Mail & Photos to FMC Butner. Address, Rules & What to Send

The Correct Mailing Address

Send all personal mail to:

[Full Legal Name, BOP Register Number] Federal Medical Center P.O. Box 1500 Butner, NC 27509

Write “Federal Medical Center” on line two, not “FMC” or nothing. FCI Butner Medium II also uses P.O. Box 1500. The institution name is the only thing that routes your letter to the right place. If you leave it off or abbreviate it incorrectly, your mail may end up at the wrong institution and take weeks to sort out.

Satellite Camp inmates: Use “SATELLITE CAMP” instead of “Federal Medical Center” on line two. The rest of the address is the same.

The BOP register number on line one is also critical. Without it, mailroom staff may not be able to match your letter to the right person. If you do not know the register number, use the BOP inmate locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/ to find it.

Put your full return name and address on the outside of every envelope. Mail without a return address may not be accepted.

What Happens to Your Mail

All incoming personal mail at FMC Butner is opened and inspected by mailroom staff before it is delivered to the inmate. Staff check for contraband, prohibited content, and items that violate BOP mail policy. This is standard at all federal prisons.

If mail is rejected, the inmate typically receives notice so they can tell you. Rejected mail is either returned to the sender or destroyed, depending on the reason.

Mail that passes inspection is delivered to the inmate’s housing unit. Delivery time after arrival at the facility is typically within a few business days.

Sending Photos

Photos are one of the most meaningful things you can send. The BOP permits photographs in personal mail with certain limits.

Photos are allowed if they:

• Are standard print photos (typical 4x6 or 5x7 size works well)
• Show family members, friends, or other appropriate subjects
• Do not contain nudity or sexually explicit content
• Do not show weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or gang-related content
• Do not depict anything that could be used for illicit purposes

Photos are not allowed if they:

• Are Polaroid images (Polaroids are prohibited BOP-wide)
• Are printed on glossy card stock that could conceal contraband
• Exceed the size limits the facility currently enforces

Call (919) 575-3900 to confirm current photo size limits and any restrictions specific to FMC Butner before sending a large batch. Rules can change.

Sending Cards and Letters

Standard personal letters and greeting cards are accepted. Cards with attached items are not allowed:

• No stickers attached to the card or envelope
• No glitter or other loose materials
• No items embedded in the card stock (no pop-ups, raised elements, or metallic inserts)
• No perfume or scented items applied to the paper
• No lipstick or other personal substances on the letter or envelope

Plain white envelopes are safest. Keep the letter itself clean and straightforward.

Sending Books and Publications

Books, magazines, and other publications are allowed at FMC Butner, but they must come directly from an approved source. You cannot include a book in a personal envelope or package.

How to send books:

Order directly from a publisher, Amazon, a bookstore, or another approved commercial vendor. The package ships directly to:

Federal Medical Center [Full Legal Name, BOP Register Number] P.O. Box 1500 Butner, NC 27509

Books arrive in a commercial package from the vendor. Mailroom staff verify they came from a legitimate commercial source. Books sent in personal mail or repackaged are rejected.

Magazines and periodicals: Subscribe through the publisher and use the P.O. Box 1500 address. The inmate’s name and register number must appear on the subscription label.

Content restrictions: Books and publications with sexually explicit material, instructions for making weapons or drugs, or content that poses a security threat are not permitted.

Legal Mail

Legal mail from attorneys is handled separately. Mark the envelope clearly with language like “Legal Mail: Attorney-Client Privileged” on the outside. Legal mail is opened in the presence of the inmate to confirm it contains no contraband, but the contents are not read by staff. If the envelope is not clearly marked as legal mail, it may be opened and read like regular correspondence.

Attorneys should confirm current legal mail procedures with FMC Butner at (919) 575-3900 before sending sensitive materials.

What Not to Send

Never include any of the following in mail to FMC Butner:

• Cash in any form
• Personal checks
• Stamps
• Stickers or decals
• Glitter or any loose material
• Items embedded in cards or envelopes
• Food, gum, or edibles of any kind
• Polaroid photos
• Packages of clothing, toiletries, or personal items
• Anything with controlled substances on or in it

Attempting to introduce contraband through the mail is a federal crime.

What to Do If Mail Is Rejected

If a letter or package is rejected, the inmate receives a notice explaining why. Call FMC Butner at (919) 575-3900 if you want to understand what happened or how to send something in a way that will be accepted. Keep your postal receipts and tracking information for any packages you send.

Staying in Touch Through Other Channels

Mail takes time. While you wait for letters to arrive, you can also reach out through CorrLinks email and phone calls. Visits are another way to connect when timing allows. See the visiting guide for hours and what to expect if your family member is an inpatient.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at FMC Butner is through Pigeonly. Upload your photos or write your letter online, and Pigeonly prints and mails everything to the facility for you, following the mail rules listed above.