USP Leavenworth United States Penitentiary

Call or Text 612-605-3989 for a confidential consultation about your USP Leavenworth designation.

USP Leavenworth — Overview

When people hear “Leavenworth,” they think of one thing: federal prison. No other facility in the Bureau of Prisons system carries the same weight, the same cultural recognition, or the same historical gravity as the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. For more than 120 years, this imposing stone fortress has stood as the defining symbol of federal incarceration in America. Its massive silver dome, visible for miles across the Kansas plains, earned it the nickname “Big Top” — and for generations, “doing time at Leavenworth” was shorthand for the most serious federal punishment the government could impose.

Today, the reality of USP Leavenworth is very different from its legend. The facility was downgraded from maximum security to medium security in 2005, and the BOP officially redesignated it as a Federal Correctional Institution (FCI Leavenworth) to reflect its updated mission and security level ([1]). However, inmates, families, attorneys, and the public still widely refer to the facility as USP Leavenworth — and the BOP’s own website acknowledges that the physical signage may continue to reflect the old name until a formal historical survey is completed. Throughout this guide, we use “USP Leavenworth” because that is the name you will encounter in designation paperwork, in conversation with your attorney, and in the real world.

The facility sits at 1300 Metropolitan Avenue in Leavenworth, Kansas — a city of approximately 37,000 people in the northeastern corner of the state. Kansas City, Missouri is roughly 35 minutes to the southeast. The Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is approximately 30 minutes away, making the facility reasonably accessible for families traveling from across the country.

Important distinction: USP Leavenworth is a civilian federal prison operated by the Bureau of Prisons. It is completely separate from the United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB) at Fort Leavenworth — a military prison located approximately 4 miles to the north on the Fort Leavenworth Army post. The USDB is the sole maximum-security prison for the entire U.S. military. The two institutions share no administration, no staff, and no inmates. They are entirely independent facilities that happen to be in the same Kansas county. When someone says “Fort Leavenworth prison,” they may be referring to either facility — always clarify which one.

Architecturally, USP Leavenworth is extraordinary. Designed by the St. Louis firm of Eames and Young — the same architects who designed USP Atlanta — the prison follows the Auburn system of cellblock design, with cells arranged back-to-back in the center of a massive rectangular building facing the outer walls ([2]). The perimeter walls are 40 feet high, extend 40 feet below ground, and run approximately 3,030 feet in length, enclosing 22.8 acres. The iconic central dome, completed in 1929, crowns the main building and has appeared in countless photographs, films, and television programs. It is one of the most recognizable correctional structures in the world.

History of USP Leavenworth

The history of USP Leavenworth is, in many ways, the history of the federal prison system itself. Understanding where this facility came from helps you understand what it is today — and why being designated here carries a significance that goes beyond security classifications and point scores.

Founding and Construction (1895–1928)

Before USP Leavenworth existed, there was no federal prison system. Federal prisoners were housed in state penitentiaries under contract arrangements. In 1895, Congress transferred the military prison at Fort Leavenworth from the War Department to the Department of Justice and authorized construction of a new civilian federal penitentiary on a separate site nearby ([2]). In 1897, Warden James W. French began marching prisoners two and a half miles each morning from Fort Leavenworth to the construction site, where they built the walls and cellblocks of their own future prison. This backbreaking labor — prisoners literally constructing the facility that would confine them — went on for more than two decades.

The first 418 prisoners moved into the new penitentiary in 1903. The first cellhouse was completed in 1904, and by February 1906, all prisoners had been transferred from the old military facility. Construction of the cellblocks was not fully completed until 1919, and the shoe shops, brush and broom factory, and barber shop followed over the next decade. The iconic dome was added in 1929. By the time the Bureau of Prisons was formally established as a federal agency in 1930, USP Leavenworth was already the largest maximum-security prison in the United States.

Famous Inmates

No federal prison in history has housed a more famous roster of inmates than USP Leavenworth. Among those who served time within its walls:

• Al Capone — The most notorious gangster in American history was held at Leavenworth briefly in 1932 before his transfer to the newly opened USP Atlanta and then to Alcatraz. Capone was convicted of federal tax evasion.
• George “Machine Gun” Kelly — The Prohibition-era gangster and kidnapper was one of Leavenworth’s most famous long-term residents, serving a life sentence for kidnapping oil magnate Charles Urschel in 1933. Kelly spent 17 years at Leavenworth before his transfer to Alcatraz.
• Robert Stroud — “The Birdman of Alcatraz” — Stroud actually earned his ornithological fame at Leavenworth, not Alcatraz. Convicted of murder, Stroud spent approximately 30 years at Leavenworth, where he raised and studied canaries in his cell, becoming a recognized authority on avian diseases. He authored two books on bird pathology while incarcerated. His story was later immortalized in the 1962 film starring Burt Lancaster — though the movie misleadingly associated his bird research with Alcatraz.
• Bugs Moran — Al Capone’s rival and the intended target of the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Moran was later convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to Leavenworth, where he died of lung cancer in 1957.
• Tom Pendergast — The powerful Kansas City political boss who controlled Missouri politics for decades was convicted of tax evasion in 1939 and served 15 months at Leavenworth.
• Carl Panzram — One of the most violent serial killers in American history. Panzram was convicted of murder at Leavenworth after killing a civilian employee (laundry foreman Robert Warnke) and became the first person executed at the facility on September 5, 1930.
• James Earl Ray — The assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served time at Leavenworth on federal charges before his escape and the King assassination.
• Leonard Peltier — The American Indian Movement activist convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975, whose case remains one of the most controversial in American legal history, was held at Leavenworth for a significant portion of his sentence.
• Michael Vick — The NFL quarterback served 23 months at Leavenworth after his 2007 conviction for operating an interstate dogfighting ring.
• Tom Petters — The Minnesota businessman convicted of a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme — one of the largest in U.S. history — was designated to Leavenworth to serve a 50-year sentence.

From Maximum to Medium Security

For most of the 20th century, USP Leavenworth was classified as a maximum-security facility and operated as one of the most formidable institutions in the federal system. But by the early 2000s, the BOP’s expanding network of newer, purpose-built high-security penitentiaries — including USP Florence (ADX), USP Terre Haute, and USP Beaumont — had reduced the operational need for Leavenworth as a maximum-security facility. In 2005, the BOP formally downgraded USP Leavenworth to medium security ([2]). The facility was redesignated as FCI Leavenworth, though the USP name persists in common usage and in much of the facility’s physical signage.

The aging infrastructure has also been a persistent challenge. In October 2023, federal officials broke ground on a $532 million replacement facility on undeveloped BOP land east of the existing penitentiary ([3]). The new FCI Leavenworth and adjacent Federal Prison Camp are expected to be completed by mid-2026 and are designed for approximately 1,400 inmates with modern programming space, improved climate control, and updated security systems. When operational, inmates from the old prison will be transferred to the new facility. No decision about the future of the historic penitentiary building has been announced.

Daily Life at USP Leavenworth

Daily life at USP Leavenworth is shaped by two defining realities: the facility’s age and its storied institutional culture. This is not a modern, prefabricated federal prison. You are living inside a building that was constructed by hand by inmates more than a century ago — and that history is in the walls, the layout, the noise, and the atmosphere every single day. Understanding the daily routine before you arrive is one of the most important things you can do.

Typical Daily Schedule

Weekends follow a modified schedule with later wake-up times, extended recreation hours, and visiting on designated days. Federal holidays follow the weekend pattern. Counts are the non-negotiable anchors of the day — miss a count and you face disciplinary action that can affect your security classification, program eligibility, and release date.

Housing

USP Leavenworth’s housing is unlike anything in the modern BOP system. The facility contains four main cellhouses — A, B, C, and D — built between 1904 and 1919. Three of the four cellhouses (A, B, and C) underwent major renovations in the 1980s and 1990s. D-Cellhouse remains the only cellblock true to its original construction — an untouched piece of early 20th-century correctional architecture ([2]).

Inmates at the main facility live in one-person and two-person cells. This is a significant difference from low security facilities like FCI Fort Dix, where inmates live in open-bay dormitories. At Leavenworth, you have a cell with a door — which provides a degree of privacy and personal space that dormitory facilities simply do not offer. Cells are small but functional: a bunk or bunks, a desk, a toilet, a sink, and personal storage. The cells follow the Auburn layout — arranged back-to-back in the center of each cellhouse, facing the outer walls, with open walkways (tiers) running along the front of the cells.

The adjacent satellite camp houses approximately 175 minimum-security inmates in open dormitories. Camp inmates have more freedom of movement, no fenced perimeter beyond the facility boundary, and access to outdoor work details. Many medium-security inmates at the main facility work toward eventual transfer to the camp as their security points decrease through good conduct and program participation.

Meals and Commissary

USP Leavenworth serves three meals per day in its institutional dining hall. Meals follow the BOP’s standardized menu cycle with accommodations for religious dietary needs (kosher and halal options are available upon request). The food is institutional — adequate nutrition but limited variety. Most inmates supplement their diet through commissary purchases.

The commissary operates on a scheduled basis, with inmates shopping on designated days based on their housing assignment. Inmates can spend up to $360 per month on food items, hygiene products, over-the-counter medications, stamps, TRULINCS email credits, approved electronics (MP3 player and radio), and clothing items. Over-the-counter medications and postage stamps do not count against the monthly spending limit. Having money on your commissary account from day one is essential — we advise every client on how to set up their account before self-surrender.

Recreation

The recreation department at USP Leavenworth offers a range of activities including outdoor recreation yards, basketball and handball courts, softball fields, indoor fitness areas with cable weight machines and resistance equipment, card tables, board games, table tennis, and televisions. The facility also operates a Music Program that allows inmates to use musical instruments and listen to CDs, and a Movie Program that screens films in the institution’s auditorium. The Inmate Photograph Program allows inmates to have photographs taken at designated locations — an important morale booster for families. Intramural sports leagues and fitness programs run year-round.

Communication

Staying connected to your family is critical to your mental health and to maintaining the relationships that support successful reentry:

• Phone calls — Inmates receive 300 minutes of phone time per month. Calls are limited to approximately 15 minutes each. All calls are monitored and recorded except attorney-client privileged communications. Phone numbers must be pre-approved on your contact list.
• TRULINCS email — The BOP’s electronic messaging system allows text-only email between inmates and approved contacts through CorrLinks. Messages are monitored. Cost is approximately $0.05 per minute of usage.
• Physical mail — Letters, cards, photographs (standard prints), and books sent directly from publishers or approved vendors. All mail is inspected. Include the inmate’s full legal name and register number on all correspondence.
• Video visiting — The BOP has expanded video visiting capabilities at many facilities. Contact USP Leavenworth directly to confirm current availability and scheduling procedures.

Mail for inmates at the FCI should be addressed to: INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER, FCI Leavenworth, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 1000, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Mail for camp inmates uses the same address with “Satellite Camp” added.

Programs at USP Leavenworth

USP Leavenworth offers programming across the full spectrum of BOP rehabilitation initiatives. Programs are critical not only for personal development but for earning First Step Act time credits and positioning yourself for the earliest possible release to a halfway house or home confinement.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

USP Leavenworth offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) — the BOP’s most intensive substance abuse treatment program ([4]). RDAP is a 500-hour, unit-based residential program lasting 9 to 12 months, followed by community-based transitional treatment. Participants live in a dedicated RDAP housing unit, separate from the general population, and attend daily group therapy sessions built around cognitive behavioral therapy principles. The program addresses substance abuse patterns, criminal thinking, relapse prevention, and life skills.

The key incentive: inmates who successfully complete RDAP may be eligible for up to a 12-month reduction in their sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e). This is one of the most powerful sentence-reduction tools in the federal system. To qualify, you must have a documented substance use disorder — ideally identified in your Pre-Sentence Report or documented in medical records. Certain offenses (particularly violent offenses and some immigration-related convictions) can disqualify you from receiving the sentence reduction even if you complete the program.

RDAP strategy matters. If you have a documented substance abuse history, ensuring that your Pre-Sentence Report properly reflects your diagnosis is essential. The documentation must support a substance use disorder — not just casual use. We work with your attorney to make sure the PSR language positions you for RDAP eligibility before designation even occurs. Contact us at 612-605-3989.

Leavenworth also offers the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP) and the Drug Abuse Education (DAE) course. Both demonstrate progress toward rehabilitation but do not qualify for the same sentence reduction as RDAP. The satellite camp also offers RDAP.

Education Programs

USP Leavenworth provides a range of educational programming:

• GED preparation — Inmates without a high school diploma or GED are required to participate in the literacy program for a minimum of 240 hours or until they obtain their GED (BOP-wide mandate).
• English as a Second Language (ESL) — Required for inmates who do not speak English at a functional level.
• Adult Continuing Education (ACE) — Courses covering financial literacy, parenting, health education, and personal development.
• College courses — Following the reinstatement of Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals in 2023, the BOP has expanded college-level coursework at facilities including Leavenworth. These programs offer degree opportunities at no cost to eligible inmates.
• High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees through paid correspondence programs.

Vocational Training

USP Leavenworth offers vocational training programs designed to provide inmates with marketable skills for reentry. Programs that have been offered at the facility include:

• Graphic Arts
• Custodial Maintenance
• Hospitality Employment and Retail Therapy (HEART)
• Janitorial certification

Available programs may vary based on funding, staffing, and institutional needs. Vocational training programs count as Productive Activities under the First Step Act, making them eligible for earned time credits.

UNICOR (Federal Prison Industries)

USP Leavenworth operates UNICOR on-site, with operations focused on recycling activities and services and the production of clothing and textiles ([5]). UNICOR positions pay $0.23 to $1.15 per hour — significantly more than standard institutional assignments of $0.12 to $0.40 per hour — and provide transferable job skills. UNICOR participation is viewed favorably by staff and positively impacts First Step Act time credits, custody level reviews, and halfway house recommendations. There is typically a waitlist, with priority given to inmates with court-ordered financial obligations (restitution, fines, special assessments).

First Step Act Earned Time Credits

The First Step Act of 2018 allows eligible inmates to earn time credits toward early transfer to a Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) or home confinement. Eligible inmates earn 10 days of credit for every 30 days of successful participation in approved Evidence-Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs or Productive Activities. Inmates assessed as minimum or low risk on the BOP’s PATTERN risk assessment tool earn an enhanced rate of 15 days per 30-day period ([6]).

At USP Leavenworth, qualifying programs and activities include RDAP, drug education, cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management, parenting classes, financial literacy courses, vocational training, GED preparation, college courses, and UNICOR. These credits accumulate throughout your sentence and can result in many months of early release. Not all inmates are eligible — certain offenses listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3632(d)(4)(D) are excluded. We help every client build a First Step Act credit strategy from the beginning of their sentence.

Psychology Services

The Psychology Services Department at USP Leavenworth is available Monday through Friday by appointment. Inmates request appointments by submitting written request forms. Services include individual counseling, crisis intervention, and special group programs. The Diversity in a Prison/Correctional Setting program is offered several times per year. The Life Connections Program, available through Religious Services, serves inmates seeking personal growth and responsibility development. Inmates experiencing psychiatric emergencies — severe depression, suicidal ideation, or acute psychological crisis — should report immediately to the nearest staff member and are generally seen immediately.

Who Gets Designated to USP Leavenworth

The Bureau of Prisons uses a security point system to determine custody classification and facility designation. Your security points are calculated based on the severity of your current offense, criminal history, history of violence or escape, age, education level, and substance abuse history. The BOP’s Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC) in Grand Prairie, Texas makes the final designation decision.

Security Point Ranges

Inmates designated to USP Leavenworth’s main facility typically score 16 to 23 security points. The adjacent satellite camp houses inmates with 0 to 11 points. Typical profiles of inmates designated to Leavenworth include:

• Drug trafficking defendants — Conspiracy and distribution charges, particularly defendants with some criminal history but no significant violence
• Fraud and white-collar defendants with elevated points — Repeat offenders or those with aggravating factors that push points above the low-security threshold
• Firearms offenses — Federal gun charges that elevate security points but do not involve active violence
• Organized crime defendants — RICO cases, gang-related conspiracy charges, and racketeering cases where the defendant’s individual role did not involve direct violence
• Midwest defendants — The BOP favors facilities within 500 miles of the inmate’s release residence. Leavenworth is the primary medium-security option for defendants from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and surrounding states
• Step-down transfers — Inmates stepping down from high-security USPs whose points have decreased through good conduct and program participation

You can influence your designation. While you cannot choose your facility, a well-reasoned judicial recommendation from your sentencing judge — supported by a detailed designation memorandum — can significantly influence where the BOP sends you. We work with your attorney to prepare a comprehensive designation request that addresses proximity, programs, medical needs, and family circumstances. Contact us at 612-605-3989 to discuss your designation strategy.

Visiting at USP Leavenworth

Visiting is one of the most important aspects of any federal sentence — for the inmate and for the family. At USP Leavenworth, the visiting procedures reflect the facility’s medium-security classification and its large inmate population. Understanding these procedures before your first visit will save significant frustration.

Visiting Schedule

USP Leavenworth’s visiting hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, four days per week: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The satellite camp offers visiting on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday during the same hours ([7]). Visiting room staff begin clearing the visiting room at 2:45 PM. If a federal holiday falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, visiting will also occur on that day.

The facility uses an alternating weekend schedule based on register numbers. If the fifth digit of an inmate’s register number is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), the inmate visits on odd weekends (first and third). If even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), visits occur on even weekends (second and fourth). When a month has five weekends, the fifth weekend is open to all inmates.

Visiting Point System

Each inmate is allotted 24 visiting points per month:

• One hour of visiting on a Friday or Monday costs 1 point
• One hour of visiting on a Saturday or Sunday costs 2 points
• Points do not carry over from month to month
• If a visit lasts less than an hour, the inmate is still charged for one full hour

Visiting Rules and Requirements

Cell phones, pagers, and electronic devices are strictly prohibited. Visitors are subject to search and may pass through metal detectors and ion spectrometry drug screening. Failure to clear security or refusal to submit to search results in denied entry. All infant supplies must be in sealed original containers.

Travel and Getting There

USP Leavenworth is located at 1300 Metropolitan Avenue, Leavenworth, KS 66048. The facility is easily accessible from the Kansas City metropolitan area. Travel distances from major cities:

• Kansas City, MO: approximately 35 minutes (30 miles via I-29 North)
• Kansas City International Airport (MCI): approximately 30 minutes (25 miles)
• Topeka, KS: approximately 1 hour (60 miles via US-24 East)
• Omaha, NE: approximately 2 hours 45 minutes (185 miles via I-29 South)
• Wichita, KS: approximately 3 hours (200 miles via I-35 North)
• St. Louis, MO: approximately 4 hours (260 miles via I-70 West)

From Kansas City, take I-29 North to the Platte City exit. Turn left and follow the road through Platte City. After crossing the Platte River bridge, follow signs to Highway 92, which leads to Leavenworth. The prison is approximately 12 miles west of Platte City on HWY 92. There is no public transit to the facility. Taxis and rental cars are available throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Hotels in Leavenworth and the surrounding area are affordable and widely available.

How Federal Case Consulting Helps

We built Federal Case Consulting because when we went through the federal system ourselves, we saw how badly people needed real, honest preparation from people who actually understand what happens inside. We are not lawyers giving you theoretical advice from behind a desk. We have lived this. We know what it feels like to walk through the gates of a facility with the history and intensity of Leavenworth. We know what the first night is like in a century-old cellblock. We know which programs matter and which ones waste your time.

Here is specifically what we do for clients designated to USP Leavenworth:

1. Step-by-step guidance — We walk you through the entire federal criminal process from indictment through release. Every decision you make — from plea negotiations to sentencing strategy to self-surrender preparation — affects your outcome.
2. Pre-Sentence Report preparation — The PSR is the single most important document in your case. It determines your guideline range, your security designation, and your program eligibility (including RDAP). We review every line, identify errors, and prepare objections with your attorney.
3. Sentencing hearing preparation — We prepare you for allocution, coordinate character letters, and develop a comprehensive sentencing memorandum strategy that includes a specific designation request.
4. Prison preparation — We walk you through exactly what to bring to Leavenworth, what to expect on day one, how the intake process works in a medium-security facility, and how to navigate the first critical weeks in an institution with this much history and institutional culture.
5. Family support — We help your family understand what to expect, how visiting works at Leavenworth (including the alternating weekend schedule and point system), how to set up TRULINCS and phone accounts, and how to maintain the family unit through incarceration.
6. Post-conviction services — From First Step Act credit strategy to halfway house placement to compassionate release petitions, we help you build a plan for the earliest possible release and the smoothest possible reentry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is USP Leavenworth still a maximum-security prison?

No. USP Leavenworth was downgraded from maximum security to medium security in 2005. The BOP officially redesignated the facility as FCI Leavenworth (Federal Correctional Institution) to reflect its updated mission and security level. Inmates designated to Leavenworth today typically score 16 to 23 security points, which falls within the medium-security classification range. The facility no longer houses the types of high-security inmates it held during its maximum-security era. However, the USP name persists in common usage, and the physical signage on the building may still reflect the old name. Do not confuse the current security level with the facility’s reputation — while the name still carries weight, the day-to-day reality is that of a medium-security institution with standard medium-security protocols, programming, and inmate population profiles.

What is the difference between USP Leavenworth and the Fort Leavenworth military prison?

These are completely separate institutions. USP Leavenworth (now officially FCI Leavenworth) is a civilian federal prison operated by the Bureau of Prisons, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. It houses civilian federal inmates convicted of federal crimes. The United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB) at Fort Leavenworth is a military prison located approximately 4 miles north on the Fort Leavenworth Army installation. The USDB is operated by the U.S. Army and is the sole maximum-security prison for the entire American military. The two facilities share no administration, no staff, and no inmates. They are independent institutions that happen to be in the same Kansas county. When someone says “Leavenworth prison” or “Fort Leavenworth,” always clarify which facility they mean — the distinction matters enormously for designation, visiting, and every other practical consideration.

Does USP Leavenworth have RDAP?

Yes. USP Leavenworth offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) at both the main medium-security facility and the satellite camp. RDAP is the BOP’s most intensive substance abuse treatment program — a 500-hour, 9-to-12-month residential program with cognitive behavioral therapy at its core. Successful completion can earn you up to 12 months off your sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3621(e). To qualify, you need a documented substance use disorder in your Pre-Sentence Report or medical records. We help clients ensure their PSR properly documents their substance abuse history and request a facility with RDAP during the designation process. Leavenworth also offers the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP) and Drug Abuse Education (DAE) course for inmates who do not qualify for or choose not to participate in the full residential program.

What is the $532 million replacement facility being built at Leavenworth?

In October 2023, the federal government broke ground on a $532 million new prison complex on BOP-owned land east of the existing penitentiary. The project — the second-largest federal investment in Kansas history — will construct a new FCI Leavenworth and adjacent Federal Prison Camp designed for approximately 1,400 inmates with modern programming space, updated HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, and state-of-the-art treatment and educational facilities. Completion is expected by mid-2026. When the new facility becomes operational, inmates from the existing 120-year-old penitentiary will be transferred to the new complex. No decision about the future of the historic penitentiary building has been publicly announced. The new facility will continue to operate at medium security and will be staffed by approximately 340 correctional officers and support staff.

What should my family know about visiting at USP Leavenworth?

The most important things for families to know: visiting hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Leavenworth uses an alternating weekend schedule based on the inmate’s register number — odd fifth digit visits on odd weekends, even fifth digit visits on even weekends. Each inmate gets 24 visiting points per month (weekend hours cost 2 points each; Friday/Monday hours cost 1 point each). The dress code is strictly enforced — no sleeveless garments, no shorts, no open-toed shoes, no hooded shirts, no khaki clothing. Bring no more than $20 in change in a clear bag for vending machines. No cell phones or electronic devices. All visitors 16 and older must present valid government-issued photo ID. The visiting room capacity is 107 total, and visits may be curtailed for overcrowding. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is approximately 30 minutes away, and hotels in the Leavenworth area are affordable.

How do First Step Act earned time credits work at USP Leavenworth?

Eligible inmates earn 10 to 15 days of credit for every 30 days of participation in approved programs and productive activities. Inmates classified as minimum or low risk on the BOP’s PATTERN assessment earn the enhanced 15-day rate. Qualifying programs at Leavenworth include RDAP, drug education, cognitive behavioral therapy, vocational training, GED and college courses, and UNICOR work assignments. Credits accumulate throughout your sentence and can be applied toward early transfer to a halfway house or home confinement. Certain offense categories are excluded from FSA eligibility. We help every client build a comprehensive credit strategy that maximizes their earned time from the first day of their sentence. This planning should begin before sentencing — not after designation.

Can I request to be designated to USP Leavenworth?

You cannot unilaterally choose your facility, but you can significantly influence the BOP’s decision. The DSCC considers several factors where advocacy is effective: a judicial recommendation from your sentencing judge, proximity to your release residence (the BOP favors facilities within 500 miles — Leavenworth serves defendants from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and the broader Midwest), medical needs, and program requirements such as RDAP. We work with your attorney to prepare a detailed designation memorandum that makes a compelling case based on these factors. While the BOP is not bound by judicial recommendations, they carry real weight. A well-documented request, submitted through the proper channel by your sentencing attorney, is far more effective than no request at all. Contact us at 612-605-3989 for a confidential designation strategy consultation.

Related Pages

• Federal Prisons — Complete Guide to BOP Facilities
• Medium Security Federal Prisons
• High Security Federal Prisons (USPs)
• Minimum Security Federal Prison Camps
• Federal Crimes — Offenses and Sentencing
• Step-by-Step Guidance Through the Federal System
• Federal Pre-Sentence Report
• Federal Sentencing Hearing
• Preparing for Federal Prison
• Family Support Services
• Post-Conviction Services

Sources:

[1] Federal Bureau of Prisons, FCI Leavenworth — Facility Information. bop.gov

[2] Wikipedia, Federal Correctional Institution, Leavenworth. en.wikipedia.org

[3] Kansas Reflector, Politicians mark start of $532 million project to replace Leavenworth’s 126-year-old penitentiary (October 30, 2023). kansasreflector.com

[4] Federal Bureau of Prisons, Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) Locations. bop.gov

[5] UNICOR / Federal Prison Industries, Inc., About UNICOR. unicor.gov

[6] U.S. Department of Justice, First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-391, 18 U.S.C. § 3621, § 3632). congress.gov

[7] Federal Bureau of Prisons, USP Leavenworth Visiting Regulations (Institution Supplement LVN-5267.09D). bop.gov

Disclaimer: Federal Case Consulting does not act as your legal representation and cannot guarantee any outcomes. The information on this page is for educational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney regarding your specific legal situation. Bureau of Prisons policies, facility designations, and program availability are subject to change without notice. The statistics referenced on this page reflect publicly available BOP data as of March 2026.