How to Send Money to FCI Butner Medium I

What You Need Before You Start

You need two things regardless of which method you choose:

1. The inmate’s 8-digit BOP register number. This is found on the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/. The format is XXXXX-XXX, but when you enter it for deposits, use 8 digits with no dashes (example: 12345678).
2. The inmate’s full committed legal name. This is the name on their legal documents, not a nickname.

If you have both of those, you can send money today.

Option 1: MoneyGram (Fastest Option)

MoneyGram deposits typically post within 2 to 4 hours when sent during business hours. You can send money online at moneygram.com, through the MoneyGram app, in person at a MoneyGram agent (Walmart, CVS, and thousands of other locations), or by calling 1-800-926-9400.

What to enter:

• Receive Code: 7932
• Company Name: Federal Bureau of Prisons
• City and State: Washington, DC
• Account Number: 8-digit register number immediately followed by last name, no spaces (example: 12345678DOE)
• Beneficiary Name: the inmate’s full committed name

Posting times:

• Sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST: posts within 2 to 4 hours
• Sent after 9:00 p.m. EST: posts by 7:00 a.m. the next morning

Online MoneyGram transactions have a per-transaction limit of $300. Visit a MoneyGram location for larger amounts.

Option 2: Western Union

Western Union is available in person at any Western Union location, online at westernunion.com or send2corrections.com, and by phone at 1-800-634-3422 (option 2).

What to enter:

• Code City: FBOP DC
• Account Number: 8-digit register number immediately followed by last name, no spaces
• Attention Line: the inmate’s full committed name

Posting times: Same as MoneyGram. Funds sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST post within 2 to 4 hours.

Option 3: USPS Money Order by Mail

If you prefer to mail a money order, send it to the BOP’s national lockbox in Des Moines. Do not mail it to FCI Butner Medium I in Butner, NC. The facility does not accept deposits directly.

Mailing address:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
[Inmate’s Full Committed Name]
[Inmate’s 8-Digit Register Number]
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

Accepted types:

• U.S. Postal Service money orders
• U.S. government checks
• Certified checks
• Cashier’s checks

Not accepted:

• Cash
• Personal checks
• Non-USPS money orders (held 15 days before posting)
• Foreign instruments (held 45 days before posting)

Mailed money orders take longer to post than electronic options. Plan ahead if the funds are needed for commissary or phone credits at a specific time.

Monthly Limits and How Funds Are Used

The BOP sets a monthly commissary spending limit of $360 per inmate. During November and December, an additional $50 is allowed for a total of $410 during the holiday period.

The spending limit applies to commissary purchases. Funds can accumulate in the account beyond $360, but the inmate can only spend $360 per month on commissary items. Postage stamps and over-the-counter medications purchased through the facility health services are not counted toward the commissary limit.

What commissary funds cover:

• Food items (snacks, instant meals, coffee)
• Hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant)
• Clothing items available at the commissary
• Postage stamps
• Phone call credits (transferred from the commissary account to the TRULINCS phone system)

Phone calls at FCI Butner Medium I go through ViaPath (TRULINCS/TRUFONE) at $0.21 per minute. Call credits come out of the inmate’s commissary account. Sending money is directly tied to how often they can call you.

Troubleshooting a Failed Deposit

If a deposit is rejected or does not post:

1. Check the register number. The most common reason for rejection is an incorrect or missing register number. Compare what you entered against the number shown at bop.gov/inmateloc/.
2. Check the name format. The name must match the committed name on file with the BOP exactly.
3. For MoneyGram: Call 1-800-926-9400 and provide the reference number from your transaction.
4. For Western Union: Call 1-800-634-3422 and provide your Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN).
5. For money orders: If not posted within a reasonable timeframe, call the BOP Trust Fund at (202) 307-2712.

What Does Not Work for BOP Facilities

Several services used for state inmates do not apply to federal BOP facilities:

• JPay is not accepted at BOP facilities
• Access Corrections is not accepted at BOP facilities
• TouchPay is not accepted at BOP facilities
• Sending money to the facility address in Butner will not work

Only MoneyGram (code 7932), Western Union (FBOP DC), and USPS money orders to the Des Moines lockbox are accepted.

What Happens to Funds When an Inmate Transfers

If your family member transfers to another BOP institution, the funds in their commissary account transfer with them. You do not need to re-send money or take any action. The account follows the register number, not the facility.