau of Prisons
- Code CityFBOP, DC
- AttentionJOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES
- Account # with Company (in the SENDER section: this is where people get lost)12345678SMITHJONES
Leave Promo Code blank. Put your own name, phone and address in the rest of the Sender section and sign at 3. Pay cash (some stores take debit). You get a 10-digit tracking number (MTCN). Keep it.
Unconfirmed: some stores have the blue Quick Collect form, some a "Pay a Bill" section, and some a phone to an agent.
Doing it online (Send2Corrections), screen by screen
You need a photo ID to set up the account: your name must match your ID exactly.
- Go to send2corrections.com or the Send2Corrections app. Log in or register.
- "Who are you sending to?" Choose the facility Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP DC).
- Receiver first name, middle name (optional), last name: exactly as the BOP has it.
- Commissary number: type only the 8 digits,
12345678. No dash, no name. The site adds the last name itself and shows the full account number in a grey box you cannot type in. - Ignore the pop-up that says "BOP number will not work." That text shows for every prison. The register number is what works.
- Amount: $1 to $300. Pay by card, or choose "Pay Cash (in-store)" and pay at a Western Union counter within 12 hours, or it cancels.
Hyphenated last name? The site drops the hyphen: Smith-Jones becomes 12345678SMITHJONES.
Money sent to the wrong person is not returned by Western Union. Western Union payments cannot be changed after they are sent.
Commissary list: what they can buy and what it costs
The handbook (January 2023) says they can spend up to $180.00 every other week, validated on the 1st and 15th of the month. People on the court-fine payment plan "refuse" status are revalidated monthly. National BOP policy (PS 4500.13, May 7, 2026) raised the monthly limit from $360 to $460, plus $50 more in November and December. Petersburg's handbook may not reflect the new limit yet. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗ Click here to read the source: Program Statement 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (May 7, 2026) ↗
How shopping works at Petersburg Low
- Commissary sales run Monday through Thursday. The shopping rotation and times are posted on the inmate bulletin boards.
- They must have their ID card. They can check their balance on TRULINCS or by phone (118 plus their PAC).
- They cannot hold cash. Money stays in their account.
- The total value of commissary items they keep is limited to the monthly spending limit.
(K) kosher, (H) halal. A number like "max 3" is the most they can buy at once.
CANDY & NUTS
- CANDY, ALL STARS max 10$0.85
- CANDY, DARK CHOCOLATE (K) max 10$1.45
- CANDY, REESE'S (K,H) max 10$1.45
- CANDY, TURTLES (K,H) max 10$1.25
- CANDY, SNICKERS (K) max 10$1.25
- CANDY, STARLITE MINTS max 10$0.85
- CANDY, WILD FRUIT, SUGAR FREE max 10$0.85
- CANDY, FRUIT CHEWS max 10$1.25
- CANDY, GUMMY BEARS max 10$0.90
- CANDY, SOUR PUNCH BITES max 10$2.15
- NUTS,PEANUT CLUSTERS max 10$1.85
- NUTS, MIXED NUTS max 5$3.70
- NUTS, NUT AND YOGURT MIX (K) max 10$0.85
- NUTS, DARK CHOCOLATE PB MIX max 10$2.25
- NUTS, SALTED PEANUTS max 5$2.80
- NUTS, UNSALTED PEANUTS max 5$2.80
CEREALS, CHIPS, & SNACKS
- CEREAL, VANILLA GARNOLA (K) max 3$2.95
- CEREAL, RAISIN BRAN (K) max 3$4.95
- CHIPS, DORITOS NACHO CHEESE max 3$2.25
- CHIPS, BUFFALO WING BLUE CHEESE (K,H,G) max 3$1.85
- CHIPS, RIPPLE PLAIN (K,H,G) max 3$1.85
- CHIPS, BBQ FRITOS (K,H) max 3$3.30
- COOKIES, NILLA WAFERS (K,H) max 3$2.05
- COOKIES, CHUNCKY CHOCOLATE CHIP (K) max 3$3.15
- COOKIES, DUPLEX max 3$0.95
- CRACKERS, GRAHAM (K) max 3$1.75
- CRACKERS, WHITE CHEDDAR (K) max 3$2.60
- CRACKERS, SNACK (LIKE RITZ) (K) max 3$2.25
- CRACKERS, UNSALTED (K) max 3$2.15
- CUPCAKES, STRAWBERRY max 10$1.35
- LEMON POUND CAKE max 10$1.70
- CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS max 3$3.45
- RICE CRISPY TREATS (K) max 10$0.75
- POPTARTS max 2$3.25
- CINNAMON ROLL (K) max 10$1.10
- HEALTH SHAKE (VANILLA) max 10$1.40
- NUTRITION BAR (K) max 15$1.80
- OATMEAL, ROLLED BAG (K) max 3$3.00
- OATMEAL, VARIETY (K) max 3$3.60
- PICKLE, DILL max 10$1.50
- POPCORN, JALAPENO (K,H,G) max 3$1.80
- PRETZELS, HONEY MUSTARD (K) max 10$0.80
SOUPS & RICE
- BEANS, REFRIED W/ JALAPENO 7oz (K,H) max 10$1.05
- POTATOES, PARMESAN & GARLIC max 10$2.25
- RICE, WHITE (K,H) max 10$1.25
- RICE, WHOLE GRAIN BROWN max 10$1.30
- SOUP, CHILI (RAMEN) * max 24$0.45
- SOUP, CHICKEN (RAMEN) * max 24$0.45
- (CUP SOUP), CALIFORNIA VEGETABLE * max 24$0.70
- SOUP, LOW SODIUM SPICY VEG (RAMEN) * max 24$0.45
- SOUP, CAJUN SHRIMP(RAMEN) * max 24$0.45
- FLOUR TORTILLA SHELLS (MAYAN) max 10$2.85
- SUN DRIED TOMATO TORTILLA SHELLS max 10$3.00
KOSHER MEALS
- CHOLENT W/ BEEF (K) max 5$5.10
- PEPPER STEAK (K) max 5$6.40
- STUFFED CHICKEN (K) max 5$6.40
- BEEF STUFFED CABBAGE (K) max 5$6.90
ICE CREAM
- BLUE BELL PINT (WRITE-IN FLAVOR)$3.25
MEAT & FISH PRODUCTS
- CHILI, TURKEY (G) max 10$2.75
- CLAMS (H,G) max 48$1.55
- CHICKEN , BUFFALO BITES max 20$2.50
- FISH, TUNA (K) max 48$1.50
- FISH, MACKEREL (K) max 48$1.20
- FISH, PINK SALMON (K,H) max 48$1.65
- FISH, YELLOWFIN TUNA STEAK (K,H,G) max 48$3.00
- OYSTERS (G) max 48$1.95
- PEPPERONI max 20$2.55
- ROAST BEEF max 20$3.95
- TURKEY & SWISS STICK max 20$1.80
- SAUSAGE, BEEF SUMMER 5oz max 20$2.45
- SAUSAGE, HOT BEEF SUMMER (H) max 20$2.45
- SAUSAGE, HONEY PEPPER/TURKEY 5oz max 20$2.45
CONDIMENTS & BEVERAGES
- CHEESE, SMOKED GOUDA max 5$2.10
- CHEESE, CHILI CON QUESO max 5$2.10
- CHEESE, CREAM SQUEEZE (K,H) max 20$0.45
- CHEESE, MOZZARELLA BLOCK max 10$2.10
- CHEESE, CHEDDAR SQUEEZE max 5$2.70
- COFFEE, COLOMBIAN (K,H) max 5$3.90
- COFFEE, DECAF (K) max 5$4.25
- COFFEE, CAPPUCCINO (K,H) max 5$2.20
- COFFEE, DONUT SHOP max 5$7.30
- COFFEE, TASTER'S CHOICE (K,H) max 5$10.75
- CREAMER, FRENCH VANILLA NON DAIRY (K,G) max 5$1.90
- CREAMER, ORIGINAL NON DAIRY (K,H) max 5$1.90
- DRINK MIX, GREEN TROPICAL DREAM (K) max 5$1.50
- DRINK MIX, PURPLE BERRY (G,S) max 5$1.50
- DRINK MIX, PINK LEMONADE (G,S) max 5$1.50
- HONEY, PURE max 1$4.05
- HOT COCOA BAG (K,H) max 5$2.35
- JELLY, STRAWBERRY max 3$5.60
- JUICE, LEMON SQUEEZE (K,G,S) max 10$0.90
- MAYO (K) max 3$3.55
- MILK, INSTANT NONFAT DRY (K,H) max 3$3.80
- OLIVE OIL (K,G,S) max 3$3.25
- PEANUT BUTTER, CREAMY (K) max 3$2.80
- PEPPERS, JALAPENO WHEELS (K) max 3$2.50
- RANCH DRESSING 1.5 OZ max 10$0.50
- SALT & PEPPER SHAKER (K) max 3$2.95
- SAUCE, LOUISIANA HOT (K,G,S) max 3$1.30
- HOT PEPPER MIX (K) max 3$3.15
- SAUCE, SOY max 3$1.25
- SAUCE, BBQ 13 OZ max 3$3.00
- SAUCE, SWEET & HOT ASIAN max 3$3.25
- SEASONING, GARLIC POWDER (K) max 3$1.90
- SEASONING, FLAVOR MATE ORIGINAL (K) max 3$3.05
- SEASONING, ONION POWDER (K) max 3$1.80
- SEASONING, GOYA SAZON (G,S) max 3$2.55
- SEASONING, ITALIAN max 3$1.90
- SEASONING, VEGETABLE FLAKES max 3$1.60
- SODA, PEPSI * max 2$6.25
- SODA, MT. DEW * max 2$6.25
- SODA, GINGER ALE * max 2$6.25
- SODA, DIET PEPSI * max 2$6.25
- SPLENDA max 3$4.80
- SWEET & LOW 100 CT. max 3$3.40
- TEA, BAGS (K) max 5$2.20
- WATER, BOTTLED max 24$0.45
- COFFEE FILTERS max 3$1.55
- COFFEE DRIP CONE max 1$2.10
FRUIT
- DATES (K) max 5$3.25
- FIGS (K) max 5$3.20
TABLETS,RADIOS & BATTERIES
- ALARM CLOCK$11.95
- EARBUDS, JVC SPORTS$13.00
- CALCULATOR$20.75
- RADIO, SANGEAN (WIND-UP)$71.50
- TABLET, SCORE 7T$131.70
- BATTERY (CALCULATOR) #LR44$2.60
- WATCH BATTERY, #364$2.35
- WATCH BATTERY, #2016$2.60
- WATCH BATTERY, #1220$1.95
- WATCH BATTERY, #2025$2.60
- WATCH BATTERY, #2032 (2-PACK)$3.70
- WATCH, TIMEX IRONMAN$57.20
- WATCH, TIMEX MARATHON$20.95
- WATCHBAND, VELCRO$2.10
- WATCHBAND, IRONMAN TIMEX$11.95
HAIR & SHAVING PRODUCTS
- AFRICAN ROYALE HOT SIX OIL$6.65
- AFRO, COMB$0.60
- AFRO, PICK$0.85
- BAG, SHAVING$5.50
- BLACK DOO RAG$2.75
- BRUSH, MILITARY NO HANDLE$2.90
- BRUSH, HAIR & COMB SET$2.75
- BRUSH, VENTED$3.50
- BUMP STOPPER$3.95
- CONDITIONER, PANTENE$6.90
- CONDITIONER, COCONUT OIL$1.85
- PINK OIL MOISTURIZER$6.50
- GREASE, SPORTIN WAVE$2.65
- GREASE, SULFUR 8 ORIGINAL$4.05
- GREASE, HAIR FOOD$1.85
- GEL, JAMAICAN MANGO & LIME$6.30
- GEL, STYLING$3.20
- HAIR TIES, BLACK METAL FREE$1.15
- RUBBERBANDS, SMALL$2.20
- RAZOR, BIC TWIN BLADE$2.25
- RAZOR, MACH 3$10.60
- RAZOR, MACH 3 REFILL$11.85
- RAZOR, PERSONNA M5 RAZOR$7.25
- RAZOR, PERSONNA M5 REFILL$7.25
- SHAMPOO, HEAD & SHOULDERS$9.25
- SHAMPOO, ALOE & GINSENG$2.25
- SHAMPOO, PANTENE$6.50
- SHAMPOO, SOFTEE 3 IN 1$4.65
- SHAMPOO, SUAVE 2 IN 1$4.30
- SHAVE, AFTASHAVE$3.00
- SHAVE, RAZORLESS CREAM$5.50
- SHAVE, BLUE MAGIC POWDER$3.15
- SHAVE, GEL$1.30
- SHAVE, CREAM REGULAR$2.40
HEALTH & MEDICAL
- A & D OINTMENT$3.65
- ACNE CREAM$1.65
- AMBI CREAM$8.40
- ANTACID TABS VARIETY$3.95
- ANTI DIARREHEA TABS$1.85
- ARCH SUPPORTS$21.95
- ARTIFICIAL TEARS$2.40
- BAND-AIDS$0.95
- BISMATROL (PEPTO-BISMOL)$3.25
- BLISTEX$2.95
- BREATHE RIGHT NOSE STRIPS$11.15
- CALIMINE LOTION$2.45
- CARMEX LIP BALM SPF 15$1.95
- CITRUCEL METHYLCELLULOSE FIBER$12.95
- CLARITIN (GENERIC)$2.60
- CLIPPERS, FINGERNAIL$0.90
- CORN REMOVER$2.20
- COUGH DROPS, CHERRY$1.30
- COUGH DROPS, HONEY/LEMON$1.30
- COUGH SYRUP$2.60
- CREAM, ANTIFUNGAL (CLOTRIMAZOLE)$1.75
- CREAM, ANTIFUNGAL (TOLNAFTATE)$1.70
- CREAM, NOXZEMA SKIN 2.5OZ$2.40
- DANDRUFF SHAMPOO MEDICATED$5.50
- EARWAX DROPS (CARBAMIDE)$3.65
- HAND SANITIZER FOAM PUMP$3.55
- HYDROCORTISONE CREAM 1%$1.75
- INSOLES, DR. SCHOLL'S AIR-PILLO$5.20
- LAC-DOSE LACTAID CAPTABS$7.15
- LAMISIL (ANTI-FUNGAL)$11.95
- LOTION, SUAVE$3.50
- LOTION, JERGEN'S ORIGINAL$6.25
- LOTION, AMMONIUM LACTATE$6.55
- LOTION, MILD HYPO-ALLERGENIC$2.75
- LOTION, PALMER'S COCOA BUTTER$5.85
- MICONAZOLE (ANTI-FUNGAL)$4.55
- MILK OF MAGNESIA 12 OZ.$2.60
- MOISTURIZER, ST. IVE'S FACIAL$7.75
- MUSCLE RUB (LIKE BEN GAY)$2.90
- MUSTACHE SCISSORS$6.65
- MYLANTA, ANTACID LIQUID$4.40
- NAIL FUNGUS RENEWAL, KERSAL$22.00
- NAPROXEN$8.10
- NASAL CROM$26.15
- OINTMENT, HEMORRHOIDAL$4.50
- OINTMENT, AQUAPHOR$16.15
- OMEPRAZOLE (PRILOSEC) 14CT$7.95
- ORAL ANALGESIC$2.10
- POWDER, BATH$2.15
- POWDER, QUINSANA FOOT$7.20
- PUMICE STONE$1.90
- Q-TIPS 90CT$1.05
- SCRUB PAD, STRIDEX$5.65
- SIMETHICONE TABLETS 100CT$3.65
- SPRAY, NASAL$2.05
- ST. IVE'S OIL FREE FACIAL SCRUB$6.10
- STICK, PALMER'S COCOA BUTTER$2.65
- STOOL SOFTENER$3.00
- SUNBLOCK, SPF 50$5.45
- SULFUR 8 SHAMPOO$5.20
- TABLETS, ADV ULTREX (LIKE CENTRUM)$4.75
- TABLETS, ALLERGY$1.60
- TABLETS, ASPIRIN$2.30
- TABLETS, IBUPROFEN$2.95
- TABLETS, LAXATIVE$2.50
- TABLETS, MULTI VITAMIN$2.90
- TABLETS, NON-ASPIRIN$2.95
- TABLETS, TUMS SODIUM FREE$2.95
- TABLETS, VITAMIN C$2.30
- TABLETS, VITAMIN D$2.35
- TABLETS, VITAMIN E$3.95
- THROAT LOZENGES$3.20
- TISSUES, FACIAL$1.20
- TOE NAIL CLIPPERS$1.15
- TRIPLE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT$2.60
- TWEEZERS$1.15
- VAPOR RUB$1.30
- VASELINE LIP THERAPY$1.95
- VASELINE, PETROLEUM JELLY$1.20
- VISINE ALLERGY$8.75
DENTAL PRODUCTS
- DENTAL FLOSS$1.80
- FLOSS PICKS GUM STIMULATOR$1.50
- DENTURE ADHESIVE SUPER POLIGRIP$8.65
- MOUTHWASH, COLGATE$4.95
- TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER$0.50
- TOOTHBRUSH, COLGATE SOFT$0.80
- TOOTHBRUSH, DENTURE$2.05
- TOOTHPASTE, CLOSE-UP 4 OZ.$2.25
- TOOTHPASTE, COLGATE TOTAL$5.20
- TOOTHPASTE, COLGATE W/BAKING SODA$3.35
- TOOTHPASTE, DENTURE CLEANSER$3.50
- TOOTHPASTE, AQUAFRESH SENSITIVE$4.30
RELIGIOUS ITEMS
- FRAGRANCE OIL - * max 2$4.75
- FRAGRANCE OIL - * max 2$4.75
- FRAGRANCE OIL - * max 2$4.75
- PRAYER OIL - * max 2$4.75
- PRAYER OIL - * max 2$4.75
GREETING CARDS
- ALL OCCASION CARDS 6 PK. max 3$3.95
- BIRTHDAY CARD max 5$0.70
- HOLIDAY CARD max 5$1.05
ITEMS TO ORDER
- READING GLASSES - CIRCLE STRENGTH (1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.50, 2.75, 3.0, 3.25, 3.50)$5.25
SPORTS EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING
- *THERMAL PANTS, MED, LG, XL*$10.40
- *THERMAL PANTS, 2X, 3X*$13.00
- *THERMAL PANTS, 4X*$12.35
- *THERMAL PANTS, 5X, 6X*$15.75
- *THERMAL SHIRT, MED, LG, XL*$10.40
- *THERMAL SHIRT, 2X, 3X*$13.00
- *THERMAL SHIRT, 4X*$13.00
- *THERMAL SHIRT, 5X, 6X*$16.40
- *WEIGHT GLOVES, MED, LG, XL*$24.05
- ACRYLIC SCARF$10.50
- ATHLETIC SUPPORTER, MED, LG, XL$5.95
- BATTING GLOVES, M, LG, XL, 2XL$22.10
- BOXER BRIEFS 2PK, SM-XL$11.70
- BOXER BRIEFS 2PK, 2X$14.30
- BOXER BRIEFS 1PK, 3X-4X$9.75
- BRIEFS, SM, MED, LG, XL$11.70
- BRIEFS, 2X, 3X$13.00
- BRIEFS, 4X$15.60
- CAP, FLEX FIT SM/MD, LG/XL$14.30
- CAP, KNIT$8.45
- KNEE BRACE MED, LG, XL$14.95
- MESH GYM BAGS$10.40
- MOUTHPIECE$3.95
- RACQUETBALLS 3PK$6.85
- SHORTS, DRI-FIT, M-2X$22.10
- SHORTS, DRI-FIT, 3X-6X$26.00
- SHOWER CLOGS, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15$6.95
- SOCKS, CREW 3PK$5.85
- SOCKS, NO SHOW ANKLE$3.65
- SWEAT PANTS, SM, MED, LG, XL, 2X$22.10
- SWEAT PANTS, 3X, 4X$20.80
- SWEAT PANTS, 5X, 6X, 7X$26.00
- SWEAT SHIRT, SM, MED, LG, XL, 2X$18.85
- SWEAT SHIRT, 3X, 4X$18.85
- SWEAT SHIRT, 5X, 6X, 7X$23.40
- SWEAT SHORTS W/ POCKETS, M-4X$11.70
- SWEAT SHORTS W/ POCKETS, 5X, 6X$15.60
- TANK TOPS, SM, MED$13.60
- TANK TOPS, LG, XL$13.60
- TANK TOPS, 2X, 3X$17.75
- TANK TOPS, 4X$15.60
- TENNIS BALLS$6.50
- T-SHIRTS, GREY, MED-6X$7.15
- T-SHIRTS, WHITE, LG, XL$16.90
- T-SHIRTS, WHITE, 2X, 3X$22.10
- T-SHIRTS, WHITE, 4X$14.30
- WOOL GLOVES$4.75
- WRIST SUPPORT$11.05
- LONG SLEEVE GREY T-SHIRT (S-6X)$11.70
PHOTO TICKET, COPY CARD, & STAMPS
- STAMPS (GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL) EA.$1.45
- STAMPS (FOREVER FIRST-CLASS LETTER) EA.$0.63
- STAMPS EA.$0.02
- STAMPS (EACH ADDITIONAL OZ.) EA.$0.21
- PHOTO TICKET EA.$1.00
- COPYCARD EA.$6.50
SUNDRY ITEMS
- *CORRECTION TAPE*$3.05
- *FAN 12"*$30.35
- *PRINT WHEEL*$23.50
- *TYPEWRITER RIBBON*$9.95
- ADDRESS / PHONE BOOK$1.80
- AIR FRESHENER$1.65
- ALBUM, PHOTO$2.80
- ALBUM, PHOTO INSERTS$6.40
- BOOK LIGHT$10.10
- BOTTLE, SQUEEZE$3.90
- BOWL, PLASTIC W/ LID$3.75
- CARBON PAPER 10 CT.$2.10
- CARDS, PINOCHLE * max 2$1.80
- CARDS, POKER * max 2$2.05
- CHESS SET$29.40
- CUP W/ LID$0.55
- CUP, INSULATED W/ LID CLEAR$2.60
- DENTURE CUP W/ LID$1.15
- DICTIONARY, ENGLISH$3.85
- DOCUMENT FOLDER, CLEAR$1.45
- ENVELOPES (50 BOX)$1.80
- HANDKERCHIEFS$1.05
- HOOKS, PLASTIC (LOCKER ORGANIZER)$4.95
- JUG, 1/2 GALLON CLEAR$8.40
- LAUNDRY BAGS$6.25
- LEGAL ENVELOPES$0.30
- LIQUID SHOE POLISH (BROWN)$3.25
- LOCK, COMBINATION$9.00
- LOCK, HEAVY DUTY$23.00
- LOCKER MIRROR$2.75
- LOCKER ORGANIZER$12.95
- PAD, 8.5 X 11 RULED WRITING$1.35
- PAD, LEGAL$2.20
- PEN, BIC (BLACK / BLUE) 2 PK.$1.10
- PENCIL, #2$0.15
- PENCIL SHARPENER$0.20
- PLASTIC FORK & SPOON SET$1.60
- RAIN PONCHO$4.25
- SEWING KITS$1.95
- SHOE LACES, 54" (BLACK / WHITE)$1.65
- SUNGLASSES INTENSE$26.00
- TOILET PAPER, CHARMIIN (4PK)$4.25
- TOWEL, LARGE BATH$7.95
- TYPING PAPER$1.95
- WASHCLOTH (TAN)$3.25
- WIRELESS NOTEBOOK$1.95
- SHOWER LUFFA$1.45
DEODORANTS & SOAPS
- FABRIC SHEETS (CAMP ONLY)$3.05
- DEODORANT, DEGREE$3.85
- DEODORANT, DIAL ROLL-ON$1.75
- DEODORANT, SURE$2.30
- DEODORANT, SPEED STICK$3.15
- DETERGENT, HERITAGE (CAMP)$1.40
- DETERGENT, TIDE PODS (CAMP)$6.20
- DISH LIQUID SOAP, AJAX$1.30
- PLASTIC SOAP DISH$0.70
- SOAP, IRISH SPRING 3-PK$4.20
- SOAP, DOVE UNSCENTED$2.75
- SOAP, LEVER 2000 (2pk)$2.90
- SOAP, LIQUID HAND$2.45
- SOAP, VO5 3-IN-1 BODY WASH$1.55
- SOAP, CITRUS & BERRIES BODY WASH$7.25
- SOAP, SAFEGUARD 4PK$5.00
- SOAP, AMBI BLACK$2.65
Phone calls and email
- Minutes
- 300 minutes a month, for collect and debit calls together. Their minutes reset on a day set by the fifth digit of their register number times three, plus one. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Hours
- Unit phones work 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. each evening and 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, except 30 minutes to an hour around counts. On weekdays, all inmates may use unit phones from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Contacts
- Up to 30 phone numbers, added in TRULINCS. No three-way or conference calls, phone cards or call forwarding. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Paying
- They move money to their phone account from their commissary account by dialing 118 plus their PAC. A lost PAC costs $5.00 to replace. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
They have to add your number and email to their list first. Emails come through CorrLinks: you get an invitation by email once they add you.
Health care at Petersburg Low
Medical care level 2 and mental health care level 2 (of 4). Stable outpatients who need to see a clinician anywhere from monthly to every 6 months. Examples the BOP gives: diabetes controlled with medication, epilepsy, emphysema. The BOP list gives the whole Petersburg complex level 2. Click here to read the source: BOP "Institution Care Levels for Medical Assignment," February 13, 2024 (released under FOIA 2024-03455) ↗
- Sick call
- At the Low, they report with their ID card to the 8:30 a.m. sick call move, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, sign in and wait to be called. At the camp, they fill out a sick call request form from the unit officer and drop it in the box at Health Services. Requests are collected daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and appointments are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. There is no sick call on weekends or federal holidays, and no medical appointments on Wednesday (reserved for A&O exams). Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Dental
- Dental sick-call sign-up is daily except Wednesdays and weekends. They use a form for dental only. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Co-pay
- $2.00 for medical or dental sick call they ask for. No fee for preventive care, chronic care appointments, emergencies, injuries reported right away, or visits the provider sets up. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Medicine without funds
- Indigent inmates get over-the-counter medicine by asking on the indigent OTC form at the Wednesday 7:00 a.m. pill line. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
Programs
- RDAP (drug program; can mean up to a year off for those eligible)
- The handbook describes RDAP as nine months of intensive treatment. People are interviewed about 24 to 36 months before their release date, and new groups start about every 3 to 4 months. Finishing the 500-hour residential part can bring a recommendation for 6 months in a halfway house. The BOP's RDAP list includes both Petersburg prisons. Click here to read the source: First Step Act Approved Programs Guide (May 2026) ↗
- UNICOR (prison factory)
- The handbook says the Low has the UNICOR Print Plant, which prints for federal agencies. Pay is by grade, $0.23 to $1.15 an hour. Low inmates get an application during A&O or from the UNICOR representative at the noon mainline. With the closure announced, ask whether it will keep running. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
- Education
- Literacy (GED and English as a second language), vocational training and adult continuing education. General college courses are mostly by correspondence. Click here to read the source: FCC Petersburg Inmate Information Handbook (January 2023) ↗
The BOP's First Step Act guide (RDAP list updated June 4, 2026) lists "FCI Petersburg - L (VA)" and "FCI Petersburg - M (VA)" as RDAP locations. Click here to read the source: First Step Act Approved Programs Guide (May 2026) ↗
Safety record
Criminal cases at Petersburg Low
Deaths announced by the BOP
- June 20, 2026A 38-year-old man became unresponsive at about 11:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead. The FBI was notified. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Death at FCI Petersburg Low," June 21, 2026 ↗
- September 24, 2025A 39-year-old man was found unresponsive at about 3:20 a.m. and was pronounced dead. They had been there since September 23, 2025. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Death at FCI Petersburg Low," September 24, 2025 ↗
These are deaths the BOP announced in a press release. The BOP does not publish a full count of deaths at each prison, so this is not a total. A late-August 2026 local news report of a death at FCI Petersburg had no matching BOP press release that we could find.
Sexual abuse audit (PREA)
The last federal sexual-abuse (PREA) audit covered the whole Petersburg complex and visited October 31 to November 2, 2023. Result: 2 standards exceeded (115.31 and 115.71), 43 met, 0 not met. In the 12 months before the audit, the complex recorded 19 sexual-abuse allegations (18 against other inmates, 1 against staff) and 13 sexual-harassment allegations (7 against other inmates, 6 against staff). Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FCC Petersburg (onsite October 31 to November 2, 2023) ↗
An allegation is a report, not a finding. The audit counts reports made, not what investigators concluded.
News about Petersburg Low
- FCI Petersburg Low inmate diesWTVR.com · Sep 24, 2025
Stories from news outlets that name FCI Petersburg Low, checked every day. Last updated Nov 4, 2026, 1:10 pm ET. We link to the original story; we did not write these.
Intel from the Inside
Intel last checked: November 3, 2026
Reports from people inside, in their own words. It is how the place really runs, not official policy, and it can change. We never publish names.
No Intel reported for Petersburg Low yet.
Know something about Petersburg Low that families should know? Tell Scooter. Our team checks every report before it goes up, and we never publish names.