The CIC conducted an initial inspection of USP Lee on October 22, 2015, and a follow-up visit consisting primarily of interviews with DC inmates on October 16-17, 2018.United States Penitentiary Lee (USP Lee) is a high-security facility located in Pennington Gap, Virginia, with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. The facility is approximately 433 driving miles from Washington, DC. At the time of the CIC’s 2018 visit, 94 of the inmates listed in custody at USP Lee were DC Code Offenders.

The inspection report includes concerns expressed by DC inmates regarding frequent lockdowns, inadequate health services, safety and security, and limited programming opportunities. The BOP’s response to the 2018 inspection is included at the end of the report.

The CIC thanks its staff, board members, interns, volunteers, Federal Bureau of Prisons Central Office and facility staff, incarcerated DC residents and their loved ones who have contributed to this report.