McCreary United States Penitentiary

McCreary United States Penitentiary is a high security penitentiary with a nearby minimum security satellite camp.  The facility is located in Pine Knot of McCreary County, Kentucky.  Both the USP and the camp only hold male offenders.  Currently the USP has 1,274 inmates and the Camp has 142 inmates.  

All prisoners at USP McCreary are either assigned work or education.  The Education Department offers the following courses: General Education Development, English as a Second Language, Apprenticeship training, Adult Continuing Education, Parenting Program, and Release Preparation. Other programs offered at the facility include Drug Abuse Education and a Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program.  In addition, the institution has a psychology department that works with suicide prevention, mental awareness, and crisis interventions.  Work assignments at the facility range from food services, mechanical services, health services, education, recreation services, laundry, and unit orderlies. 

On November 8th of 2010, two officers were stabbed.  The corrections officers were stabbed when they were performing there regular cell searches.  As the officers searched James Edward Rose's cell, Rose stabbed the officers with a homemade prison knife.  The officers were sent to the hospital but had no life-threatening injuries.  Rose was then convicted of attempted murder and was transferred to Florence ADX.  Several notable inmates have served time at USP McCreary.  Ronell Wilson, who was a gang leader of Staten Island, New York is currently serving a life sentence at the USP.  Wilson was convicted of the murder of NYPD detectives James Nemorin and Rodney Andrews.  Other notable inmates include Thomas Pitera.  Pitera was a former hitman of the Bonanno Crime Family.  In 1992, Pitera was convicted of the murder and murder conspiracy for the torture and murder of 6 people.  Pitera was also found guilty for his involvement of a large scale drug trafficking operation.  Pitera now serves a life sentence at McCreary. 

Visiting Hours at McCreary United States Penitentiary:

• Visitation at McCreary United States Penitentiary is conducted on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. 
• An inmate can have no more than 5 adult visitors per visit.  Anyone 16 years of age and older is considered an adult visitor.
• As the visiting room becomes too crowded, visitors will be asked to leave.  Typically local visitors are the first to be asked to leave.
• Inmates who are part of the Special Housing Unit will have visitation in the non-contact room. 
• There is a children's play area for young visitors, however this area will be off limits to all inmates.
• Visitors could be subject to a random pat search.  
• Hand holding is the only physical contact that is allowed for the duration of the visit.  Kissing and embracing are permitted only at the beginning and termination of each visit.  
• Vending machines are available inside the facility to provide visitors with food and drinks.  Visitors may bring up to $40.00 in change for the vending machines. 
• Visitors may bring the following infant care items into the facility:
  • A reasonable amount of diapers
  • Clear baby bottles
  • 1 clear, quart-sized zip lock bag
  • Baby food, as long as it is sealed

Physical Address:

McCreary United States Penitentiary
330 Federal Way
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42635

Telephone:

(606)-354-7000

Inmate Mailing Address:

For the USP:

Inmate Name, ID Number
McCreary United States Penitentiary
P.O. Box 3000
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42635

For the Camp:

Inmate Name, ID Number
McCreary United States Penitentiary Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 3000
Pine Knot, Kentucky 42635