Hi we finally received the letter today and he will report in a couple of weeks to Morgantown. I thought I was prepared but fell apart when he called me to let me know. Any info on this facility would be great since I thought he was going to Beckley I did no research on Morgantown. What will fist few weeks be like, visits? I read you can not take toys and I have a toddler- how will we do that?? Can he call me cell from this facility or only home phone. Please help!! Thank you, Jackie:confused:

:) Hello and welcome to PTO :)

Welcome to PTO!

I know this might not be much help and no prison is fun, but the excerpt below was taken from an article in Forbes Magazine

"Perched amid the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia, Morgantown is one of the most picturesque camps in the system. Inmates say it is not unusual for them to awake in the morning to the sight of deer grazing on the compound.

Location: Morgantown, W.Va.
Opened: 1969
Capacity: 935
Population: 1,009
Amenities: Dorms house up to 300 men, sleeping in two-man cubes. Weights, pool and pingpong tables. Classes in leatherworking, art and wood carving. No organized team sports.
Vocational training offered in data entry and welding, plus apprenticeship programs in baking, commercial photography, computer technology, air-conditioning systems, landscaping, printing presses, painting and plumbing.
Prisoner perks: Morgantown is one prison camp that isn't located on a military base. This means that instead of taking three or four hours getting cleared to enter the base and then the camp, Morgantown visitors can practically breeze right in and out."

Make sure you post your questions and concerns in the Federal Forum also. It gets much more traffic and you may get answers much sooner. Good luck!

Welcome to PTO! (just a little late!)

Its crazy with the feds...you really never know where until it's done! And regardless how much you try to prepare yourself emotionally, it's often difficult!

There is a club with ladies who have loved ones in Morgantown that you may want to check out. They can help with a lot of answers...check it out

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192428

Thank you thank you thank you for this info. I have searched all over but did not know this forum existed. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Jackie

Hi and welcome to PTO, know that here you are NEVER alone as we are here for you 24/7 - 365 ...

Granted we aren't close enough to hold you when the tears come falling down but we are here to support you, listen to your fears, cheers, stories and anything else you want to give us.

WE ARE FAMILY, FRIENDS here at PTO and you just joined the biggest family on the net!! Welcome!

Welcome to PTO dear.

Welcome to PTO. My man is also as Morgantwn and has been there since 2002. If you have any questions just pm me anytime.

My brother will be going to Morgantown next month. Any hel? How is the environment? the food? other inmates? correctional officers? any help will be truly appreciated.

Hi we finally received the letter today and he will report in a couple of weeks to Morgantown. I thought I was prepared but fell apart when he called me to let me know. Any info on this facility would be great since I thought he was going to Beckley I did no research on Morgantown. What will fist few weeks be like, visits? I read you can not take toys and I have a toddler- how will we do that?? Can he call me cell from this facility or only home phone. Please help!! Thank you, Jackie:confused:

You have to have a home phone and phone numbers have to be approved by institution aa well as visitors have to be listed and there is paperwork they have to fill out prior to visiting. No toys for kids during visitation - very restrictive

I've spent some time there. I also have a lot of friends there. If you need to know anything specific, let me know. PM is the best way to get me.........

Mark H
FedsGotMe.Com

Son was at Morgantown last year. There is a small playroom with some toys in it and you and he can go in there with husband and it's not as loud. Visiting officers are fairly nice, but other officers not so nice. Food is not good, canteen sandwiches were best food he had all week. It's cold there so try to buy sweatclothes to wear under uniform. The Washington route is less mountainous than the Beckley route and closer, to NC anyway it was. The campus itself looks like a religious camp or something. The EconoLodge has continental breakfast and I think some kind of frequent visitor plan--we have gotten free stays before, ask for BOP rate, same at the Ramada. Canteen runs on cash, take $1's.

"This is a "repost" - but figured I would share in as many posts as possible since i know what you are going through"

Well, i saw your post and wanted to reply - I have been out of Morgantown for almost a year now so this info may be a bit dated, but once your there it does not change too much.
(This is my first post here so I hope I do not offend anyone with the length- But I know that 3 years ago, this was not available as it is now and wished someone could tell me more because I was freaked out by not knowing - So I hope the following will help others)

I would first say that you have a chance to really do the following:
1) Get in shape- The track is the greatest place on the compound because you get fresh air and exercise
2) Get your GED (required if you do not have a HS or GED)
3) Get your College degree through correspondence courses - Someone outside will have to pay for this - since they stopped the Pell grants a few years back and have not reinstated any grants for college the burden is on your family
4) Found out who you are, really see what you did wrong, and how to make sure to never get yourself (and most importantly - Your Family) back into this position ever again
5) Meet some really good people that just did stupid things to get them there

Upside (If you can call it this- since you have to be there)
1) The library is the best in the Fed system -as i was told- Thousands of books on everything to keep your mind stimulated
2) There is a general freedom of movement- You are required to be at work when you must - but when not - the ability to go to the rec or track or be in your dorm between counts is a good side
3) Visits- You have 3 days a week for visits
4) The rec room- lots of pool tables, a gym for BBall and volleyball, bikes and exercise mats and treadmills and even ping pong
5) 2 of the units are quite large(1 is mainly RDAP) - the others are less than 200 each - so get into a smaller unit as soon as you can unless you are RDAP- you can be moved
6) The local radio stations serve WVU University - so you get news, sports and good radio as much as you want- to keep in tune to the outside world
7) The compound is huge - and filled with wildlife and trees and lots of acreage - so you do not feel "cooped up" when you are outside - I also had asthma when i got there - and the air quality there almost completely eliminated it for me (it's back now a bit that I am back into the city- so I know that the air quality was much much better there)
8) Most of the staff is pretty cool- You'll learn pretty quick who they are and who to stay as far away from as possible
9) Being that it is low security, as long as you stay out of people's business you do not have to worry too much about violence- of course a bunch of men all in one place - all day every day together- this is going to cause flair ups - but it's not every second of every day you have to worry - Most there are low risk short termer's or long termer's who have worked there way down in security- so getting in a fight gets you shipped - so keep your nose out of others business and you'll most likely stay away from this problem
10) You will have a chance to connect spiritually in many different ways through the "chapel" with the higher power of your choice

Now the downsides:
1) Even though there are no gun turrets or bars - you are still in prison - They tell you where to be when and there are a bunch of dumb rules that will be easy to follow - but drive you crazy
2) The food stinks - so get ready to lose weight get in shape( I lost 113 lbs in 22 months- which is good since I went in at almost 315lbs!!)
3) Medical care is limited- Its a Federal prison that is way overloaded so there is not much money nor staff there to give great care - If something MAJOR happens(Broken bone, heart probs, etc. Then they ship you to the local hospital - and worst case you get shipped to Missouri for that federal prison health hospital)
4) Count- Man they count you a lot - and recalls back to the unit - so get ready to be counted and be counted and be counted again - and you better be in the place you are supposed to be during count (mostly at the unit)
5) Boredom - Man - this is the worst. Yes you can study, read, play sports, watch TV, write, draw, even do crafts - but you must get yourself in a routine so that you begin to just churn the days away - If you do not - time will creep for you
6) To live comfortably - hopefully someone can send you at least $100 a month - The commissary is expensive and they don't feed you well, so buying food from others is common - and with smokes being taken away - the barter is basically tuna- which you need to have enough from commissary to feed yourself at the times you get hungry - You also need to pay for your phone calls - so another $30 a month helps with that
(You have to buy a radio for like 30 bucks to listen to TV - they send the sound over radio signals- so no radio - no TV - and they are pretty harsh on radios that are not on your commissary history list - if caught with one you did not buy)
6) The SHU aka "The hole"- I was lucky enough to not have a visit there because I focused on staying to myself and getting back to my family with as little issue as possible - But the SHU is a nightmare - and even if they may think (and cannot prove right away) that you did something wrong - your there - They will figure it out on their own time and you are stuck in a single small cell - wondering when you get to get back on the compound - and if you do get proved that you did it and it is a 200+ shot - then you have a high chance of being shipped
&) Misc things that stunk but were just dealt with- The boots, the washing machines, the phones, the "I didn't do it's" or "My appeal is going to happen", the bad movies - nothing more than a PG-13, not getting mail enough (hint to people on the outside who do not write enough to your loved ones on the inside!!)

So - I would say that you should learn the rules pretty quick through your celly and others you will meet at work - use your mind- use your muscles - and try to stay away from "hustling"- If you do these things - keep your business to yourself - stay out of others as much as possible - That I will say you will meet a bunch of unique and interesting characters and just get through your time - Every day is a day closer to getting back home and each month is a month closer to being home

- You will be fine -

You just have to get ready for a major life adjustment - and realize that this is your life now - and there is nothing you can do about it - it is up to you now as to how you are to lead the way - i decided to put my head down - get done - and now I sit here almost a year out and working my butt off toward my goals- and rebuilding my life - learning from my mistakes- and moving my life forward - Each man is different - i just wish you peace and good luck - and tell you that at some point you will be done and able to resume your life - It just is going to be a process -
Many of us have tracked it before you and you too will make it.

PS. One last thing after reading all of this through that I can make is......
No matter what you will go through in Morgantown, always remember that your friends and family still have to deal with the "real world' and although they will do there best to support you, you also have to do your best to support them by telling them your achievements, your thoughts, and your plans on how you are going to be a better man to them from this point forward. This experience will bond you with your loved ones more than ever, use this opportunity to expand that bond and grow that love between you - You may not understand me now, but in a few months you will.