Federal Medical Center (FMC) - Devens

Federal Medical Center (FMC) - Devens's comprehensive information to help guide you through the federal prison process, specifically on how to remain connected to your inmate while they are incarcerated.

The FMC-Devens is a federal prison located at 42 Patten Rd in Ayer, MA. This federal medium security prison is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to hold inmates who have been convicted to and sentenced for a federal crime through the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Locate all federal inmates here. If you would like to speak with a case manager or counselor, call 978-796-1000.

The Federal Medical Center, Devens (FMC Devens) is a United States federal prison in Massachusetts for male inmates requiring specialized or long-term medical or mental health care. It is designated as an administrative facility, which means it has inmates from different security classifications, from white-collar criminals to mobsters and sex offenders. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the US Department of Justice. FMC Devens also has a satellite camp housing minimum-security male inmates.

FMC Devens is located in north-central Massachusetts, approximately 39 miles west of Boston, on the grounds of Fort Devens, which occupied the land before it was scaled back in size.

Notable inmates include Peter Madoff, the brother of Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy and given a 10-year sentence for falsifying records in a $65 billion fraud. Raj Rajaratnam the former manager of the now-defunct Galleon Group; convicted for conspiracy and fraud for masterminding a $64 million insider trading scheme from 2007 to 2009; the story was featured on the CNBC television program American Greed, now serving an 11-year sentence. Anthony Weiner former Congressman from New York, serving a 21-month sentence for exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a 15-year-old girl. Danny Heinrich a kidnapper, child molester, and murderer - confessed in 2016 to kidnapping and murder in Minnesota in 1989, but never charged. Sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography. Frank Locascio the former Underboss of the Gambino crime family in New York City under Boss John Gotti; convicted of racketeering in 1992 for ordering one murder, and directing criminal activities including illegal gambling, obstruction of justice and tax fraud now serving a life sentence. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber was held here recovering from injuries sustained during his capture. he was sentenced to death and is currently being held at Florence Admax. John "Sonny" Franzese, Sr. is a powerful Italian-American mobster who is a longtime member of the Colombo crime family. Franzese's career in organized crime spans over six decades and he served as underboss of the Colombo crime family. Rajat Gupta was the former director of Goldman Sachs; convicted in 2012 of insider trading for sharing inside financial information with hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam.

Upon entering FMC Devens, new inmates undergo a month-long admission and orientation program to meet prison staff, acquaint themselves with the facility, and learn the facility's rules and regulations. They are introduced to the prison’s inmate count system: prisoners are checked on five times a day. New inmates also receive a physical exam and educational, vocational, and psychological tests. Inmates at Devens are subject to random, unannounced urine and breathalyzer tests, as well as searches for contraband.

FMC Devens has regular onsite specialists in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, surgery, neurology and pulmonology. Inmates often leave the facility to see outside specialists and for tests and medical procedures not available in the medical center, according to Sandra Howard, the clinical director at FMC Devens.

Inmates are allowed six visits a month. Physical contact is allowed so long as it is not deemed excessive. An in-house psychology department offers inmates counseling for depression and suicidal ideation, as well as sex-offender and drug-addiction programs. A chaplain offers religious services and counseling, and volunteers in a prisoner visitation service pay visits to inmates who do not receive many visitors. There are adult continuing-education classes and an electronic library where they can read up on new case law and sentencing guidelines. The prison has a recreation area for floor hockey, basketball, and soccer, a hobby craft room, and a music practice room.

Housing: Inmates are housed in one or two-person cells.

Health Services: Inmates receive a thorough physical examination and psychological tests during the orientation period. Health services include medical sick call, dental sick call, and all support services. Emergency health care services are available 24 hours each day. Routine care is obtained by submitting a triage form to Health Services.

Psychology Services: New inmates at FCI Devens undergo psychological testing during their Admission & Orientation phase. Crisis counseling, coping skills, suicide prevention, mental health counseling, and spiritual counseling are all available for inmates. The Psychology Department also offers a Residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-R) (only available at FMC Devens) and a Sex Offender Management Program (SOMP). This department also offers self-development programs in both group and individual counseling.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP): FMC Devens does not house a Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). However, the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP) and the Drug Education class are offered.

Education Services: FMC Devens and the camp provide GED, parenting, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. Certificates are awarded for completion of all programs. Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes are also available, which are taught by fellow inmates and span a wide variety of topics. High school diplomas and post-secondary programs are available through paid correspondence programs.

Apprenticeship: FMC Devens offers apprenticeships in Education & Training and HVAC.

Library Services: A leisure and law library is available for inmates. An electronic law library has been added as part of the TRULINCS system, where inmates can conduct legal research from a database that contains the latest updates on case law from every federal district and circuit court in the United States, federal criminal/civil rules of procedure, sentencing guidelines, Bureau of Prisons policy statements, and more. Magazines, newspapers and basic reference books cannot be removed from the library, but fiction and nonfiction books can. Typewriters are available for inmate use in preparing legal documents. A copy machine is also available for inmate use.

Commissary: Funds deposited by an inmate’s family, friends, or other sources are stored in their commissary account that is administered by FMC Devens. With these funds, inmates can make telephone calls, send and receive emails, and purchase commissary items. Commissary items include sodas, snacks, food, clothing, ice cream, and shoes.

• List and prices of items sold at the commissary in FMC Devens

Recreation Services: FMC Devens recreation programs include indoor and outdoor activities that range from individualized hobby craft programs to intramural team sports. The Inmate Recreation and Activity Center includes a multi-purpose room, an outdoor recreation yard, and an indoor inmate Activity Center. The indoor Activity Center is located in the recreation yard and is intended for activities such as basketball, soccer, and floor hockey. The Hobby Craft Shop and a music practice room are located in the Recreation Building.

Admissions and Orientation (A&O) Handbook - This document provides you with general information about the institution, programs, rules, and regulations that you will encounter during your confinement. Familiarizing yourself with this information and knowing your responsibilities will help you adjust to institutional life.

• FMC Devens Admissions & Orientation Handbook

  Also available in Spanish: FMC Devens Guía de Admisión y Orientación