Is there anyone here who has actually been to Carswell or had a friend or loved one in the system at Carswell in Fort Worth Texas? Any information about the FCI there would be more than appreciated. Thank you anyone who might have information about it.

I have a friend in Carswell, she sends me e-mail from the prison and I return e-mail to her.

My wife is in the Camp at Carswell. Been there 12 months and just found out she has her destination date to a HWH in early Feb.

How can we help?

My mom is in the Camp at Carswell as well she has been there almost 6 months of course it feels like 6 years. What can I do to help???

I wish there was somewhere you could actually go to see pictures of the inside of the facility, etc. You don't have much to go by on the BOP.gov website. I want to be a little bit prepared when I go in.

Hello to everyone. i am scheduled to go to to Carswell in afew weeks. I was orignally supposed to go to Bryan but it got switched today for whatever reason. Krummy has been extremly helpful with me over the past few weeks and has answered all of my questions. I have ton of questions about Carswell and would love to be prepared when I go in. Can anyone help? The things I have read so far about the place are not good. Desperately seeking answers.....


1. What are the living arrangements like? Dorm like room with bunk beds?
2. I read tat there is email there? Is this correct? How does it work? I read that they withdraw from phone account. does anyone know?
3. Specifics of what can be brought in when I SS? I read that they will allow a watch? Is this true?
4. What are the workout facilites like? Are there any? Track, Gym, etc?
5. Are we allowed 5 magazines, 5 books, and 25 pics at one time? I read somewhere that it is less in Carswell. Is this right and what is allowed? Do magazines have to come right from publisher or can friends send them to you?
6. I read some pretty disturbing articles about sexual abuse inside. How are the gaurds inside towards the women? Are they mean, hostile, etc?
7. Anyone have a comissary list they would like to share?
8. Does anyone send money to friends via Western Union? What are the other optionsto get money to me inside?
9. Can calendars have staples?
10. Do they read mail going out?
11. Are the visiting hours Friday-Monday? What are the hours? I have read different post with different times. I want to make sure that I have up to date information to pass on to friends and family.
12. What is te allotment for telephone time? Is it 300 minutes a month? How many minutes are allowed for one call at a time? Is it 15 minutes and then you have to wait 30 minutes to use it again? Is this correct? Who keeps track of the minutes used?
13. Do they have any other classes besides craft? Are there classes to pursue a college degree?
14. What kind of jobs are offered and how do you pursue them once you get in?
15. What is the RDAP program and is it for someone like myself who only has 6 months there?
16. Are there any male prisoners at Carswell?

I know there is a lot here but any answers will help. Once again Krummy has been awesome in answering my questions about Bryan but unfortunately I found out today that is not where I'm headed.

I look forward to anyone's help.

Ok I will do my best to answer your questions!

1) Its an old motel 6 that they have converted it looks more like an apartment complex. There are 4-5 women to a room and yes bunkbeds, but you do have a bathroom in your room so no group showers.

2)Yes they have email my just signed up today and it is 5cents a minute

3)Yes an inexpensive watch.. something plain, mom took $350 cash, her phone list, a bible and her glasses.

4)There is a track that the ladies walk around as far as a gym I couldnt say.. my mom doesnt work out.

5)Its 3 books, 3 mags, and 20 pics. the pics have to be sent in 5 at a time..

6)The guards are just like the guards anywhere else.. so are more pleasant than others.. I have heard nothing about sexual abuse in Carswell.

7)I do not have a commissary list, but you can get anything from craft supplies, hair color, ramen noodles, curling iron, etc...

8)We use Western Union because you have to use a postal money order which it is a pain to go to the post office and then mail it to Iowa which if it were to be lost in the mail would take forever to replace. Initally when the amount is entered the fee is really high, but when you speak to a rep it is generally lower. Also to Western Union has a rewards program so after so many transfers you get credit towards the fee. For example $30 costs $5.95 which sounds like a lot but with the price of gas $3 a gal and a stamp is 41 cents and then the hassel its easier to pick up the phone!!

9) I sent my mom a calendar and it had staples and to my knowledge she had no problems with it.

10) If they do I have never noticed my envelope being tampered with but with anything else always better safe than sorry... be careful what you write or say on the phone!!

11) Visiting is on Friday from 5pm to 8:45, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 2:45 If you arent not in the gate before 9:30(i believe) they will not allow you in until they clear count at 10am, Monday is the same as Friday. However Federal Holidays the visitation times are the same as Saturday and Sunday.

12)I dont know how they keep track but yes it is 300 minutes and it costs $69 a call is 15 min or close to it and yes you have to wait 30 minutes between phone calls. Now some families get cell phones in that area code and the calls only cost 6 cents. But as with any number it has to be approved.

13) They offer one class its a business class and unless you are from the state of Texas you also pay out of state tuition.

14) They will assign you a job.. when others open you can apply or bid on them.. kitchen, library, cleaning and landscaping.

15) To qualify for RDAP I am pretty certain you have to be there at least a year and it may even be longer than that.

16) I have never seen any male prisoners but I am not saying that there arent some there.. it is a Federal Medical Center.

If there are any more questions I will be more than happy to!! If there is anything you would like me to elaborate on feel free to send me a PM.

Best of luck to you

My girlfriend is in Carswell...her release date is Aug 2009. She works as a 411 telephone operator. She lives in the "tower" on the 4th floor...it's like a big dorm with bunks stacked on top of each other. We use the email system daily which works very well. She calls me daily. If you have any questions you can ask me. I am also looking for someone with a loved one in Carswell to chat with...you can PM me.

1. What are the living arrangements like? Dorm like room with bunk beds?
Yes, bunds stacked on top of each other. Many, many bunds to a room.
2. I read tat there is email there? Is this correct? How does it work? I read that they withdraw from phone account. does anyone know?
My girlfriend and I use the email system every day...it works very well.
3. Specifics of what can be brought in when I SS? I read that they will allow a watch? Is this true? I don't wear a watch or jewelry so I don't know. I can ask for you.
4. What are the workout facilites like? Are there any? Track, Gym, etc?
They have good facilities there...a nice track, gym.
5. Are we allowed 5 magazines, 5 books, and 25 pics at one time? I read somewhere that it is less in Carswell. Is this right and what is allowed? Do magazines have to come right from publisher or can friends send them to you?
I send her paperbacks from Amazon and Magazines from Amazon. She has received all of them...and loves them!!! Pictures I send in my letters printed on standard printer paper...no problems with that...I send lots and lots of pictures.
6. I read some pretty disturbing articles about sexual abuse inside. How are the gaurds inside towards the women? Are they mean, hostile, etc?
I read all those same articles too. My girlfriend says it is really not a problem...she has had no problems what so ever. The CO's seem professional. The biggest problems seems to be the inmates who fight a lot. The is a lot of woman/woman sexual activity going on there.
7. Anyone have a comissary list they would like to share?
I will ask my girlfriend to send it to me. She goes to the commissary in the early morning. She usually eats commissary food for super...she goes to the chow hall for lunch.
8. Does anyone send money to friends via Western Union? What are the other optionsto get money to me inside?
I send money every 2 weeks...no problem...she gets it everytime and knows who it is coming from. They have an ATM machine that gives them their account information...balance...who is sending them money and when.
9. Can calendars have staples?
I don't know
10. Do they read mail going out?
The mail is checked randomly...the calls are screened. There is an echo on the line sometimes which means someone is listening.
11. Are the visiting hours Friday-Monday? What are the hours? I have read different post with different times. I want to make sure that I have up to date information to pass on to friends and family.
I will find out for you.
12. What is te allotment for telephone time? Is it 300 minutes a month? How many minutes are allowed for one call at a time? Is it 15 minutes and then you have to wait 30 minutes to use it again? Is this correct? Who keeps track of the minutes used?
It's 15 minutes per call...then they cut you off. Your loved one can wait like 30 minutes and make another 15 min call. Yes it's 300 min a month which is charged to their account (they enter their account number like a pin # to make a call). Long Distance calls are expensive.
13. Do they have any other classes besides craft? Are there classes to pursue a college degree? Yes...almost anything you could want.
14. What kind of jobs are offered and how do you pursue them once you get in? My girlfriend works as a 411 telephone operator.
15. What is the RDAP program and is it for someone like myself who only has 6 months there? Don't know about that program.
16. Are there any male prisoners at Carswell? Yes...I don't know much about that.

I was released from FMC Carswell a week ago. I was in the medical facility, not the camp. I will do my best to answer your questions but if anyone has other questions please let me know.


1. What are the living arrangements like? Dorm like room with bunk beds?
I stayed in what we called the high rise. It has 4 named units, 1 south, 1 north, 2 south and 2 north. There are 64 rooms plus 2 bus stops on each unit. The rooms are 8 X 10 and have 2 sets of bunk beds in each. 4 lockers and a small table. There are no doors.
2. I read tat there is email there? Is this correct? How does it work? I read that they withdraw from phone account. does anyone know?
Yes, e-mail is available to everyone. It cost 5 cents a minute and you transfer whatever amount you want whenever you want.
3. Specifics of what can be brought in when I SS? I read that they will allow a watch? Is this true? Yes, you may wear in a watch, religous medallion (Cross or whatever), a wedding ring, and 1 pair of earrings no bigger than a quarter. None of this can have any stones or diamonds.
4. What are the workout facilites like? Are there any? Track, Gym, etc?
Outdoor Rec has a walking track, baseball field and volleyball. Indoor Rec has all kinds of machines plus tv with workout videos.
5. Are we allowed 5 magazines, 5 books, and 25 pics at one time? I read somewhere that it is less in Carswell. Is this right and what is allowed? Do magazines have to come right from publisher or can friends send them to you?
You can only receive 5 books at a time. You can only receive 20 pictures at one time. You may posess as many as you like but your locker will be small so limit it until you get there and see the space. Magazines and books must come from the publisher or Amazon or bookstore.
6. I read some pretty disturbing articles about sexual abuse inside. How are the gaurds inside towards the women? Are they mean, hostile, etc?
I was scared because I read the same articles. The guards for the most part are cool. They have there pet peeves so you just have to learn what they are and not do it. There is rumor inside that guards are having sex with inmates but it's not rape, completely mutal arrangements.
7. Anyone have a comissary list they would like to share?
I didn't bring one home with me. I can tell you specific items if you ask me. You can buy sweat pants, t-shirts, and shorts. We called them our grays because they are gray.
9. Can calendars have staples?
You can't bring a calendar but they gave us a calendar at the beginning of the year and yes it had staples.
10. Do they read mail going out?
That depends on the officer doing the mail. The night officer does the mail and some read them and some don't.
11. Are the visiting hours Friday-Monday? What are the hours? I have read different post with different times. I want to make sure that I have up to date information to pass on to friends and family.
Friday and Monday 5-9, Saturday and Sunday 8-3
12. What is te allotment for telephone time? Is it 300 minutes a month? How many minutes are allowed for one call at a time? Is it 15 minutes and then you have to wait 30 minutes to use it again? Is this correct? Who keeps track of the minutes used?
Yes, you are allowed 300 minutes a month except for November and December, you get 400 minutes. Each call is 15 minutes then you have a 30 minute wait. You can access your minutes left by dialing 118 and choosing that option. You will be issued a PAC code that you will use for the phone and e-mail.
13. Do they have any other classes besides craft? Are there classes to pursue a college degree? Yes, college classes are offered.
14. What kind of jobs are offered and how do you pursue them once you get in? Unicor has 411 operators, you can also get certified in cosmotology, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and there is more that are not coming to mind right now. Oh, also a dental assistant.
15. What is the RDAP program and is it for someone like myself who only has 6 months there? Don't know about that program. RDAP is a 9 month program so you probably won't even qualify. There is a 40 hour drug class that you can take.
16. Are there any male prisoners at Carswell? No, only females. Even though there was a lot of times I would look at someone and had to remind myself that it's all females.

Is there some kind of maximum security unit for women at Carswell??

Can you please give some examples of these pet peeves? It would be good to know what to avoid.
Thanks :-)



6. I read some pretty disturbing articles about sexual abuse inside. How are the gaurds inside towards the women? Are they mean, hostile, etc?
I was scared because I read the same articles. The guards for the most part are cool. They have there pet peeves so you just have to learn what they are and not do

Zelda.. yes there is maximum security there it is my understanding there are a couple of women on death row and there are also a couple of high profile offenders as well.

I hope I'm not too late answering this but pet peeves are things like having to wear a uniform during the day or wearing grays. The unit rules say you have to be dressed and your bed made by 7:30am but some guards don't care about the dress code as long as you are not in your pajamas. But you bed must be made and your room clean by 7:30am. You can lay back down and go back to sleep though.