FCI Sheridan Federal Prison: Visiting Hours, Address and Sending Money

Sheridan at a glance

Sheridan is a medium-security federal prison (FCI) for men, with a minimum-security satellite camp. The same site also has a detention center (FDC) for people held before trial. It sits off Highway 18 in Oregon's Willamette Valley, about 50 miles southwest of Portland and 25 miles northwest of Salem.

How many people: 1,233 in the FCI and 289 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. 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 3: Enhanced outpatient mental health care (weekly mental health sessions), or residential mental health care in a psychology treatment program. 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) ↗
Who is there: Men. On the first day of the 2024 audit, ages ran from 19 to 84. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FCI Sheridan (onsite July 10 to 12, 2024) ↗
Built for: 1311 people. The audit counted 1510 at the time of its report and an average of 1595 over the past year, and says the prison was over capacity at some point in the 12 months before July 2024. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FCI Sheridan (onsite July 10 to 12, 2024) ↗
Counts: 12:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., then standing counts at 4:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. On weekends and holidays there is also a standing count at 10:00 a.m. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Work: The handbook says FCI Sheridan does not currently have a UNICOR factory. Jobs are in food service, as a unit orderly, or in a maintenance shop. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Staff shortages: The Justice Department's Inspector General inspected Sheridan in November and December 2023 and found shortages of correctional officers and health care workers that affected inmates' health and safety (see the Safety tab). Click here to read the source: DOJ Inspector General, Inspection of FCI Sheridan, report 24-070 (May 2024) ↗

The BOP's own page for FCI Sheridan.

How far is it from you?

Driving directions (Google Maps) → Bus or train (Google Maps) →

Plan your drive around this: Processing of visitors stops one hour before the visiting room closes. The handbook says no visitors are allowed in after 2:00 p.m. Visitors are not allowed on the grounds before 8:00 a.m. Processing normally starts by 8:30 a.m. On weekends and holidays it stops at 9:15 a.m. for the count and starts again when the count clears.

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
FCI (main prison)	Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays	8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Satellite camp	Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays	8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Special Housing Unit (SHU)	Saturday and Sunday. Video visit, 1 hour.	8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Detention center (FDC), Unit J-1	Friday and Saturday	8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Detention center (FDC), Unit J-2	Sunday and Monday	8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Processing of visitors stops one hour before the visiting room closes. The handbook says no visitors are allowed in after 2:00 p.m. Visitors are not allowed on the grounds before 8:00 a.m. Processing normally starts by 8:30 a.m. On weekends and holidays it stops at 9:15 a.m. for the count and starts again when the count clears.

The visiting rules give no regular social visiting at the FCI or camp except Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗

The BOP's own papers disagree. Sheridan's visiting rules are old: July 21, 2019. The handbook is from October 2021. They agree on Saturday, Sunday and holiday hours, but the handbook says the Warden can change visiting days and times. Call the prison at 503-843-4442 before you drive.

The rules at the door: ID, points, what you can bring

Points: Each person at the FCI and camp gets 12 visiting points a month. A Saturday or Sunday visit costs 2 points. There are no points charged on New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Minister of Record visits. Other holidays cost 2 points. At the detention center a Friday or Monday costs 1 point and a Saturday or Sunday costs 2. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
How many people: No more than 6 visitors at a time, children included, and no more than 4 adults. A child over 16 counts as an adult. An infant who can be held by an adult is not counted. If more than 4 adults arrive, a "split visit" may be arranged. People who leave to let others in cannot come back that day and may not wait on the grounds. At the detention center the limit is 2 adults and up to 4 children. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
Who can be on the list: Up to 10 friends and associates, plus immediate family (not counted in the 10). Detention center inmates awaiting trial or transfer list immediate family only (mother, father, stepparents, foster parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, children). Someone with a prior criminal conviction needs the Warden's approval. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
Changing the list: They can change the list with unit staff approval. If requests get excessive, staff may limit changes to 3 in 6 months. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
ID: Everyone 16 or older needs a valid state or government photo ID showing full name and signature. An expired license is not valid. Every child, of any age, must be on the approved list. Children under 16 must come with an approved adult. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
Screening: You must clear the walk-through metal detector. Everyone is subject to a random pat search by same-gender staff. Cell phones, pagers and other electronic devices are not allowed in; a limited number of lockers are in the front lobby. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
What you can carry: No food, gifts, games, needlework, pocketbooks, baby strollers or packages. No papers, packages or money orders. You may bring one car key. For a baby: one pacifier, one diaper, five wipes, a clear sippy cup, one infant blanket, and one bottle of breast milk or factory-sealed single-serve formula, which staff keep at the officer's station. No toys. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
What not to wear: No see-through, revealing or suggestive clothing. Dresses and skirts must reach at least the bottom of the kneecap with no slit above the knee. No halter tops, hoods, tank tops, strapless tops, shorts, miniskirts, culottes, spandex, leggings, yoga pants or sweat suits. No khaki, green, red or yellow outfits, nothing resembling staff uniforms, and no watches or bracelets. Children under 12 may wear shorts no higher than 6 inches above the knee. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
Touching: Shaking hands, a kiss and an embrace are allowed when you meet and just before you leave, within the limits of good taste. Visiting room photos may not show adults kissing. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
Smoking: All visiting areas are non-smoking. No tobacco products of any kind. Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗
When it gets crowded: Visits for people from the local area are ended first, in the order they arrived. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗

How to get on the visiting list

Your loved one mails a visiting form to each person they want on the list.
You fill it out and mail it directly to their counselor.
The counselor runs a background investigation. If you are approved, unit staff enter you into the visiting program.
If someone is turned down, the unit team gives them a written "Notice of Denial for Proposed Visiting Applicant." They must tell you. Do not drive until you know you are approved.
At the detention center an initial list is ordinarily ready within 7 days of staff getting what they need.

Fill out the visiting form for Sheridan →

Click here to read the source: Institution Supplement 5267.09c, Visiting Regulations (July 21, 2019) ↗

Driving directions (from the BOP)

From Portland: Take Interstate 5 south to Highway 99W. Go west on 99W toward McMinnville. Take the Highway 18 bypass (Ocean Beaches) around McMinnville and continue on Highway 18 toward the Beach. About 13 miles west on Highway 18, take the second Sheridan exit and turn right off the ramp. The institution is on the south side of the highway and is easy to see from the exit.
From Salem: Take Highway 22 west toward Dallas and the Beach Cities. Continue to the Valley Junction turn-off to Highway 18 East. Continue on Highway 18 East to the Sheridan off ramp. Turn left. The institution is about 1/4 of a mile along Ballston Road.
Parking and lodging: Visitor parking is in the east parking lot, marked by white painted curbs. Lodging is limited in this rural area. The handbook lists the Sheridan Country Inn, 1330 W. Main Street, Sheridan (503-843-3151 or 503-843-3226), and the Americas Best Value Inn & Suites, 345 N. Highway 99W, McMinnville (503-472-5187).

Street address for your GPS: 27072 Ballston Road, Sheridan, Or 97378. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗

The BOP beats to its own drum. The front desk has the final say. Keep a spare outfit in the car.

FCI Sheridan

Rules dated July 21, 2019 (7 years old)

Official rules (PDF) En español (PDF)

7 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.

Skirts and dresses	Dresses/skirts must touch bottom of kneecap (0 inches above); no slit above knee.
Shorts	No shorts or culottes; children under 12 may at staff discretion.
Colors to avoid	No khaki outfits resembling inmate clothing. No green outfits resembling inmate clothing. No red or yellow outfits; nothing resembling inmate or staff uniforms.
Leggings, spandex	No leggings, jeggings, spandex, leotards, yoga pants unless covered by skirt. No tight or form fitting dresses such as knit or spandex.
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 clothing resembling staff uniforms.
Shoes	Shoes need heel or strap; no open-toed shoes. No slipper type shoes, shower shoes, or flip-flops.
Children	Children under 12 may wear shorts, max 6 inches above knee.

All 24 rules, in the BOP's own words

Length and fit

Dresses/skirts must touch bottom of kneecap (0 inches above); no slit above knee.Dresses or skirts must be no shorter than
No shorts or culottes; children under 12 may at staff discretion.strapless dresses, shorts, miniskirt, culottes and spandex
No tank tops.Halter tops, hooded clothing, tank tops, strapless tops,
No revealing V-necks or suggestive blouses.(i.e., revealing V-Neck, or any garment that reveals the mid-section)
Tops must cover stomach, chest, and back; nothing revealing mid-section.Tops will cover the upper body, including stomach, chest/breasts, and back.
No halter tops, strapless tops, or strapless dresses.Halter tops, hooded clothing, tank tops, strapless tops,
No transparent or see-through clothing.Visitors wearing transparent, revealing, or suggestive clothing will not be admitted into the institution.
No tight or form fitting dresses such as knit or spandex.Tight or form fitting dresses such as knit, spandex, or any other material that is form fitting will not be permitted.
No leggings, jeggings, spandex, leotards, yoga pants unless covered by skirt.Any “pantyhose” type leggings, Jeggings, Spandex, Leotards, Yoga pants, etc.
No pants with holes unless covered by dress/skirt.or pants with holes, will not be permitted unless the lower body is covered by an appropriate length dress/skirt.
No sweat shirts/pants or jogging outfits (resemble inmate clothing).Sweat shirts/pants, jogging outfits (pants or jackets) are not allowed

Colors and uniforms

No khaki outfits resembling inmate clothing.clothing (i.e., khaki, green, red and yellow outfits (top and
No green outfits resembling inmate clothing.clothing (i.e., khaki, green, red and yellow outfits (top and
No red or yellow outfits; nothing resembling inmate or staff uniforms.excessively resembles the style or color of inmate clothing
No clothing resembling staff uniforms.Clothing that resembles staff uniforms will not be worn.

Bras, underwear and metal

No watches or bracelets.No watches/bracelets are allowed.

Shoes

Shoes need heel or strap; no open-toed shoes.Shoes must have a heel or be able to strap to the foot.
No slipper type shoes, shower shoes, or flip-flops.2. Shower shoes 3. Flip-Flops

Hats, hoods and coats

No hooded clothing.Halter tops, hooded clothing, tank tops, strapless tops,

Children

Children under 12 may wear shorts, max 6 inches above knee.children under the age of twelve (12) will be allowed to wear shorts. Short pants will be no higher than 6 inches above the knee.

Everything else

No sexually suggestive/offensive writing or gang logos.wearing any clothing that contains sexually suggestive/offensive writing, or writing/logos that reference gangs.
Shoes required; no bare feet except babies.All visitors must be fully attired, including shoes.

If they say no

Visitors failing metal detector due to clothing may change and return.If clothing is preventing a visitor from clearing the metal detector they may return to their vehicle for a change of clothing.
Clothing deemed inappropriate for prison not authorized.Any clothing not noted above that is deemed inappropriate for wear in a correctional facility will not be authorized.

Inmate mailing address

Use their committed name exactly as the BOP Inmate Locator shows it. The name and number below are examples (JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES, 12345-678).

JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES
Reg. No. 12345-678
FCI Sheridan
P.O. Box 5000
Sheridan, Or 97378

Put their committed name and register number on the envelope. FCI inmates: P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378. Camp inmates: P.O. Box 6000, Sheridan, OR 97378 (from the BOP facility feed). Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗

Use the P.O. Box only. Never mail to the street address (27072 Ballston Road, Sheridan, Or 97378).

Their letters to you: Outgoing mail may not be sealed by them and may be read and inspected by staff. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Books and papers: Hard-cover publications and newspapers only from the publisher, a book club or a bookstore. Soft-cover publications also only from the publisher, a book club or a bookstore. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Photos: They may not keep Polaroid photos. Nude or sexually suggestive photos are not allowed. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Legal mail: Legal and Special Mail is handed out by unit staff. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Money: Never put money in a letter. Funds go to the BOP lockbox in Des Moines, Iowa: Federal Bureau of Prisons, their committed name and register number, P.O. Box 474701, Des Moines, IA 50947-0001 (see the Money tab). Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗

Books and magazines: at a medium security prison, books and magazines must come straight from a publisher, book club or bookstore (Amazon, for example), never from home.

How to send money to an inmate here

Use their committed name exactly as the BOP Inmate Locator shows it. The name and number below are examples (JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES, 12345-678).

Money never goes to Sheridan. 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: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗ 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 ↗

A U.S. Postal Service money order, the red and blue design, with the 5 boxes you fill in marked and numbered — The Postal Service's own sample of the new red-and-blue money order, with our example filled in. The clerk prints the amount, date and serial number. Tap to enlarge. Click here to read the source: U.S. Postal Service, Money Orders (sample images) ↗

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

The older green U.S. Postal Service money order — The older green design is still in use until the Post Office runs out of it. The boxes are the same. Click here to read the source: U.S. Postal Service, Money Orders (sample images) ↗

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.

Maria Smith-Jones
123 Main Street
Trenton, NJ 08608

STAMP

Federal Bureau of Prisons
JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES
12345678
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

The envelope. Nothing else inside: no letters, no photos.

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:

The MoneyGram blue ExpressPayment form, filled in by the BOP, with the 6 boxes you fill in marked 1 to 6 — The BOP's sample (2012). Fill in only the left "Pay a Bill" side. Tap to enlarge. Click here to read the source: the BOP's MoneyGram sample form ↗

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:

A Western Union Quick Collect payment form filled in for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, with the 5 boxes you fill in marked 1 to 5 — A 2008 version of the form, posted by a family-help site. The form in your store may look different, but the box names are the same. Tap to enlarge.

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: what they can spend

Sheridan's handbook (October 2021) says the national limit is $360 per month and inmates may spend only $180 every two weeks. National BOP policy (PS 4500.13, May 7, 2026) raised the monthly limit to $460, plus $50 more in November and December. The handbook has not caught up. If they refuse to pay court fines under the payment plan, the handbook says their limit is only $25 a month. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗ Click here to read the source: Program Statement 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (May 7, 2026) ↗

How shopping works at Sheridan

Commissary and validation schedules are posted on the inmate bulletin boards. (From the handbook.)
Each account is revalidated on a monthly cycle. (From the handbook.)
The commissary card is also their ID card and they must carry it. (From the handbook.)
The commissary list the BOP posts for Sheridan is a poor scan, so no price list is shown here.

The price list: Sheridan's official list is a scan or an older layout we could not turn into a reliable searchable list, so we don't retype prices we can't be sure of. Ask your loved one for the current list, or see the prison's page on bop.gov.

Phone calls and email

Minutes: 300 minutes a month, any mix of collect and direct calls. Each call is limited to 15 minutes. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Hours: Phones work from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (not holidays), access is normally limited from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. until after the 4:00 p.m. count. They are expected to be at work then. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Monitoring: Calls are subject to monitoring and recording by staff. A replacement fee is charged if a phone access code is lost or compromised. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Paying: Phone money moves from their commissary account to their phone account right away. Transfers can be made from any telephone. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗

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 Sheridan

Medical care level 2 and mental health care level 3 (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. Click here to read the source: BOP "Institution Care Levels for Medical Assignment," February 13, 2024 (released under FOIA 2024-03455) ↗

Sick call: Routine sick call is held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9:00 a.m. They must sign up in person; cop-outs are not accepted for sick call. There is no sick call on Wednesday. They must bring their ID card. If many people sign up, the provider may put urgent cases first and schedule others for later. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Co-pay: $2 for sick call visits they ask for. Staff can exempt people who are indigent. Routine dental care visits do not carry a co-pay. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Inspector General finding (November 2023): A backlog of 725 laboratory orders and 274 x-ray orders. Outside appointments were canceled between January and November 2023 because no staff were available to escort people. About 350 people were on the waitlist for routine dental care, 41 percent of them for 2 years or more. By May 2024 the lab backlog was 44 and the x-ray backlog 84. Click here to read the source: DOJ Inspector General, Inspection of FCI Sheridan, report 24-070 (May 2024) ↗

Write a sick call request →

Programs

RDAP (drug program; can mean up to a year off for those eligible): Sheridan has RDAP. The BOP's RDAP list (updated 6/4/2026) names FCI Sheridan (OR). They can apply at any time with an Inmate Request to Staff ("cop-out") to the drug abuse program coordinator. Interviews are based on how near they are to release, ordinarily 24 to 42 months out. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Drug treatment: Nonresidential drug abuse treatment is also offered. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
UNICOR (prison factory): The handbook says Sheridan does not currently have a UNICOR factory. The BOP's program guide (May 2026) does not name Sheridan as a Federal Prison Industries site. Click here to read the source: FCI Sheridan Admission and Orientation Handbook (October 2021) ↗
Waitlists: The Inspector General found that shortages of psychology and education staff meant long waits for programs, including about 600 people waiting for the first phase of the Resolve Program (a trauma treatment program). Click here to read the source: DOJ Inspector General, Inspection of FCI Sheridan, report 24-070 (May 2024) ↗

Safety record

Criminal cases at Sheridan

March 2025A man who escaped from the Sheridan federal prison was sentenced to 2 additional years, according to the Statesman Journal headline. (Statesman Journal)
May 2024The Justice Department's Inspector General published its inspection of FCI Sheridan. It found serious safety and security problems for employees and inmates, caused mainly by shortages of correctional officers and health care workers. (DOJ Inspector General report)

Deaths announced by the BOP

April 15, 2021A 47-year-old man who had earlier tested positive for COVID-19, and had been cleared as recovered, was pronounced dead. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Inmate Death at FCI Sheridan," April 19, 2021 ↗
August 12, 2021A 42-year-old man who had earlier tested positive for COVID-19, and had been cleared as recovered, was pronounced dead. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Inmate Death at FCI Sheridan," August 18, 2021 ↗
January 22, 2026A 62-year-old man was found unresponsive. Emergency medical services pronounced them dead. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Inmate Death at FCI Sheridan," January 23, 2026 ↗
May 6, 2026A 61-year-old man was found unresponsive after what the BOP release calls a "perceived altercation." Emergency medical services pronounced them dead. A second person was treated for minor injuries. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Death at FCI Sheridan," May 6, 2026 ↗
June 28, 2026A 53-year-old man was found unresponsive. Emergency medical services pronounced them dead. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Death at FCI Sheridan," June 29, 2026 ↗

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.

Sexual abuse audit (PREA)

The last federal sexual-abuse (PREA) audit visited Sheridan July 10 to 12, 2024. Result: 5 standards exceeded, 36 met, 0 not met. In the 12 months before the audit, Sheridan recorded 27 sexual-abuse allegations (20 against other inmates, 7 against staff) and 31 sexual-harassment allegations (21 against other inmates, 10 against staff). Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FCI Sheridan (onsite July 10 to 12, 2024) ↗

An allegation is a report, not a finding. The audit counts reports made, not what investigators concluded.

News about Sheridan

'Mayor Of Kingstown': Taylor Sheridan Prison Drama Starring Jeremy Renner & Edie Falco Officially Ending With Fifth SeasonThe Playlist · Jan 5, 2026
Water service returns to federal prison in SheridanOregon Public Broadcasting - OPB · Dec 22, 2025
FCI Sheridan Update, What's Next, How to Get InvolvedInnovation Law Lab · Dec 14, 2025

Stories from news outlets that name FCI Sheridan, checked every day. Last updated Nov 3, 2026, 2:17 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 Sheridan yet.

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