The Federal Medical Center, Lexington (FMC Lexington) is a United States federal prison in Kentucky for male or female inmates requiring medical or mental health care. It is designated as an administrative facility, which means that it holds inmates of all security classifications. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. The facility also has an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp for female inmates.
FMC Lexington is located 7 miles (11 km) north of Lexington and 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Frankfort, the state capital.
History
Undated aerial view of the hospital
The site opened on May 15, 1935, on 1,000 acres (400 ha) under the name "United States Narcotic Farm" then changed shortly after to "U.S. Public Health Service Hospital." In 1967, it changed its name again to "National Institute of Mental Health, Clinical Research Center." Its original purpose was to treat people who "voluntarily" were admitted with drug abuse problems and treat them, with mostly experimental treatments; it was the first of its kind in the United States. The 1,050-acre (420 ha) site included a farm where patients would work.
Throughout the life of the institution as a prison/hospital, approximately two-thirds of those sent to the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital were considered volunteers. While many traveled to the institution on their own to volunteer for treatment, other so-called volunteers were in fact motivated to go there in lieu of federal sentencing. The remaining one-third of the prison's population, which reached 1,499 inmates at its peak, were there due to federal charges either directly or indirectly related to drug use.
In 1974, the institution became a federal prison but maintained a "psychiatric hospital" title until 1998, the year 2 inmates killed another with a fire extinguisher. Most psychiatric patients were subsequently moved to other federal medical centers, although the change in mission was due to the psychiatric function being transferred to a new Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts, and not the homicide.
In William S. Burroughs' book Junkie, the autobiographical main character spends a period of time at "Lexington," where he checks himself in voluntarily in order to quit his heroin addiction. Burroughs and his son, William Seward Burroughs III, were both patients at the facility.
In Alexander King's book Mine Enemy Grows Older, King recounts his sojourns at "Lexington Bluegrass Hospital," where he "heard the best jazz ever played anywhere" by a continually changing lineup of famous jazz musicians, all there voluntarily for treatment for heroin addiction.
In Gayl Jones' novel Corregidora, set around Lexington, KY, the character Jeffrene is described, late in the story, as working at the narcotics hospital.
Notable inmates (current and former)
Former
† Inmates released from custody prior to 1982 are not listed on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.
Leader of the Universal Divine Saviors religious cult; convicted of terrorismconspiracy in 2009 for masterminding a foiled plot to bomb the Sears Tower in Chicago. Four co-conspirators were also convicted.
Released in 2001 after her sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton; served 16 years of a 58-year sentence.
Political activist and former member of the May 19th Communist Organization, a terrorist group which carried out bombings of government facilities and bank robberies in the 1980s; convicted of possessing explosives in 1984.
Transferred to an Italian prison in 1999 while serving a 40-year sentence.
Political activist from Italy; convicted of racketeering in 1982 for taking part in two armored truck robberies, as well as for aiding convicted murderer Assata Shakur escape from prison.
Held at FMC Lexington in the 1970s; served 27 months.
Bop and hard bop trumpeter; convicted of fraud and theft for impersonating an Army officer in order to steal $10,000 from the Atomic Energy Commission of San Francisco.
Served 36 years of a 60-year sentence; released on parole on December 16, 2022. Died on July 6, 2023.
Convicted in connection with a 1981 bank robbery and shootout during which Brink's guard Peter Paige, as well as Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Police Officer Waverly Brown of the Nyack Police Department in New York State, were killed. Shakur is the stepfather of late rapper Tupac Shakur.
Currently held at FMC Lexington. Scheduled release date of November 13, 2028.
Currently serving 7 years. She was sentenced in 2022. Convicted in connection with the Georgia case, which her and her husband Todd Chrisley were charged with bank fraud and tax evasion. The couple was indicted in 2019 on the bank and tax evasion charges. The couple was found guilty on these charges in November 2022. The couple was sentenced to a combined 19 years - Todd was given 12 years and Julie was given seven years. They both self surrendered to start their sentences on January 17, 2023.
Currently held at FMC Lexington. Scheduled release date of January 2031.
American former cheerleader and convicted child sex offender who received national recognition after appearing in the 2020 NetflixdocuseriesCheer. In September and December 2020, he was charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with production of child pornography and other child-related sex crimes: "sexual exploitation of children, receiving child pornography, traveling with the attempt to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, enticement and other charges.
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