FDC Philadelphia Federal Prison: Visiting Hours, Address and Sending Money

Philadelphia at a glance

FDC Philadelphia is a Federal Detention Center in downtown Philadelphia. It holds men and women: people waiting for trial or sentencing (pretrial), people held for another court or prison (holdover), and people already sentenced who work there (the "cadre" or "designated" inmates). The BOP lists it as an administrative security facility. It has no camp.

How many people: 1,022 in the FDC (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 2: Routine outpatient mental health care, or short crisis care such as suicide watch. The mental health list gives the detention center "Admin" security and 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) ↗
Housing: Women (sentenced and pretrial/holdover) are on 3 South. Men are on the 3rd through 7th floors. The Special Housing Unit (SHU) is on the 8th floor. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Last audit snapshot: The 2024 audit gave the capacity as 1,123 and the average population over the past 12 months as 948. Ages ran from 18 to 79. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FDC Philadelphia (onsite April 2 to 4, 2024) ↗
Counts: Counts are at 12:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. counts are stand-up counts. On weekends and holidays there is also a 10:00 a.m. stand-up count. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
SHU: Someone in the SHU rotates cells no more than 21 days apart. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

The BOP's own page for FDC Philadelphia.

How far is it from you?

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

Plan your drive around this: Every visit must be booked ahead. Your visitor emails PHL-VisitingScheduler-S@bop.gov with: the inmate's name, register number and unit, the visitor's name, address, phone number and date of birth. Monthly schedules are posted on TRULINCS and the BOP website. The front lobby stops processing visitors 1 hour and 30 minutes before visiting ends (one line in the same rules says 1 hour). Do not arrive more than 15 minutes early. No one enters the visiting room after 9:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays because of the 10:00 a.m. count.

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
Men	Monday to Friday, on the unit's assigned day, by appointment	7:15 to 8:45 a.m., 9:15 to 10:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., or 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. (the rules print these as 0715-0845, 0915-1045, 1115-1245 and 1315-1445)
Men	Weekends and federal holidays, by appointment. 3 North gets the first two slots and 7 South the last two.	6:30 to 8:00 a.m., 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, or 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. (printed as 0630-0800, 0830-1000, 1030-1200 and 1230-1400)
Women	Monday to Friday, by appointment	6:30 to 8:30 a.m., or 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (printed as 0630-0830 and 1000-1400)
Women	Weekends and federal holidays, by appointment	7:30 to 9:30 a.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (printed as 0730-0930 and 0900-1300; the two slots overlap in the rules as printed, so ask the prison)
Special Housing Unit (SHU)	Sunday through Saturday, on a rotation by floor. Non-contact. Two visitors at a time for one and a half hours. No children under 18.	7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Attorneys (legal visits)	Monday to Friday. Tuesday is for attorneys only. Weekends and federal holidays too.	6:15 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (weekends and federal holidays: 7:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

Every visit must be booked ahead. Your visitor emails PHL-VisitingScheduler-S@bop.gov with: the inmate's name, register number and unit, the visitor's name, address, phone number and date of birth. Monthly schedules are posted on TRULINCS and the BOP website. The front lobby stops processing visitors 1 hour and 30 minutes before visiting ends (one line in the same rules says 1 hour). Do not arrive more than 15 minutes early. No one enters the visiting room after 9:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays because of the 10:00 a.m. count.

No social visits on Tuesday. Tuesday is set aside for attorneys only. Your loved one's unit has its own visiting day, so ask which day it is. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗

The BOP's own papers disagree. The BOP's papers for Philadelphia disagree with each other. Visiting rules (March 8, 2023), section 5 and 6: men visit Monday to Friday and weekends, in four time slots a day; men may embrace at the start and end; general-population men get 1.5 hours once a week plus up to 1.5 hours on Saturdays and holidays. The attachment to the same rules: men visit Wednesday through Saturday, women Sunday and Monday, and men visit up to 2 hours once a week (Monday to Friday) and 3 hours on Saturday. The handbook (April 1, 2022): pretrial and holdover visits are non-contact, one hour long, with zero tolerance for contact. Call 215-521-4000 and confirm the day, time and whether contact is allowed before you travel.

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

How many visits: Everyone gets at least 4 hours a month. Women may visit during their whole visiting day, once a week. General-population men get 1.5 hours once a week, plus up to 1.5 hours on Saturdays and federal holidays. Someone in the SHU gets 1.5 hours once a week, 6 hours a month. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
How many people: Ordinarily no more than 2 visitors at a time, children included. Exceptions need the Unit Manager's request and the Associate Warden of Programs' approval. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
Children: Children under 16 must come with a responsible adult. The attachment to the same rules says children under 18 must be with an adult on the list, and children 16 and 17 may come alone only with written permission from a parent or guardian. Everyone 16 or older needs photo ID. Children are not allowed to run around or make noise; if they cannot be controlled, the visit ends. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
ID: Every visitor 16 or older needs a valid State or government-issued photo ID. Each visitor also fills out a Notification to Visitor form (BP-A0224) and signs the visiting log. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
Screening: Everyone clears the walk-through metal detector. If you have a medical implant, show a medical card to the lobby officer. A hand-held detector is then used on that spot only; if it alerts anywhere else, you are denied entry. Visitors who cannot clear the detector and have no medical card are turned away. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
Money for vending machines: One small clear plastic wallet or change purse (no bigger than a gallon zip-lock bag) with one-dollar and five-dollar bills and change, no more than $20.00. Only visitors may use the vending machines. They must take the food out of its package and put it on a paper plate, and finish it during the visit. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
What you can carry: The clear wallet or purse above, medicine needed to sustain life (such as an inhaler), and for a baby: two disposable diapers, baby wipes in a clear plastic container, one plastic baby bottle, one clear sippy cup and one baby blanket. Everything else goes in the lockers at the front lobby. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
Not allowed in: No gum, candy or lozenges. No food or drinks in the front entrance or front lobby. No smoking or loitering at the front entrance. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
What not to wear: No athletic wear or sweatpants. No hats or scarves. No sleeveless tops, tank tops or jerseys. No sunglasses or hair picks. No tube tops, low-cut or tight-fitting clothes. No see-through or ripped clothing. No shorts more than 2 inches above the knee (children too). Skirts and dresses knee length or longer. No open-toed shoes, no knee- or thigh-high boots. No watches of any kind. A jacket or sweater worn in must stay on the whole visit. No grey sweatpants, no white T-shirts, and nothing yellow or orange. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
Touching: A handshake, hug and a brief closed-mouth kiss are allowed at the start and end of the visit only (but see the conflict above). Staff assign the seats. The inmate sits across from the adult visitors. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
What they wear: A yellow jumpsuit, underpants and T-shirt, socks and bus shoes. They may keep one plain wedding band (no stone) and one piece of religious head gear. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗
Sex offense involving a minor: An inmate convicted of a sex offense involving a minor has the visits closely monitored. Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗

How to get on the visiting list

Every newly arrived pretrial inmate mails the visitor form, BP-A0629 (Visitor Information), to each person they want to see.
The visitor fills it out and mails it directly to the counselor. The inmate cannot hand it in. Immediate family also send proof of the relationship.
Every visitor of a pretrial or holdover inmate gets a background check. Unit staff tell the inmate yes or no. They tell you. Do not travel until you are approved.
Pretrial and holdover inmates may have immediate family (mother, father, step-parents, foster parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, children) plus one additional adult who knew them before.
Sentenced "cadre" inmates may have 10 family members and 10 friends or associates. The handbook says up to 20 visitors, with up to 10 who are not immediate family.
A visitor with a criminal record must be approved by the Unit Manager and the Associate Warden of Programs. A visitor under 18 needs a parent or guardian to sign the form.
Pretrial and holdover inmates can change the list once a quarter (March, June, September and December). Cadre inmates can change it once a month.
If a pretrial inmate leaves and comes back and the visitor information is more than a year old, the visitor must send a new form.

Fill out the visiting form for Philadelphia →

Click here to read the source: PHL 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations, Institution Supplement (March 8, 2023) ↗

Driving directions (from the BOP)

The address: The institution is at the corner of 7th and Arch Streets: 700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Phone 215-521-4000. SEPTA 215-580-7800, New Jersey Transit 973-762-5100, Amtrak 800-872-7245, Greyhound 800-231-2222.
From New York City and New Jersey: 295 to 30 West. Follow 30 West across the Ben Franklin Bridge and exit at 8th Street. Left on 8th Street to Arch Street. The institution is at 7th and Arch Streets.
From Delaware and points south: 95 North, exit at 676/Callowhill Street. Follow Callowhill Street to 6th Street and turn left. Follow 6th Street to Arch Street and turn right. The institution is at 7th and Arch Streets.
From points north: 95 South, exit at Callowhill Street. Follow Callowhill Street to 6th Street and turn left. Follow 6th Street to Arch Street and turn right. The institution is at 7th and Arch Streets.
From points west: 76 to 676 East. Exit at 8th Street and follow it to Arch Street. The institution is at 7th and Arch Streets.

Street address for your GPS: 700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19106. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

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

FDC Philadelphia

Rules dated 03/08/2023 (3 years old)

Official rules (PDF) En español (PDF)

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

Skirts and dresses	Skirts/dresses knee length or lower (0 inches); attorneys up to 3 inches.
Shorts	Shorts no more than 2 inches above the knee, children included.
Colors to avoid	No orange clothing. No grey sweatpants. No yellow clothing, white t-shirts, or anything like inmate attire.
Leggings, spandex	No Lycra or spandex. No tight-fitting clothes such as Lycra 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	Not in the written rules. Many prisons ban both; leave them home.
Shoes	No open-toed shoes.
Children	No exceptions: shorts rule and jacket rule apply to children.

All 23 rules, in the BOP's own words

Length and fit

Skirts/dresses knee length or lower (0 inches); attorneys up to 3 inches.Skirts and dresses must be knee length or lower.
Shorts no more than 2 inches above the knee, children included.No shorts measuring more than 2 inches above the knee (all
No sleeveless tops, blouses, or tank tops.No sleeveless tops, blouses, tank tops or jerseys.
No low-cut revealing clothing.No tube tops, midriffs, or low-cut revealing clothing.
No midriff-baring clothing.No tube tops, midriffs, or low-cut revealing clothing.
No tube tops.No tube tops, midriffs, or low-cut revealing clothing.
No see-through clothing.No see-through clothing or ripped clothing of any kind.
No tight-fitting clothes such as Lycra or spandex.No tight-fitting clothes (i.e., Lycra, spandex).
No Lycra or spandex.No tight-fitting clothes (i.e., Lycra, spandex).
No ripped clothing of any kind.No see-through clothing or ripped clothing of any kind.
No athletic wear such as sweatpants or gym shorts.No athletic wear. This includes items such as sweatpants

Colors and uniforms

No orange clothing.any article of clothing yellow or orange in color is not authorized,
No grey sweatpants.Grey sweatpants, white t-shirts, and any article of clothing yellow or
No yellow clothing, white t-shirts, or anything like inmate attire.to include all other clothing similar to inmate attire.

Bras, underwear and metal

No watches of any kind.No watches of any kind.

Shoes

No open-toed shoes.No-open toed shoes. No knee or thigh-high boots.

Hats, hoods and coats

No hats or scarves, including scarves around neck or waist.No hats or scarves. This includes scarves around the neck
A jacket or sweater worn in must stay on the whole visit.If a jacket or sweater is worn in, it must remain on during the entire visit,

Children

No exceptions: shorts rule and jacket rule apply to children.persons to include children).

Everything else

No jerseys.No sleeveless tops, blouses, tank tops or jerseys.
No sunglasses or long hair picks.No sunglasses or long hair picks.
No knee or thigh-high boots; no pants tucked into boots.No knee or thigh-high boots. No pants should be tucked into boots.

If they say no

Lieutenant or IDO decides questionable attire and approves or denies.The Lieutenant or Institution Duty Officer (IDO) will be contacted if an individual’s dress attire is in question.

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
FDC Philadelphia
P.O. Box 562
Philadelphia, Pa 19105

The BOP lists this prison's inmate mail address as P.O. Box 562, Philadelphia, PA 19105. Put their name and register number on the envelope. Their housing unit helps. Never put money in a letter (see the Money tab). Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

Use the P.O. Box only. Never mail to the street address (700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19106).

Mail is copied: Incoming general mail is photocopied before they get it. Photos are copied too. Only pictures from authorized printing companies are handed out without copying. No Polaroid pictures. They may keep a total of 25 pictures. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Outgoing mail: They are not allowed to seal outgoing general mail. They must attach a printed mailing label (from TRULINCS) to each piece of outgoing mail, and handwrite their own address on the left side. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Big packages: Mail over 16 ounces is a package. It needs an approved authorization to mail a package first. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
No ordering: They may not order anything for which they are billed. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Other prisons: Writing to someone at another prison needs written permission from the Unit Manager (other federal prisons) or the Warden (state and local). Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Legal mail: To count as "Special Mail" the front of the envelope must say "Special Mail - Open only in the presence of the inmate," and the sender must be named on it (an attorney by name and title). Otherwise it is opened as general mail. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Money: Never put money orders or checks in a letter to the prison. No money is received through the mail here. All money goes to the BOP lockbox in Des Moines (see the Money tab). Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

Books and magazines: at a administrative 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 Philadelphia. 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: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗ 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

Philadelphia's handbook (April 2022) says the spending limit is $250.00 for the work cadre and $200.00 a month for pretrial and holdover inmates. National BOP policy (PS 4500.13, May 7, 2026) is $460 a month, plus $50 more in November and December. The handbook has not caught up, so ask what limit is in force now. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗ Click here to read the source: Program Statement 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (May 7, 2026) ↗

How shopping works at Philadelphia

They shop every other week on a day for their unit. The commissary sheet is turned in <strong>one day before</strong>, for pick-up at 7:00 a.m. A sheet that misses pick-up waits for the next shopping day.
Commissary is delivered on the units after lunch. They must be in their cells. Staff call cell numbers one at a time, and they must show their ID card.
Check the order before leaving the window. Mistakes found later are a final sale.
They must bring a laundry bag to the sales window to carry the order. Without one, the order may be credited back to the account.
Sneakers: one pair, two times a year. Extra stamps need the Unit Manager's approval.

The price list: Philadelphia'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. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Commissary order form and price list (PDF created June 22, 2026) ↗

Phone calls and email

Minutes: 300 minutes a month. Each call is limited to 15 minutes, with a one-hour wait between calls. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Hours: Phones work from 6:00 until 9:30 p.m. daily. Everyone must hang up during a count, a census or feeding times. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Contacts: Up to 30 telephone numbers and 100 postal and email contacts. They enter them in TRULINCS. Each phone call uses a 9-digit Phone Access Code (PAC). Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Email: TRULINCS email costs .05 cents a minute (as the handbook writes it). You must accept their request on corrlinks.com first. Printing costs .15 a page. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Rules: All calls are monitored and recorded. No three-way calls, call forwarding or third-party calls. A new PAC costs $5.00 if it is lost or shared. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

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 Philadelphia

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

Sick call: They hand a Sick Call request form to Health Services staff on the unit in the morning. Forms are collected Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Not on Wednesday. Urgent cases are seen the same day. Others get an appointment, by mail, up to 15 working days out for a stable condition. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Co-pay: Usually $2.00 a visit. Not charged: emergency services, prenatal care and chronic conditions. No one is denied care for lack of money. The handbook calls "without funds" a balance of no more than $6.00 for the past 30 days. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Pill line: Morning pill line 6:45 to 8:45 a.m., evening 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., on the housing unit. They must bring a cup of water so staff can watch them swallow. Refills are requested in TRULINCS and are not processed on weekends. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Dental: A dentist and a dental assistant work here. They ask through a sick call form. Because many people stay a short time, emergency care comes first; routine care goes first to sentenced (designated) inmates. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Mental health: Psychologists are usually in the building 7 AM to 4 PM on weekdays, and one is always on call for emergencies. They send an Inmate Request to Staff (cop-out) or ask for help. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Medication for opioid use: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is offered to people with a history of problematic opioid use who qualify. They send an electronic message to "PHL/Inmate to Psychology." Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

Write a sick call request →

Programs

RDAP (drug program; can mean up to a year off for those eligible): The handbook says FDC Philadelphia does not offer RDAP. A cadre inmate who wants RDAP at another prison sends an electronic message to "PHL/Inmate to Psychology" for the Drug Abuse Program Coordinator. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Other drug programs: Drug Education classes (required if the pre-sentence report shows drug or alcohol use; skipping them blocks pay above maintenance level and a Federal Prison Industries job), non-residential drug treatment, and transition services for people who finished RDAP elsewhere. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Education: Cadre inmates are interviewed by Education staff on arrival. Without a diploma or GED proof within 60 days they take the TABE test and are placed in GED classes. English-as-a-Second-Language classes are offered. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Release preparation: Work cadre inmates within 17 to 20 months of release attend the Release Orientation Program. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Work and pay: Institution work details are paid performance pay based on the job, pay grade and hours worked. Above entry level needs a high school diploma, a GED or an exemption. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗
Treaty transfer: Cadre inmates who are foreign citizens may be eligible to transfer to their home country to serve the sentence. Ask the Case Manager. Click here to read the source: FDC Philadelphia Admission and Orientation Handbook (revised April 1, 2022) ↗

Philadelphia is a detention center, so most programs are for the sentenced "cadre" (designated) inmates. The BOP's First Step Act guide (May 2026) does not list Philadelphia among its RDAP locations. Click here to read the source: First Step Act Approved Programs Guide (May 2026) ↗

Safety record

Criminal cases at Philadelphia

May 2026A former Philadelphia federal corrections officer was sentenced to 30 years for sexually assaulting an inmate. (Corrections1)
December 2025A former federal corrections officer pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a woman on suicide watch. (PennLive.com)
May 2025A corrections officer was charged with sexually assaulting an inmate at the Federal Detention Center. (PhillyVoice)

Deaths announced by the BOP

August 9, 2026A 20-year-old man arrived the day before as a pretrial inmate and was found unresponsive at about 1:30 p.m. The BOP says the man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service were notified. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Death at FDC Philadelphia," August 10, 2026 ↗
March 21, 2026A 49-year-old man who arrived nine days earlier as a pretrial inmate was found unresponsive at about 11:10 a.m. The BOP says the man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service were notified. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Death at FDC Philadelphia," March 21, 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 Philadelphia April 2 to 4, 2024. Result: 6 standards exceeded, 35 met, 0 not met. In the 12 months before the audit, Philadelphia recorded 3 sexual-abuse allegations (all against other inmates) and 4 sexual-harassment allegations (3 against other inmates, 1 against staff). Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FDC Philadelphia (onsite April 2 to 4, 2024) ↗

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

News about Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board Explained: What is it and what do they do?City of Philadelphia (.gov) · Sep 17, 2026
Former Philadelphia prison guard pleads guilty to civil rights violations, falsifying recordsWHYY · Mar 20, 2026
Philadelphia prisons improving, but far from perfectWHYY · Mar 16, 2026

Stories from news outlets that name FDC Philadelphia, checked every day. Last updated Nov 3, 2026, 1:34 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 Philadelphia yet.

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