Learn about FCC Beaumont

The Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont (FCC Beaumount) includes several prisons. They have different security levels. Learn about each.

My name is Michael Santos and longer than 26 years in different federal prisons. I learned a great deal about how federal prisons operate. Our team strives to help people prepare for the best outcome during imprisonment.

By learning about federal prisons, including FCC Beaumont, a person can engineer strategies to succeed. A person can prepare in ways to leave prison with dignity and ready to live a better life.

The Federal Correction Complex, Beaumont, also known as Beaumont FCC, is a federal prison complex that houses male inmates. The complex, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), is situated approximately six kilometers south of Beaumont City in Jefferson County, Texas. It consists of three federal prisons, including FCI Beaumont Low, FCI Beaumont Medium, and USP Beaumont. 

Here is some introductory information about these individual facilities:

FCI Beaumont Low

Beaumont Low Federal Correctional Institution is a low-security level prison with a minimum security satellite camp. The facility currently houses 1912 males; 1489 at the main unit and 423 at the Camp. The facility began its operations in 1996 and presently houses its people in dormitory-style housing. The prison comprises six general population housing units. Additionally, the six housing units are further divided into two wings each. 

Incarcerated individuals at this prison serve five years on average, and people range from 18 years to 81 years. One of the housing units at FCI Beaumont Low acts as a host to the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). 

FCI Beaumont Medium

Federal Correctional Institution Beaumont Medium is a medium-security federal correctional institution located in Beaumont within FCC Beaumont. The facility began its operations in 1999 and is famously known as “Bloody Beaumont,” attributed to the institution’s regular violence. It currently houses 1485 male incarcerated individuals. The federal prison houses its people in one-person and two-person cells. 

USP Beaumont

The United States Penitentiary is a high-security prison within the complex with an adjacent minimum-security camp. Initially, the facility was designed to hold 960 male people; however, it expanded its capacity over the years to the current 1348.  The prison began its operations in 1997 and houses its incarcerated individuals in one-person and two-person cells. Since its establishment, the federal facility has had at least two murders;

• 2007 Murder

On November 28, 2007, two inmates, while being escorted to their cells, murdered their designated correction officers. Mark Snarr and Edgar Garcia slipped from their restraints when they arrived and repeatedly stabbed the two correction officers. The offenders utilized homemade prison knives and later took the guard’s cell keys. 

Additionally, the offenders went ahead to unlock Gabriel Rhone’s cell and stabbed him over fifty times. Other officers arrived at the scene and tried to stop the violence using chemical agents. The facility transported the correction officers alongside Rhone to a local health center; Rhone died while the officers survived. Snarr’s and Garcia’s attorneys claimed that Rhone had earlier on repeatedly threatened to kill the two, and the facility’s officials did not respond. The two were sentenced to death for murder in May 2010. Later, the facility moved them to the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, where they are currently serving their time. 

• 2008 Murder

A USP Beaumont correctional staff discovered the body of Ronald Joseph in his cell on February 12, 2008. The autopsy report established that he died from asphyxia because of probable strangulation of the ligature or neck compression. The facility conducted an investigation and found James Sweeney and Harry Lee Napper, both held at the facility at the time, as murder suspects. On May 4, 2011, the prison indicted convicted the two of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. 

Notable Inmates

Here is a list of the most notable current and formerly incarcerated individuals held at USP Beaumont;

• Oscar Wyatt

Oscar Wyatt served a one-year sentence that ended in 2008. He was the founder of the Coastal Cooperation, now defunct, and pleaded guilty for wiring fraud. He used the fraud money to pay cartels to Saddam Hussein’s reign to win Iraq oil contracts.

• Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez

Scheduled for release in 2033, Hernandez is currently serving a 25-year sentence for weapon offenses and terrorism. He fired at least eight rounds at the White House using a semi-automatic rifle in November 2011; he attempted to kill President Barack Obama because he believed the President was the antichrist. 

• Stephen Ernest Stockman

Stockman received a presidential pardon from President Donald J Trump in December 2020 and, therefore, served two years of his initial ten-year sentence. The former United States Congressman was convicted of 24 felony counts in November 2018. The felonies included falsification of records, money laundering, and mail and wire fraud. 

Programs in FCC Beaumont 

• Education Services

The three correctional institutions offer academic programs and classes to improve people’s cognitive abilities. Additionally, these programs increase the chances of employment after release. These services comprise literacy classes, adult continuing education, English as a Second Language, wellness education, library services, and General Education Diploma. People who do not have a high school diploma must enroll in the literacy program for at least 240 hours until they obtain a GED. Typically, parenting classes focus on training incarcerated individuals on how to bond with their children after release. Post-secondary programs and high school diplomas are available through paid correspondence.

• Library Services

The complex’s Education Department provides a law library containing several legal reference materials; incarcerated individuals can use them to prepare legal papers. The prisons offer access to a copier to assist people in the making of the documents. Additionally, people can utilize the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library and electronic typewriters. The leisure library contains several fiction and non-fiction books, newspapers, and magazines, among other reference materials. 

• Advanced Occupational Education

Vocational and occupational training typically depend on incarcerated person’s needs, the facility’s labor needs, and general labor market conditions. Training offered at the three federal prisons includes Advanced Microcomputer Applications, Microcomputer Applications, Building Trades, HVAC, Basic Diesel, Industrial Sewing, Culinary Arts, and Major Appliance. The complex recognizes the pivotal role of skills garnered from these classes in easy job securing upon release. Incarcerated individuals gain both hard and soft skills necessary for survival in their community. 

• Medical Services

FCC Beaumont offers essential medical, mental, dental care services; these services are mandatorily consistent with agreed community standards for correctional spaces. The facilities ensure to utilize certified and licensed health providers to offer excellent healthcare. The prisons emphasize health promotion through counseling offered during assessment and education about disease prevention and the effects of medication. Emergency medical attention is available 24 hours. Standard health programs include physical examination, sick calls, immunizations, general medical care, dental care, and eye care. 

• Counseling Services

The Psychology staff conducts mandatory mental screening during the admission process. Depending on the severity of the mental-health-related issues, the clinicians either offer counseling or treatment. The services include detailed treatments to address clinical mental disorders, behavioral and emotional problems, and providing self-help options. The prisons provide referral services for people with chronic or acute health conditions for advanced treatment and special care. 

• Religious Services

Complex prisons emphasize the need to uphold the Constitutional religious rights of incarcerated people. The correctional institutions each have a Chaplain’s office that facilitates spiritual studies and worship across different faith lines. Typically, religious service comprises Bible study, worship services, counseling, religious events, spiritual guidance, and pastoral care, among other religious activities. Usually, Chaplains, trained volunteers, and contacted spiritual leaders offer religious programs to incarcerated people. 

• Recreation Programs

Evidence-based studies have shown that idleness during incarceration is directly proportional to criminal acts and inmate violence. Therefore, federal prisons have established ways in which incarcerated individuals can kill time. Recreational activities consist of both indoor and outdoor aspects. Incarcerated individuals can participate in intramural sports (football, volleyball, handball), physical fitness, and art and crafts.

• Substance Abuse Treatment

Federal prisons typically conduct a mandatory drug screening during intake. Incarcerated individuals diagnosed with severe drug and alcohol dependency problems must participate in this program. Studies have confirmed the program’s impact on reducing criminality, violence and lowering recidivism rates. Substance Abuse Treatment includes Drug Education, Nonresidential Drug Abuse Treatment, Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), and Community Treatment Services. 

Visitations

During booking, the facilities hand out a Visitor Information Form to incarcerated people to fill out. Here, they list people they would like to receive as visitors; they then mail the form to each potential visitor. Potential visitors complete the required fields and send the form back to the incarcerated individual’s address. Finally, the prisons approve the visitation requests; the detained person is responsible for notifying the potential visitor. 

There are certain circumstances when a person first enters the prison or is transferred to another facility when a visitor list may not exist yet. In such cases, the jail only allows immediate family, as they appear in the person’s Pre-sentence report, to visit. If such information is too little or unavailable, the facility denies visits. It is advisable to call the designated correctional facility to inquire first before the actual day of the visit. 

Federal prisons require visitors to dress appropriately for a large gathering of men, women, and children. Provocative or revealing clothing may result in visit denial. Prohibited attire includes backless tops, miniskirts, bathing suits, see-through clothes, crop tops, hats or caps, and clothing that looks like inmate attire, among others. 

Generally, incarcerated people receive at least four visiting hours each month; individual prisons can permit more hours. However, prison wardens can restrict the number of visitors or length of the visits in case of overcrowding. 

Visiting hours for the three federal prisons are as follows:

• FCI Beaumont Low

You can visit your loved ones on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Federal Holidays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Keep in mind, visitation on the weekends is based on an odd and even schedule.  Incarcerated individuals with odd registration numbers can receive visitors on odd Saturdays and Sundays. On the other hand, those with even registration numbers receive visitors during even weekends. 

• FCI Beaumont Medium

Visits are on Thursday through to Monday and on Federal Holidays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. 

• USP Beaumont

Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

Commissary

Although all three federal prisons offer necessities, incarcerated individuals can purchase additional items at the kiosk for extra comfort during incarceration. They can buy clothing, food, snacks, sodas, over-the-counter medications, personal hygiene items, and writing materials. You can check out the whole list here, https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/ald/ALD_CommList.pdf. The prison typically creates a Trust Fund or commissary account through which the individuals can receive commissary money. To learn more about how you can send money to a friend or family member in any federal facility, we have a resourceful article at your disposal, be keen to check it out: How to Send Money to People in Federal Prison.

At FCC Beaumont, you can deposit funds in the individual’s account in the following ways:

• United States Postal Service 

You can mail a money order to an inmate addressed to the processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. Ensure to include a return address and sender’s name on the upper left-hand corner of the envelope. Also, remember to include the delivery address including the person’s valid full committed name as follows;

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Insert Valid Committed Inmate Name
Insert Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

• Western Union

With Western Union, you can deposit funds in three ways; you can locate the nearest physical agent location to deposit cash. This method requires you to complete a payment form. You can call 1-800-325-6000 or visit their website to find the nearest agent.

Alternatively, you can deposit funds using your credit or debit card over the phone. To achieve this, call 1-800-634-3422 and choose option two.

Finally, you can choose to deposit funds to the person’s Trust Fund account online. You need to visit the website and click on “Quick Collect.” This method requires a credit or debit card. 

• MoneyGram 

MoneyGram deposits require you to have a MasterCard or a Visa card. You can deposit funds in two ways; first, at a MoneyGram location. To locate the nearest agent location, visit the MoneyGram website or call 1-800-926-9400. You need to fill out a MoneyGram ExpressPayment Blue Form and make cash deposits. 

Secondly, you can deposit funds online by visiting MoneyGram and enter 7932 (receive code) or quote the amount you want to send. Online deposits require first-time users to set up a profile and create an account. 

Sending Mail

Along with other federal prisons, this facility encourages incarcerated individuals to write a mail to family and friends. Through correspondence exchange, they can maintain healthy ties with the outside world. However, the mailing endeavor has some strong rules. For instance, all incoming mail is subject to inspection for contraband; correctional officers open and inspect the mails in the presence of the individual. Inmate mails fall into two categories, general mail and special correspondence. While general mails are social from an individual’s loved ones, special mails are official from government agencies and legal representatives.