FCI Ray Brook
Find messaging, video, and phone options for FCI Ray Brook. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- Federal Facility
- Security Level
- Medium
- Inmate Capacity
- 900 approx.
- Established
- 1980
- Operated By
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
FCI Ray Brook Inmate Communication Overview
Federal Correctional Institution Ray Brook is a medium-security federal prison located in the hamlet of Ray Brook in Essex County, in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. The facility opened in 1980 on a site that was constructed as the Olympic Village for the 1980 Winter Olympics in nearby Lake Placid, the same games famous for the U.S. hockey team's 'Miracle on Ice' victory. After the Olympics concluded, the buildings were repurposed as a federal correctional facility. This origin makes FCI Ray Brook one of the more unusual physical settings in the federal prison system, tucked into a mountainous region more than four hours north of New York City.
Communication at FCI Ray Brook follows standard Bureau of Prisons rules. CorrLinks handles electronic messaging, and families need to wait for the inmate to initiate contact before correspondence can begin. Phone calls use ConnectNetwork. Because the facility is medium security, communication access is generally routine compared to higher-security BOP institutions. The remote location in the Adirondacks, however, makes in-person visits significantly more difficult for most families, particularly those in New York City or other downstate areas, who face a long drive or multi-leg travel to reach the facility.
For families whose loved one is at FCI Ray Brook, electronic communication through CorrLinks and phone calls through ConnectNetwork are especially practical because the distance from most population centers makes frequent in-person visits logistically challenging. Remote video visitation is not available at FCI Ray Brook, as it is not offered at any BOP facility. Families should set up CorrLinks and ConnectNetwork accounts early in the process to avoid gaps in communication during the initial period of incarceration. The BOP visitor approval process should also begin as early as possible for anyone planning to visit in person.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
128 Ray Brook Road, Ray Brook, NY 12977
Main Phone
(518) 891-5400
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Visiting Hours
Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Visitor processing starts at 8:00 AM, and no one is processed after 1:30 PM. Confirm the schedule before traveling, since lockdowns suspend visits.
Commissary / Sending Money
Do not send money to the facility address. Mail money orders to the BOP lockbox processing center in Des Moines, Iowa, or deposit online through ConnectNetwork, Western Union Quick Collect, or MoneyGram. Funds land in the inmate Trust Fund (commissary) account.
Communication Options
Available communication services at FCI Ray Brook.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: CorrLinks
Available. Electronic messaging is especially practical given the facility's remote location.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Remote video visitation is not available at FCI Ray Brook.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photos by mail only, subject to BOP content guidelines.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Inmate-initiated calls. Medium-security status allows routine phone access.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Trust fund deposits via ConnectNetwork or BOP money order.
Communication Providers at FCI Ray Brook
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
CorrLinks
Federal messaging platform. Especially useful given the remote location. Inmate must initiate contact.
View CorrLinks ServicesConnectNetwork
BOP phone system and trust fund deposits. Practical alternative to in-person visits given the remote setting.
View ConnectNetwork ServicesCommunication Rules at FCI Ray Brook
- CorrLinks contact requires inmate initiation or approval. You cannot message first.
- The facility is in a remote Adirondack location, set up electronic communication early to avoid gaps.
- Remote video visitation is not available. In-person visits require BOP visitor approval and significant travel for most families.
- All BOP communications are monitored under standard Bureau of Prisons policy.
- Phone and commissary funds are maintained in separate ConnectNetwork accounts.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: FCI Ray Brook
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I set up messaging at FCI Ray Brook?
- Create a free account at corrlinks.com. The inmate must send you an invitation or approve your contact request through the TRULINCS terminal inside the facility. Once approved, you can send and receive electronic messages. Given the remote location of the facility, setting up messaging early is especially useful for maintaining regular contact.
- How do phone calls work at FCI Ray Brook?
- Phone calls use ConnectNetwork. Create an account at connectnetwork.com and add funds linked to your phone number. The inmate will call you from facility phones. Medium-security inmates generally have access to phones on a routine schedule.
- How far is FCI Ray Brook from New York City?
- FCI Ray Brook is in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, approximately 300 miles north of New York City. The drive takes roughly four to five hours depending on traffic. The facility is near Lake Placid. For most downstate New York families, electronic communication through CorrLinks and phone calls are the more practical options for regular contact.
- What is the history of the FCI Ray Brook facility?
- The buildings were constructed as the Olympic Village for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics. After the games concluded, the federal government converted the site into a correctional facility. FCI Ray Brook has operated since 1980, making it one of the more unusual settings in the federal prison system in terms of its physical origins.
- How do I send money to a FCI Ray Brook inmate?
- Deposits go through ConnectNetwork at connectnetwork.com or via money order using the BOP lockbox system. Western Union Quick Collect and MoneyGram are also accepted. Allow one to three business days for funds to post.
- What are the visiting hours at FCI Ray Brook?
- Visits are held on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Processing starts at 8:00 AM, and anyone reaching the entrance building after 1:30 PM is not processed. Call the facility to confirm before traveling, since lockdowns suspend visits.
- Can I call an inmate at FCI Ray Brook?
- No. Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. They place outgoing calls through the facility phone system using a ConnectNetwork prepaid account linked to your phone number. Fund the account, then the inmate calls you. All calls are subject to monitoring.
- What if my loved one is in the detention center at FCI Ray Brook?
- FCI Ray Brook includes a detention center for pretrial and holdover inmates alongside the medium-security population. Communication setup is the same: CorrLinks for messaging and ConnectNetwork for phone and money. Detention stays can be short, so set up accounts quickly and confirm the location in the BOP Inmate Locator.
- Do I need to be on an approved visiting list at FCI Ray Brook?
- Yes. The inmate submits a list of proposed visitors for approval, and approval can take several weeks. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, follow the dress code, and leave phones and valuables in your vehicle or a facility locker.
Troubleshooting at FCI Ray Brook
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my CorrLinks invite code not working?
- Invite codes expire, and a code only works for the inmate who sent it. Ask the inmate to send a fresh invite, and enter the code exactly as shown. Also confirm the inmate added you to their approved contact list, since messaging cannot start before that step. See our guide: CorrLinks invite code not working
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