You’ve probably heard the term "Club Fed" tossed around in movies or news reports about white-collar criminals. Usually, people are picturing some lush campus where CEOs play tennis while waiting out their tax evasion sentences. For a long time, federal prison Morgantown West Virginia—officially known as FPC Morgantown—was exactly the place people pointed to.
It didn't have fences. No barbed wire. No towers with guys holding rifles.
But things changed fast. If you're looking for it now, you might be surprised to find that the "college campus" vibe has been replaced by empty halls and relocation orders. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) made some massive moves recently that shifted the entire landscape of federal incarceration in West Virginia.
The Reality of FPC Morgantown
Honestly, calling it a "country club" was always a bit of a stretch, even if it was objectively "nicer" than a maximum-security penitentiary. FPC Morgantown was a minimum-security facility. It sat on Green Bag Road, overlooking the city, and for decades, it operated more like a strict boarding school than a dungeon.
The facility originally opened back in 1968 as the Robert F. Kennedy Youth Center. It was supposed to be this experimental, humane way to handle younger offenders. Eventually, it pivoted to housing adult men, mostly those with "low points"—which is prison-speak for guys who aren't violent and aren't likely to run away.
Because there was no perimeter fence, the security was "staff-based." Basically, if you walked off the grass, you were escaping a federal facility, and that’s a one-way ticket to a much scarier prison.
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Most inmates spent their time in dormitory-style housing. No cells. No bars. Just cubicles or open rooms with bunk beds. They worked. They studied. Some even trained service dogs for veterans with PTSD, which was one of the most unique programs in the entire federal system.
Why is it Closing?
In late 2024, the Bureau of Prisons dropped a bombshell. They announced they were "deactivating" FPC Morgantown.
Why? It basically came down to three things:
- Crumbling Infrastructure: The buildings were old. Maintaining a 1960s campus to modern federal standards was becoming a money pit.
- Staffing Shortages: The BOP has been struggling to find enough correctional officers for years.
- Realignment: The agency decided to move its resources (and its people) about 30 miles away to FCC Hazelton.
Hazelton is a completely different beast. It’s a high-security complex. While the minimum-security guys from Morgantown are being moved to other camps or lower-security wings, the "staffing crisis" meant the BOP had to consolidate. They couldn't keep a standalone camp running when the big pens were short-handed.
Famous Faces and "White Collar" Legends
Morgantown earned its reputation because of who stayed there. It wasn't just your local drug offenders; it was a revolving door of politicians and celebrities.
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- Richard Hatch: The guy who won the first season of Survivor. He ended up here for tax evasion.
- Bob Ney: A former U.S. Congressman involved in the Jack Abramoff scandal.
- Mike Madigan: The long-time Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives was slated for a stint in the federal system, and Morgantown was often the target destination for names of that caliber.
It’s kind of wild to think about a former Congressman and a reality TV star eating in the same chow hall, but that was the vibe. Most of the population consisted of people convicted of fraud, embezzlement, or non-violent drug crimes.
What Families Need to Know Now
If you have a loved one who was recently sentenced and you were hoping for Morgantown, you need to adjust your expectations. Since the deactivation process began, the BOP is steering new designations toward other minimum-security camps like FPC Alderson (for women) or the camps attached to larger complexes like FCI Beckley or FCC Hazelton.
The Move to Hazelton
Most of the staff from Morgantown moved to Hazelton. If you're a visitor, the experience is going to be different. While Morgantown was open and somewhat relaxed, many other facilities have much stricter entry protocols.
Visitation Rules
If you’re visiting any federal camp in West Virginia, remember the "Golden Rule" of the BOP: Dress code is everything. * No khaki (you’ll look like an inmate).
- No green (same reason).
- Nothing "revealing."
- No open-toed shoes.
They will turn you away at the front desk for wearing leggings or a shirt that’s too short. It sounds petty, but they don't budge.
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Life After the Fence (or Lack Thereof)
For the inmates, the closure of Morgantown is a mixed bag. Some guys liked the freedom of the campus. They could walk to the library or the recreation yard without being buzzed through five different gates.
Others? They’re worried about being "packed" into other facilities that are already overcrowded. When a prison closes, the people don't just disappear; they get squeezed into the remaining spots in the system.
The dog program was particularly hard to see go. Inmates who worked with those service dogs often described it as the only thing that kept them feeling "human." Training a dog for a veteran gave them a sense of purpose that scrubbing floors just doesn't provide.
Moving Forward: Actionable Steps
If you are dealing with a legal situation involving federal prison Morgantown West Virginia or any federal facility in the region, here is how you should handle it:
- Check the Inmate Locator: If you thought someone was in Morgantown, go to the BOP Inmate Locator immediately. Many have already been transferred.
- Verify the "Self-Surrender" Address: If a judge told you to surrender to Morgantown, contact your lawyer or the U.S. Marshals. You don't want to show up to a facility that is mid-deactivation.
- Monitor the First Step Act: Many non-violent offenders previously at Morgantown are now eligible for "Earned Time Credits." This can shave months off a sentence and lead to earlier home confinement.
- Prepare for Hazelton or Beckley: If you’re a family member, start looking at the visiting hours for these alternative sites. They are the most likely landing spots for the "Morgantown crowd."
The era of the "Kennedy Prison" is essentially over. It’s a shift toward a more consolidated, high-efficiency (and unfortunately, more crowded) federal system. While the "Club Fed" nickname might stick around in the movies, the actual bricks and mortar on Green Bag Road are going quiet.