FCI Butner Low is the low-security men's institution within the Butner Federal Correctional Complex, and it became operational in 1995 alongside FMC Butner as the complex expanded beyond its original medium-security unit. As a low-security facility, it generally houses inmates considered lower risk, with dormitory-style housing and a lighter staff-to-inmate ratio than the medium-security institutions on the same complex. There isn't much documented history specific to this unit beyond its role as part of the larger Butner complex, which sits on a shared campus in Durham and Granville counties and together holds thousands of federal inmates across several separate facilities. Families should keep in mind that Butner Low, Butner Medium I, Butner Medium II, and FMC Butner are distinct buildings and populations even though they share the same general location and support services, so mail, visitation, and phone systems are specific to whichever unit a loved one is actually assigned to.