How to Contact an Inmate at USP Big Sandy

USP Big Sandy is a high-security U.S. penitentiary in Inez, Kentucky, that opened in 2003. If someone you care about is held there, this page explains how family and friends can stay in touch by text through ContactMeAsap, and where to find the official address, phone number and visiting rules on bop.gov.

ContactMeAsap is pay-as-you-go: you add funds when you choose, and your balance is yours until you use it. Searching for your inmate is free and needs no account.

About USP Big Sandy

USP Big Sandy: Built on ground that had been mined for coal, both by mountaintop removal and underground.

U.S. penitentiaries (USPs) are the BOP’s high-security institutions. The Bureau describes them as having highly secured perimeters (walls or reinforced fences), multiple- and single-occupant cell housing, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio, and close control of inmate movement.

That level of control can extend to communication. Federal institutions may monitor or restrict inmate communications, and higher-security institutions can apply stricter limits on contact. Those limits are set by the BOP and the institution, not by ContactMeAsap, so ask your inmate what applies to them.

How texting works for someone at USP Big Sandy

You text from your own phone. ContactMeAsap relays your messages to your inmate through CorrLinks/TRULINCS, the messaging system the Federal Bureau of Prisons uses for inmates. Getting started takes four steps.

1. Find your inmate.Search the BOP directory by name or register number (BOP register numbers are eight digits, usually written like 12345-678). It’s free and needs no account, and live BOP verification shows the person’s name and facility before you pay, so you can confirm they are held at USP Big Sandy.
2. Add funds. Choose the Basic Federal Plan ($20 per month of service) or the Premium Federal Plan ($30 per month of service). The fee is drawn from the balance you add, and your balance is yours until you use it.
3. Follow your setup instructions.Once your payment is approved, we send instructions by text and email, including an easy-to-remember email address that goes on your inmate’s TRULINCS computer.
4. Get approved, then text.BOP regulations require your inmate to add you to their approved contact list. This “text approve” step takes them just moments. After that, text your inmate like you would anyone else.

Contact-list limits and review timelines can vary by facility, so check USP Big Sandy on bop.gov for the specifics. For more detail, read our guide to how to text a federal inmate or see federal inmate texting for plans and pricing.

Official address, phone number and visiting rules

ContactMeAsap doesn’t publish facility street addresses or phone numbers. They can change, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons is the authoritative source.

For the official address, phone number and visiting rules, see USP Big Sandy on bop.gov.

Facility details on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. Policies and contact information can change, so always confirm with the BOP.

Questions about USP Big Sandy

Other federal prisons in Kentucky

We list 5 federal facilities in Kentucky. Not the one you’re looking for? Try another:

More U.S. penitentiaries

Ready to start? Find your inmate above or add funds directly. Want the full picture first? Read about federal inmate texting, try the federal inmate search, learn how to send photos to inmates, or browse all 98 federal prison facilities.