Federal Prison Camp · Alderson, West Virginia
FPC Alderson
- Security level
- Minimum
- Medical care level
- 2 of 4
- Mental health care level
- 2 of 4
- Population
- 406
- Phone
- 304-445-3300
Last checked: November 3, 2026 (BOP documents for this prison) Intel last checked: November 3, 2026 BOP status updated: Nov 3, 2026, 10:40 pm ET News updated: Nov 3, 2026, 6:54 pm ET
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Alderson at a glance
Alderson is a minimum-security federal prison camp (FPC) for women. It sits in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
- How many people
- 406 in the FPC (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 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
- Women. On the first day of the 2024 audit, ages ran from 21 to 75. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FPC Alderson (onsite April 9 to 11, 2024) ↗
- Built for
- 992 people. At the time of the 2024 audit it held 712, and it had not been over capacity in the 12 months before. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FPC Alderson (onsite April 9 to 11, 2024) ↗
- Average stay
- 338.3 days. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FPC Alderson (onsite April 9 to 11, 2024) ↗
- Counts
- At least five official counts every 24 hours. They stand beside their bed at the 4:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. counts, and also at 10:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Tobacco
- "Inmate smoking is prohibited in all BOP facilities." Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- No holdovers
- Alderson does not house pretrial, holdover or detainee inmates. People who arrive in that status go to the local jail until they are sent elsewhere. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
How far is it from you?
Driving directions (Google Maps) → Bus or train (Google Maps) →
Plan your drive around this: The handbook says processing ends at 2:30 p.m. Visitors may arrive 15 minutes before visiting starts but must stay in their car until visiting opens. There is a count at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays; visitors are still processed during a count but wait while the visiting room officers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting room (all housing) | Saturday, Sunday, Monday and federal holidays | 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (handbook, March 2026) |
| Same days, per the 2022 visiting rules | Saturday, Sunday, Monday and federal holidays | 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. |
The handbook says processing ends at 2:30 p.m. Visitors may arrive 15 minutes before visiting starts but must stay in their car until visiting opens. There is a count at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays; visitors are still processed during a count but wait while the visiting room officers count.
The handbook lists no regular visiting days except Monday, Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays. Anyone held in the jail does not get visits. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
The BOP's own papers disagree. Alderson's two papers disagree. The visiting rules (August 23, 2022) say 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and holidays. The handbook (March 2026) says 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A page at the back of the 2022 rules also says Fridays 11:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.; the handbook lists no Friday visits. The rules say friends are ordinarily limited to 6; the handbook says the whole list is limited to 20. Call 304-445-3300 before you drive.
The rules at the door: ID, points, what you can bring
- How many people
- No more than 4 adult visitors at one time unless the Unit Manager approves more. Children are not counted in the 4 in the visiting rules. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- Who can be on the list
- Up to 20 visitors, family and friends together (handbook). The 2022 rules say friends and associates are ordinarily limited to 6, and they must have known your loved one before prison unless the Warden approves. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- ID
- Everyone 16 or older must show a valid driver's license or other state or government photo ID. No photo ID, no visit. Children under 16 must come with a responsible adult. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Children
- Children over 16 but under 18 must be on the approved list and have ID. A person aged 16 or 17 may not supervise a younger child. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- Notification form
- Every visitor 16 or older fills out and signs a "Notification to Visitor" form (BP-A0224) at every visit. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- What you can carry
- One clear plastic purse or bag, no bigger than 12 by 12 inches. No wallets. Only life-saving medicine (nitroglycerin, an albuterol inhaler or an EpiPen) is allowed, and staff keep it at the officer station. Cell phones, tobacco and handbags stay locked in your car. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- For a baby
- Per baby: 1 clear diaper bag (12 by 12), 1 baby carrier, 1 baby food container (unopened), 1 bottle, 2 unopened containers of formula or milk, 10 diapers, 1 pack of wipes, 1 small blanket, 1 hat, 1 change of clothes, 1 baby lotion, 1 baby powder, 1 diaper rash ointment, 1 toy. A place is set aside for nursing. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- What to wear
- Shorts are allowed, but they must reach the top of the knee. Visitors must wear a bra. No tube tops, tank tops, hats, caps, sunglasses (unless prescribed), muscle shirts, miniskirts, halter tops or see-through clothing. No open-toed shoes. Sun dresses are allowed if they are not revealing. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- Touching
- A hug and kiss when the visit starts and when it ends. They may hold hands during the visit but may not put arms over each other's shoulders or sit on each other. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- Vending machines
- Visitors can buy food from the visiting room machines. The papers give no dollar limit. They must never handle money, and may not pass anything to you. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
- Where to park
- Park in a marked space in the "Visitor Parking" area. Do not drop visitors at the Stone Gate; go to the visiting room processing area. No one may wait in the parking lot, and everyone leaves right after the visit. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- When it gets crowded
- The visiting room holds 131 people (main room 44, middle room 45, children's center 42). When it is full, visits end by how often you visit, then friends before family, then how far you traveled. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Photos
- An inmate photographer takes pictures with picture stubs bought at the commissary. You may not bring a camera. Click here to read the source: ALD 5267.09E, Visiting Regulations (August 23, 2022) ↗
How to get on the visiting list
- Within 48 hours of arriving, they fill out an Immediate Family Visiting List and give it to their counselor.
- Parents, step-parents, foster parents, sisters, brothers, a legal spouse, children and step-children named in their pre-sentence report can usually be approved quickly without more paperwork.
- Everyone else (including grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, cousins and friends) fills out the Visitor Information form, BP-A0629, and passes a background check.
- The handbook says this takes about 3 weeks. They are told of each approval at mail call, and they tell you. Do not drive until you are approved.
- To change the list, they ask their counselor for the "Requested Change in Visiting List" form.
- Visitors on probation or parole need written approval from their probation officer first. A past conviction alone does not stop a visit, but the Warden must approve it.
- A former Alderson inmate who is an immediate family member needs the Warden's written approval at least two weeks before the visit.
Driving directions (from the BOP)
- From the northeast and east
- Take Interstate 64 and exit at Alta (exit 161). Go south on Route 12 to Alderson, about 12 miles.
- From the south
- Take Interstate 77 to Bluefield, West Virginia. Switch from I-77 to I-64 near mile marker 120, around Beckley. Exit I-64 at Alta (exit 161) and go south on Route 12 to Alderson, about 12 miles.
- From the west
- From Charleston, take the West Virginia Turnpike to Beckley and connect with I-64. Exit at Alta (exit 161) and go south on Route 12 to Alderson, about 12 miles.
- Flying in
- Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) in Lewisburg is about 20 miles away. Raleigh County Airport (BKW) in Beaver, West Virginia, is about 60 miles away. The visiting rules say there is no public transport because of the remote location.
Street address for your GPS: Glen Ray Rd. Box A, Alderson, Wv 24910. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
The BOP beats to its own drum. The front desk has the final say. Keep a spare outfit in the car.
FPC Alderson
Official rules (PDF) En español (PDF)
4 years old. Ask your loved one to check the copy posted in the unit before you drive.
| Skirts and dresses | No miniskirts; no inch limit given; cover body to upper knee. |
|---|---|
| Shorts | Shorts allowed but must at least touch the top of the knee. |
| Colors to avoid | Visitors may not dress like the inmate-issued uniform. |
| Leggings, spandex | Not in the written rules. Many prisons still turn leggings away. |
| Bras and metal | Female visitors must wear a bra. |
| Camouflage, military | Not in the written rules. Many prisons ban both; leave them home. |
| Shoes | No open-toed shoes for any visitor. |
| Children | Not in the written rules. |
All 15 rules, in the BOP's own words
Length and fit
- No miniskirts; no inch limit given; cover body to upper knee.
may not wear miniskirts, halter tops, or
- Shorts allowed but must at least touch the top of the knee.
however, the shorts, at a minimum, must touch the top of the knee
- Sleeveless shirts allowed if they do not reveal undergarments; no tank/muscle shirts.
Visitors are permitted to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts
- No tube tops, tank tops, or (women) halter tops.
Tube tops, tank tops, hats, caps, sunglasses
- No see-through clothing of any kind.
see-through clothing of any kind
- No slacks or jeans slit or cut to reveal buttocks.
slacks or jeans slit or cut to reveal buttocks
- Bathing suits are inappropriate.
see-through blouses, bathing suits, miniskirts
Colors and uniforms
- Visitors may not dress like the inmate-issued uniform.
Visitors will not dress in a manner that resembles the inmate-issued uniform.
Bras, underwear and metal
- Female visitors must wear a bra.
Female visitors must wear a bra
- Lack of proper undergarments is inappropriate.
a lack of proper undergarments
Shoes
- No open-toed shoes for any visitor.
No visitor, male or female, will wear open-toed shoes.
Hats, hoods and coats
- No hats, caps, or doo-rags.
Tube tops, tank tops, hats, caps, sunglasses (unless prescribed), doo-rags, and muscle shirts are not permitted.
Everything else
- No revealing or possibly offensive clothing; sun dresses OK if not revealing.
Any clothing that is considered to be revealing or possibly offensive to other visitors will not be allowed into the Visiting Room.
- No sunglasses unless prescribed.
sunglasses (unless prescribed)
If they say no
- Clothing exposing shoulder-to-upper-knee areas means refused entry.
Any apparel that does not adequately cover or which exposes the primary areas of the body from shoulder height to the upper knee area will result in that visitor being refused entrance
Inmate mailing address
JOHN ANTHONY SMITH-JONES Reg. No. 12345-678 FPC Alderson Glen Ray Rd. Box A Alderson, Wv 24910
Put their name, register number, housing unit and range (1, 2, 3 or 4) on the envelope. "Post Office Box A" must be the only line above the city, state and ZIP, or the mail can be delayed or not delivered. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
Use the P.O. Box only. Never mail to the street address (Glen Ray Rd. Box A, Alderson, Wv 24910).
- Paper and envelopes
- Envelopes and paper must be white. Labels on the envelope are rejected. No glitter, stickers, lipstick, crayon or marker, no card-stock envelopes or paper, and nothing sprayed with perfume. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Opened and checked
- Regular mail is opened and checked for contraband. Special (legal) mail is opened only in front of them. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Books and magazines
- They may keep no more than 5 books, 5 magazines and 2 newspapers. Hardback books and newspapers must come from the publisher. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Packages
- The only package they may get from home is release clothing, and only in the last 30 days of their sentence. Medical devices need approval from the Health Services Administrator. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Mail days
- Mail is handed out Monday through Friday after the 4:15 p.m. count, with a late mail call before the 9:15 p.m. count. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- After release
- Mail that arrives after release is forwarded for 30 days. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Money
- Never put money in a letter. It goes to the BOP lockbox in Des Moines, Iowa (see the Money tab). Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
Books and magazines: at a minimum 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 Alderson. 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: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗ 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: what they can spend
Alderson's handbook (March 2026) says they may spend $360 a month, $180 every two weeks, or $90 a week, at the Warden's choice. National BOP policy (PS 4500.13, May 7, 2026) raised the limit from $360 to $460 a month, plus $50 more in November and December. Alderson's handbook has not caught up. Stamps, copy cards and over-the-counter medicine do not count toward the limit. Special purchase orders (health needs, approved craft supplies, religious items) are capped at $300 a month. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗ Click here to read the source: Program Statement 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (May 7, 2026) ↗
How shopping works at Alderson
- They shop <strong>once a week</strong>, on their assigned day.
- They fill out a commissary sheet and turn it in by <strong>noon the day before</strong>. The order is shopped for them. Verbal orders are not taken.
- They must show their inmate account card at the window.
- The list says prices can change without notice. Borrowing commissary items from others is not allowed.
- They may buy no more than <strong>20 stamps</strong> per shopping day and may keep no more than <strong>60 stamps</strong> (plus up to $34.80 of other stamps).
The price list: Alderson'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. Calls ordinarily may not go past 15 minutes. They may list up to 30 numbers, entered through TRULINCS. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Hours
- Phones work 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- TRULINCS email is open 7 days a week, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. It costs $.05 per minute. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Paying
- Phone credit moves from their account in whole-dollar amounts, up to two times a day. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
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 Alderson
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
- Sign-up is 7:00 to 7:15 a.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. No sick call on Wednesday, weekends or holidays. They fill out a triage form, and a provider reviews it. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Dental
- Dental sick call is at the same times. Routine care such as cleanings is requested by "cop-out" (a written request). New arrivals get a dental exam within 30 days. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- First exam
- A full history and physical within 14 days of arriving. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Routine requests
- A written request (cop-out) gets an appointment within 30 days. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Screening
- Mammograms and Pap smears are offered every 2 years for ages 40 to 50. Those 50 and older may get a physical and mammogram every year. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Co-pay
- $2.00 per complaint when they start the visit. Emergencies are not charged. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Emergency
- If they get sick on the job or after hours, they tell their detail supervisor or unit officer. Staff call EMS for emergencies. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
Programs
- RDAP (drug program; can mean up to a year off for those eligible)
- The BOP's guide lists FPC Alderson as an RDAP site. The program lasts at least 9 months, in a separate unit. They apply by writing to the drug abuse program coordinator and are enrolled by how close they are to release. People with a non-violent offense can get up to a year off for completing it. Click here to read the source: First Step Act Approved Programs Guide (May 2026) ↗
- Other drug programs
- The Drug Abuse Education Course and the non-residential drug program (NRDAP). Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Resolve (trauma program)
- Starts with a 4-week workshop called Trauma in Life, then a formal assessment, then a 12-week group called Seeking Safety. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Psychology groups
- Anger Management, Basic Cognitive Skills, Criminal Thinking, Emotional Self-Regulation and Trauma in Life. They join by cop-out. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Jobs
- Everyone works full time unless medically excused. Pay runs from no more than $5.25 a month up to $.40 an hour. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Education
- GED, English as a second language, adult continuing education, vocational training, apprenticeships, college correspondence courses and a Career/Work Readiness certificate. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
- Release preparation
- A three-day Release Orientation Program, a Career Resource Center, and a Prisoner Visitation (PVS) program for people who get no visits. Click here to read the source: FPC Alderson Inmate Handbook (updated March 2026) ↗
The BOP's First Step Act guide lists an RDAP at FPC Alderson (list updated June 4, 2026). Click here to read the source: First Step Act Approved Programs Guide (May 2026) ↗
Safety record
Criminal cases at Alderson
Deaths announced by the BOP
- January 12, 2022A 59-year-old woman died in a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Inmate Death at FPC Alderson," January 19, 2022 ↗
- January 14, 2022A 30-year-old woman died in a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Click here to read the source: BOP press release, "Inmate Death at FPC Alderson," January 19, 2022 ↗
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. We found no BOP press release announcing a death at Alderson after January 2022 (checked November 3, 2026).
Sexual abuse audit (PREA)
The last federal sexual-abuse (PREA) audit visited Alderson April 9 to 11, 2024. Result: 0 standards exceeded, 45 met, 0 not met. In the 12 months before the audit, Alderson recorded 13 sexual-abuse allegations (11 against staff, 2 against other inmates) and no sexual-harassment allegations. The auditor noted that 6 were still being investigated at the time of the visit. Click here to read the source: PREA audit report, FPC Alderson (onsite April 9 to 11, 2024) ↗
An allegation is a report, not a finding. The audit counts reports made, not what investigators concluded.
News about Alderson
- FPC Alderson inmates reunite with children in Easter celebrationWVVA · Apr 4, 2026
Stories from news outlets that name FPC Alderson, checked every day. Last updated Nov 3, 2026, 6:54 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 Alderson yet.
Know something about Alderson that families should know? Tell Scooter. Our team checks every report before it goes up, and we never publish names.