United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth

United States Penitentiary (USP) Leavenworth is a federal prison located in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States. Opened in 1903, USP Leavenworth is operated by the federal Bureau of Prisons. This medium-security prison accommodates male inmates who were primarily convicted of serious federal crimes.

There are so many interesting facts you can know about USP Leavenworth, given that it is the oldest federal penitentiary in the United States. If you really want to know anything about USP Leavenworth, you can dive into our post to find it. Here you go!

What is the United States Penitentiary (USP) Leavenworth?

Standing on federal land in Leavenworth County, Kansas, the United States Penitentiary (USP) Leavenworth is often equated with the United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB), a military facility located at army outpost Fort Leavenworth, whereas both are different and separate.

Even though there are so many other federal prisons in the United States with different security levels and functions, USP Leavenworth has become an important facility within the Bureau of Prisons. In fact, this facility served as the largest maximum-security federal prison from 1903 to 2005, until it was eventually downgraded to a medium-security facility due to its low level of violence.

The USP Leavenworth is designed to house inmates who pose a serious threat to society or have committed particularly heinous crimes, such as organized crime members, high-profile criminals, and political prisoners. That’s why the prison cells are made back-to-back in the center of the structure facing the wall (with walls 40 feet high), which aims to prevent any escape attempts.

Approximately 1,705 male inmates at USP are incarcerated in one- and two-person cells. Reportedly, this facility accommodates inmates in open dormitories containing 50 inmates each. Some notable inmates housed at USP were Carl Panzram, Anthony “Tony Ducks” Corallo, “Machine Gun Kelly”, Tom Pendergast, George Moran, Robert Stroud the “BirdMan of Alcatraz”, and John Franzese.

What are the Services Available at USP Leavenworth?

Just like other federal prisons, USP Leavenworth also provides some useful services for inmates. There are some services that inmates can get at this facility, such as:

1. Medical Services

USP Leavenworth also offers some health services for inmates, including:

• Intake check
• Stress management
• Nutrition counseling
• Dental hygiene
• Emergency care
• Medical and dental care
• Chronic care
• Physical examination
• Drugs

For emergency care services, they are available 24 hours a day. To get routine health care, prisoners must submit a triage form.

2. Psychology Services

In addition to the availability of health services, USP Leavenworth also provides psychological services to every prisoner who suffers from a mental disorder such as anxiety, severe depression, or suicidal thoughts. If an inmate experiences this, they are permitted to report to the nearest staff member to be examined immediately by the psychology staff.

The USP Leavenworth Department of Psychological Services will be available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. by making an appointment in advance by submitting a request form. These services include crisis intervention, individual counseling, and special group programs.

3. Drug Abuse Treatment

The Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is also available at USP Leavenworth. It also provides Drug Education Classes and the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP).

What are the Programs Available for Inmates at USP Leavenworth?

To make it easier for inmates to re-enter society after release, USP Leavenworth actually offers various programs that inmates can get involved in. Of course, these programs can really help them gain new skills and prepare them to get a job upon release.

The following are the inmate programs available at USP Leavenworth:

1. Educational Program

The English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) and GED programs are the two basic educational programs that inmates can learn. In addition, they can also take Parenting and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes. Through paid correspondence programs, inmates can also get high school diplomas and post-secondary degrees.

2. Vocational Training

There are two vocational training programs available at USP Leavenworth: Graphic Arts and Custodial Maintenance.

3. Advanced Occupational Education

The advanced occupational education in Hospitality Employment and Retail Therapy (HEART) and Janitorial is also available for USP Leavenworth inmates.

4. UNICOR

Inmates can also be involved in recycling activities and services, as well as in producing clothing and textiles.

5. Library Services

USP Leavenworth’s library definitely offers a variety of reference materials from which they can learn. Inmates are allowed to check out fiction and nonfiction books. They can also read magazines, newspapers, and reference books. Additionally, video monitors for video library programs and cassette players for language programs such as audiobooks on tape are also available.

6. Recreation Services

The recreation services available at USP Leavenworth include a gym center, an outdoor area, and second- and third-floor recreation. This program also allows inmates to take photographs through the Inmate Photograph Program at designated spots. It also includes the Film Program, which shows films in the auditorium, as well as the Music Program, which allows inmates to use musical instruments or listen to CDs.

7. Commissary

Inmates at USP Leavenworth are allowed to have their own commissary account that they can use to buy snacks, drinks, clothes, etc. Reportedly, they can spend approximately $360,00 per month in their commissary.

Okay, those are the programs available that USP Leavenworth inmates can take.

Visiting Hours at USP Leavenworth

If you happen to have a loved one incarcerated at USP Leavenworth, it’s very important for you to know when the right time is to visit them. Keep in mind that every federal prison in the United States will set its own rules for visiting time.

Here are visiting hours at USP Leavenworth:

Days	Time
Fridays	8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m
Saturdays
Sundays
Mondays
Federal Holidays

Visiting hours for FPC, as follows:

Days	Time
Saturdays	8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m
Sundays
Mondays
Federal Holidays

To visit a USP Leavenworth inmate, you will need the register number. If the inmate’s register number at the fifth digit is an even number, you can visit him on even-numbered weekends throughout the month. If the inmate’s register number in the fifth digit is an odd number, you can visit them on the odd number of weekends throughout the month.

In this case, a weekend refers to Saturday and Sunday. And if a federal holiday falls on a Saturday and Sunday, the visiting rules regarding alternate weekends will apply. Well, inmates can only be visited by five people at a time, including children and adults.

Rules for Visiting Inmates at USP Leavenworth

Just like visiting inmates at other federal prisons, USP Leavenworth also sets its own rules and regulations for inmate visits. Before you decide to visit an inmate housed at USP Leavenworth, it would be better for you to understand what you should and shouldn’t do. Here they are:

Do’s

• Bring valid photo identification (if you’re 16 or older), such as a state or federal ID card, driver’s license, or passport.
• Adhere to visual inspection and clapping by staff, as you will be scanned by a metal detector.
• Be ready to be searched, either for yourself or your belongings.

Don’ts

• Bring cameras, pagers, cell phones, or electronic devices.
• Bring any items into the facility to give to an inmate.
• Wear a sleeveless shirt or sleeveless dress and outer clothes.
• Wear see-through or torn clothing, including factory-made.
• Wear shorts, skirts, or dresses with a slit that exceeds two (2) inches above the knee.
• Wear open-toed sandals or shoes.
• Wear khaki clothing that could be mistaken for inmate clothing.
• Wear clothes that would offend other people who might be present in the living room.

Items allowed to bring:

• A transparent wallet.
• $20.00 for the vending machine (no more than five dollars).
• Baby’s equipment, such as sealed baby food, wet wipes, diapers, and clear plastic baby bottles.

USP Leavenworth Contact Information

You can contact USP Leavenworth representatives to ask questions or get some information via:

• Phone: 913-682-8700
• Fax: 913-578-1010
• Email: LVN/ExecAssistant@bop.gov

Physical Address

You can visit an USP Leavenworth inmate in person at:

United States Penitentiary Leavenworth
1300 Metropolitan Avenue
Leavenworth, KS 66048

Inmate Mailing Address

You can also send an email to your loved one at USP Leavenworth through the following addresses:

For inmates at the USP:

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
USP LEAVENWORTH
U.S. PENITENTIARY
P.O. BOX 1000
LEAVENWORTH, KS 66048

For inmates at the FPC:

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
USP LEAVENWORTH
U.S. PENITENTIARY
SATELLITE CAMP
P.O. BOX 1000
LEAVENWORTH, KS 66048