USP Big Sandy is a high-security United States Penitentiary operated by the Bureau of Prisons in Inez, Martin County, Kentucky. It holds sentenced federal male inmates serving long sentences. As of early 2025, it housed approximately 1,223 inmates at the main compound alongside a minimum-security satellite camp. This guide covers how to find an inmate on BOP.gov, visiting hours on weekends and holidays, how to send money via MoneyGram or Western Union, phone calls through TRUFONE, mail and photos, and CorrLinks email. All data verified from BOP.gov.
City
Inez
County
Martin County
State
KY
Facility Type
United States Penitentiary
Gender
Male
Capacity
1076
Custody Levels
High
Operator
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
Address
1197 Airport Road, Inez, KY 41224
Phone
(606) 433-2400
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Search by name at bop.gov/inmateloc/ to get their register number, current facility, and projected release date. The register number is required for all services.
View ArticleVisiting is Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. You must be on the approved list before arriving. The inmate submits a BP-A0629 form for each visitor.
View ArticleMoneyGram Receive Code 7932 or Western Union Code City FBOP DC. All deposits go through the BOP lockbox in Des Moines. Monthly commissary limit is $320.
View ArticleInmates get 300 minutes per month with a 15-minute limit per call. Phone hours are 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Calls are outbound only.
View ArticleMail goes to P.O. Box 2067, Inez, KY 41224. Always include the register number. No Polaroid photos. Books must come directly from the publisher.
View ArticleRegister free at CorrLinks.com, but the inmate must add you from inside first. Once connected, you can exchange text-only messages monitored by BOP staff.
View ArticleUSP Big Sandy is the BOP's highest-security level. It holds inmates serving long federal sentences, with an average stay of over 38 years. Learn about programs, the satellite camp, and how the facility works.
View ArticleThe BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/ is the official source for all federal inmates, including USP Big Sandy. Search by full legal name or register number. If your loved one was just transferred, allow 1 to 2 business days for the record to update. The register number (format XXXXX-XXX) is required to send money, use CorrLinks, and for the visitor approval process. Note that FCI Big Sandy (a separate medium-security facility) also exists in eastern Kentucky. The BOP locator will show which specific facility your loved one is assigned to.
See the full breakdownVisiting days at USP Big Sandy are Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Always call (606) 433-2400 to confirm hours have not changed before making the trip. You must be on the approved visitor list before arriving: walk-ins are not permitted. The inmate submits a BP-A0629 Visitor Information form for each person they want to add. Allow several weeks for processing. Inmates receive 6 visiting points per month, with 1 point deducted per visit.
See the full breakdownBOP accepts funds three ways: MoneyGram (Receive Code 7932, available at Walmart and most MoneyGram locations), Western Union (Code City: FBOP DC), or a money order mailed to the BOP lockbox at P.O. Box 474701, Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001. Always include the inmate's full legal name and 8-digit register number. Funds post within 2 to 4 hours for MoneyGram and Western Union sent during business hours. Monthly commissary spending limit is $320.
See the full breakdownCalls are outbound only through TRUFONE, 300 minutes per month, 15 minutes per call, all monitored and recorded. Phone hours are 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. The inmate must add your number to their approved contact list from inside before they can call you. Email runs through TRULINCS, accessed externally via CorrLinks at corrlinks.com. The inmate must initiate the connection.
See the full breakdownMail to: [Inmate Full Legal Name, Register Number], P.O. Box 2067, Inez, Kentucky 41224. Include the register number on every envelope. No Polaroid photos. No nude or sexually suggestive photos. Books and magazines must come directly from the publisher or bookstore, not from home. Packages from home are not permitted.
See the full breakdown6 of 6 questions
Go to bop.gov/inmateloc/ and search by full legal name or BOP register number. USP Big Sandy holds sentenced federal inmates, so they should appear in the locator. If a transfer just happened, allow 1 to 2 business days for the record to update. You can also call (606) 433-2400 to confirm.
Inmate SearchVisiting is Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Weekday visiting is not offered for general population inmates. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list before you arrive. Call (606) 433-2400 to confirm the schedule has not changed before making the trip.
VisitationUse MoneyGram Receive Code 7932. This is the BOP-wide code for all federal facilities, including USP Big Sandy. You also need the inmate's full legal name and 8-digit register number. You can also send money via Western Union (Code City: FBOP DC) or mail a money order to the BOP lockbox in Des Moines, Iowa. Monthly commissary limit is $320.
Send MoneyAll calls go through TRUFONE (part of the TRULINCS system). Inmates get 300 minutes per month with a 15-minute limit per call. Calls are outbound only. The inmate must add your number to their approved contact list from inside before they can call you. Phone hours run 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.
Phone CallsSend mail to: [Inmate Full Legal Name, Register Number], P.O. Box 2067, Inez, Kentucky 41224. Always include the BOP register number or the mail may be returned. Do not use the physical address (1197 Airport Road) for inmate mail.
MailUSP stands for United States Penitentiary. USPs are the Bureau of Prisons' highest-security facilities, housing inmates with long sentences who require close supervision. FCIs (Federal Correctional Institutions) are medium-security. An FCI Big Sandy also exists in eastern Kentucky but it is a completely separate facility with a different address and inmate population.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified June 14, 2026.