MDC Brooklyn is a federal high federal correctional facility in Brooklyn, NY, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Inmates here are serving federal sentences - convictions under federal law for offenses including drug trafficking, fraud, weapons charges, immigration violations, and other federal crimes. Federal sentences are served under a different set of rules than state sentences, and this page is written to help families understand those differences. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
"MDC Brooklyn is a federal correctional facility in Brooklyn, NY, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)."
InmateAid has been helping families navigate federal prisons, state facilities, and county jails since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know the federal system from the inside - the designation process, the programs, the phone system, the mail rules, and what release looks like. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
"When my brother got a federal sentence I had no idea where to start. InmateAid explained the BOP system, the First Step Act, and how to stay connected. Nothing else came close."
-- A family member navigating the federal system
Need help right now? Contact InmateAid - we are here.
The BOP maintains a real-time inmate locator that covers all federal facilities nationwide. Search by name at BOP Inmate Locator - you will need their first and last name and optionally their BOP Register Number (an eight-digit number assigned at intake). This is the most reliable source for current location and facility assignment.
You can also use InmateAid's inmate locator to search across federal and state facilities by name. If your family member was recently sentenced they may still be in transit or at a receiving facility - BOP location records update within 24 to 48 hours of movement. You can also pull their federal case and conviction record to confirm the case status and sentence details. For direct questions about a specific inmate's location, call MDC Brooklyn at 718-840-4200.
One of the hardest parts of a federal sentence for families is having no control over where your family member is sent. The BOP's Designation and Sentence Computation Center in Grand Prairie, Texas makes all facility placement decisions based on security level, program needs, population capacity, and the inmate's release residence - not proximity to family.
The result is that federal inmates are often housed hundreds or even thousands of miles from home. This is not unusual and it is not punitive - it is how the BOP manages a nationwide system of roughly 120 facilities. If the current designation creates a serious hardship, your family member can request a transfer through their case manager, but transfers are not guaranteed and are decided at BOP's discretion.
After sentencing, most federal inmates go first to a designated receiving facility for processing and classification before transfer to their permanent assignment. That initial movement typically takes two to eight weeks. Do not set up phone accounts or plan visits until the permanent assignment is confirmed in the BOP locator. Read InmateAid's what to expect in federal prison guide for a full walkthrough of the intake and designation process.
MDC Brooklyn is a federal high federal facility. The BOP uses five security levels that are distinct from most state systems.
Minimum security (Federal Prison Camp or FPC) is the least restrictive level - open dormitory housing, minimal perimeter security, and the most access to work programs and community activities. Camps are often located adjacent to a higher-security facility. Low security (FCI Low) is the most common level for non-violent federal offenders - dormitory or cubicle housing with a defined perimeter. Medium security (FCI Medium) has more secure housing units and greater internal controls. High security (USP - United States Penitentiary) is reserved for the most serious offenders with the highest level of supervision and restricted movement. Administrative facilities (ADX, FMC, FDC, MDC) have special missions such as medical care, pretrial detention, or maximum security isolation.
Security level affects daily life, program access, visitation rules, and housing conditions. Contact MDC Brooklyn at 718-840-4200 or the BOP directly for specific information about current conditions at this facility.
"Contact MDC Brooklyn at 718-840-4200 or visit bop.gov to confirm the current security level and what it means for daily life, programs, and visitation at this facility."
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them. Federal prison calls are outbound only and all calls are recorded and monitored except verified attorney calls.
Calls from MDC Brooklyn go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's prison calls page to find the current provider for this facility and get your account set up before the first call.
Federal inmates also have access to the BOP's TRULINCS email system at most facilities, which allows limited electronic messaging. Ask your family member about TRULINCS access at MDC Brooklyn - it can supplement phone calls at a lower cost. Regular contact over what can be a long sentence is one of the most important things you can maintain. Do not let the setup friction stop you.
Federal prison visitation requires advance approval. You must submit a visitor application and be approved before you can visit - showing up without approval will result in a turned-away trip. Contact MDC Brooklyn at 718-840-4200 or visit bop.gov to download and submit the visitor registration form. Approval typically takes several weeks.
Once approved, visitation at MDC Brooklyn is subject to the facility's schedule which can change without notice. Confirm hours at 718-840-4200 before every visit - federal facilities do not guarantee the same hours week to week. General BOP rules: dress conservatively in muted colors, no clothing resembling inmate uniforms (typically khaki or green), leave your phone and valuables in your vehicle or facility lockers, bring valid government-issued ID. Children require specific authorization. Read InmateAid's federal prison visitation guide for a full checklist and what to expect at BOP facilities specifically.
Visits at a federal facility when your family member may be hundreds of miles away are hard to arrange. When you can make it, they mean more than you know.
Visitation Information - MDC Brooklyn
Facility Contacts
ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer: 718-840-4200 NYC ICE Detainee Inquiry (exigent legal calls): 212-863-3401 or NYCDetaineeInquiry@ice.dhs.gov
Note on Friend and Family Visits
This facility is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Friend and family visit hours run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and are scheduled by housing unit. For the most up-to-date visiting protocol and any schedule changes, check MDC Brooklyn's information page directly through the BOP website.
Who Can Visit
You can only visit a detainee at MDC Brooklyn if the detainee has placed you on their visitor list and BOP has cleared you in advance. BOP has its own rules on who can visit, what to wear, how long visits last, conduct expectations, and physical contact. Review the BOP guide "How to visit a federal inmate" before planning a visit.
Visiting Rules
All friend and family visits are non-contact.
No firearms or weapons of any kind. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios) in secure areas. Visitors cannot pass anything to detainees or carry items into the visitation area.
Every visitor is subject to a pat-down, bag inspection, and metal scan. Refusing a search means you will not be admitted. If you appear intoxicated, you will be turned away.
Attorney Visits
In-person attorney visits run:
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (count time 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (count time 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.) Federal holidays: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (count time 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
Attorneys who arrive within an hour of a count starting (after 3 p.m. on weekdays or after 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays) cannot visit their client until the count clears.
The Attorney Guide to MDC Brooklyn covers legal visiting, attorney-client communication, release of information, and local legal procedures. Review it before your visit through the BOP website.
A list of pro bono legal organizations is posted in every housing unit and updated quarterly. Detainees are responsible for contacting these organizations to schedule appointments.
Legal Calls
For appointments on or after December 22, attorneys must request confidential legal phone calls through ERO eFile. Confirmation comes back through ERO eFile.
Calls run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are scheduled in 30-minute blocks, with two back-to-back blocks allowed for a 60-minute call. Appointments can be booked up to 2 weeks ahead but no later than 24 hours before the slot, on a first-come basis. There is no cap on how many appointments an attorney can request, but no attorney can have more than one 60-minute appointment with the same detainee in a single day.
The ERO eFile request must include: the attorney's full name and contact info, the detainee's name and A-number (or name, date of birth, and country of birth), and the attorney's phone number in the Virtual Meeting Information section. This is required before you can select a time slot.
Required attachments: a scan of the attorney's government ID, proof of legal status (bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or similar), and the eFiled G-28 unless this is a pre-representational visit. If a legal assistant is joining alone, attach a letter of authorization on firm letterhead and a scan of the assistant's ID.
Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters are allowed on these calls. No family, no friends. The attorney can use outside interpretation services during the session. Calls are confidential; an officer stays within sight but out of earshot and will knock 5 minutes before the cutoff.
The facility can cancel or reschedule appointments to manage safety risks or to make sure other attorneys and detainees get fair access. If no slots are available or you have an exigent circumstance, call 212-863-3401 or email NYCDetaineeInquiry@ice.dhs.gov.
Electronic Legal Documents
BOP has specific rules for when an inmate can receive electronic legal materials from an attorney. Review BOP's Access to Electronic Discovery Materials through the BOP website.
Consular Visits
Consular officials can meet with their nationals at any time. Call the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer at 718-840-4200 to make arrangements when possible, and bring credentials.
Clergy Visits
Clergy can visit but must arrange the visit ahead of time through the Chaplain. For current visiting protocol, check the BOP facility webpage.
- Visiting Overview
- Visiting Schedule & Procedures - Official policy at MDC Brooklyn.
East Building: Sunday - Female Unit Monday - Legal only Tuesday - Legal only Wednesday - Female Units (Afternoon) Thursday - Legal only Friday - Legal only Saturday - Female Unit
West Building: Sunday - Male Cadre Monday - 6th Floor Tuesday - 7th Floor Wednesday - 8th Floor Thursday - 4th Floor Friday - 5th Floor Male Cadre (Afternoon) Saturday Male Cadre
The commissary account - called the Trust Fund in BOP facilities - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, email credits, and postage. For a long federal sentence, keeping the Trust Fund funded is one of the most consistent practical contributions you can make.
Steps to send money to MDC Brooklyn:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to confirm the accepted deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and BOP Register Number ready - the eight-digit number assigned at BOP intake
3. Deposits can be made online through Pay.gov, by MoneyGram, or by mail depending on the facility
4. Use the Register Number exactly as it appears in BOP records - errors will delay or reject the deposit
Mail matters enormously in federal prison. A federal sentence can run years or decades - letters and photos are a sustained connection across that entire time.
MDC Brooklyn accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 80 29th St. Include their full legal name and BOP Register Number on every piece - not the state booking number, the federal Register Number. BOP mail rules are consistent and strict: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. All incoming mail is inspected. Do not send anything that could be construed as a coded message or that contains anything beyond paper - it will be confiscated and may result in disciplinary action for your family member.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on BOP-approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must be ordered new, directly from the publisher or an online retailer and shipped directly to the facility. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher - anything shipped from a personal address will be rejected. BOP facilities are strict about this.
Some BOP facilities also offer TRULINCS email. Ask your family member about access at MDC Brooklyn.
Federal prison programs are worth understanding in detail because several of them have a direct and significant effect on how long your family member actually serves.
RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program) is the most valuable program in the BOP system. Completion of RDAP qualifies eligible inmates for up to 12 months off their sentence, plus placement in a halfway house up to 6 months earlier than they would otherwise be eligible. If your family member has any history of substance use, encourage them to apply for RDAP immediately after arriving at their designated facility - waitlists can be long. Read InmateAid's RDAP guide for eligibility requirements and how to apply.
First Step Act Earned Time Credits apply to programming and productive activities beyond RDAP. Eligible inmates earn 10 to 15 days of time credits for every 30 days of successful program participation. These credits can be applied toward early transfer to pre-release custody (halfway house or home confinement). Read InmateAid's First Step Act guide for a breakdown of which programs qualify and how credits accumulate.
Good time credit under federal law is 54 days per year for inmates serving more than one year who maintain good behavior. This is calculated at sentencing and reflected in the projected release date.
Contact MDC Brooklyn at 718-840-4200 for information about which programs are currently available at this facility. Program availability varies by security level and current enrollment capacity.
Federal parole was abolished in 1987. Almost everyone in federal custody today will not go before a parole board. Release is determined by the sentence imposed at sentencing, minus good time credits and any First Step Act earned time credits.
Most federal inmates transition through a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) - commonly called a halfway house - before full release. The BOP determines how much time is spent at the RRC based on the inmate's reentry needs, available RRC capacity, and programming history. The First Step Act expanded RRC and home confinement eligibility, allowing up to 12 months in an RRC and additional home confinement time for qualifying inmates.
Start planning for reentry early. A stable release address, confirmed employment or job leads, and a documented support network all strengthen a petition for extended RRC or home confinement placement. Read InmateAid's reentry guide for a full breakdown of what the federal release process looks like and how families can support a successful transition.
The BOP is a federal system - the rules are largely consistent across facilities regardless of what state the facility is in. But the experience of supporting someone through a federal sentence is shaped by where you are and what local resources are available to your family. InmateAid's New York prison resources hub covers state-specific information that intersects with federal cases - including reentry resources, legal aid, and family support organizations in New York.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through the federal system? Browse questions and answers at InmateAid New York Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about MDC Brooklyn
How do I find my family member's BOP Register Number?
The BOP Register Number is an eight-digit number assigned at federal intake. It appears in the BOP online inmate locator at bop.gov/inmateloc and on all BOP correspondence. You need this number - not the state booking number - for phone accounts, money deposits, and mail at any BOP facility.
Can I choose which federal facility my family member is sent to?
No. The BOP's Designation and Sentence Computation Center makes all facility placement decisions based on security level, program needs, and population capacity. Proximity to family is considered but is not the primary factor. If the designation creates serious hardship, your family member can request a transfer through their case manager - but transfers are not guaranteed and take time.
Does federal prison have parole?
No. Federal parole was abolished in 1987 for offenses committed after November 1, 1987. Almost all current federal inmates are serving determinate sentences. Release is based on the sentence imposed at sentencing minus good time credits and First Step Act earned time credits. Most federal inmates transition through a Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) before full release.
What is RDAP and does my family member qualify?
RDAP is the Residential Drug Abuse Program - a 500-hour cognitive behavioral treatment program for federal inmates with documented substance use history. Completion qualifies eligible inmates for up to 12 months off their sentence plus earlier halfway house placement. Your family member should apply through their unit team as soon as they arrive at their designated facility. Waitlists can be long. Read InmateAid's RDAP guide for full eligibility details.
What should I do if I am concerned about my family member's safety or treatment at MDC Brooklyn?
Contact MDC Brooklyn at 718-840-4200 immediately with specific concerns. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, escalate to the BOP Regional Office overseeing this facility. For serious concerns involving safety, medical treatment, or civil rights violations, the BOP Office of Inspector General and the Federal Public Defender's office are additional resources. Document everything in writing.
Federal sentences are long. The system is complex and often impersonal, and the distance from home makes everything harder. What stays consistent through all of it is this: contact matters, programs matter, and having someone on the outside who is paying attention and who knows how the system works makes a measurable difference in how someone navigates a federal sentence.
InmateAid was built for this. We have been inside it. Use us.