Federal Prisons in California | California Prisons

California houses 13 stand-alone federal prisons and eight federal prisons camps. The Western Regional Office oversees each of these California federal prisons. In total, 11,235 inmates are housed inside federal prisons in California.

This page presents a list of all federal prisons in California, including links to detailed profiles where you can find more information about each correctional institution. Additionally, this page explains what women’s federal prisons are in California and how to conduct a California federal inmate search.

California Federal Prisons by Security Level

High-Security Federal Prisons in California

  • USP Atwater (Atwater, CA)
  • USP Victorville (Victorville, CA)

Medium-Security Federal Prisons in California

  • FCI Herlong (Herlong, CA)
  • FCI Mendota (Mendota, CA)
  • USP Lompoc (Lompoc, CA)
  • FCI Victorville Medium 1 (Victorville, CA)
  • FCI Victorville Medium 1 (Victorville, CA)

Low-Security Federal Prisons in California

  • FCI Dublin (Dublin, CA)
  • FCI Lompoc (Lompoc, CA)
  • FCI Terminal Island (Terminal Island, CA)

Minimum-Security Federal Prisons in California

  • USP Atwater Camp (Atwater, CA)
  • FCI Dublin Camp (Dublin, CA)
  • FCI Herlong Camp (Herlong, CA)
  • USP Lompoc Camp (Lompoc, CA)
  • FCI Lompoc Camp (Lompoc, CA)
  • FCI Mendota Camp (Mendota, CA)
  • FCI Victorville Camp (Victorville, CA)

Administrative Security Federal Prisons in California

  • MDC Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • MCC San Diego (San Diego, CA)

Private Prisons in California

  • CI Taft Low (Taft, CA)
  • CI Taft Camp (Taft, CA)
California Federal Prisons

Federal Prisons in California

USP Atwater

United States Penitentiary Atwater is a high-security level federal prison located in Atwater, California. The Western Regional Office oversees this facility. USP Atwater is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 947 male inmates.

USP Atwater Camp

United States Penitentiary Atwater Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Atwater, California. USP Atwater Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 107 male inmates.

FCI Dublin

Federal Correctional Institution Dublin is a low-security level federal prison located in Dublin, California. The Western Regional Office manages this institution. FCI Dublin is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It is one of the few women’s federal prisons in California, housing 837 female inmates.

FCI Dublin Camp

Federal Correctional Institution Dublin Camp is a minimum-security level federal correctional facility located in Dublin, California. FCI Dublin Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 149 female inmates and is one of the few women’s federal prisons in California.

FCI Herlong

Federal Correctional Institution Herlong is a medium-security level federal prison located in Herlong, California. The Western Regional Office supervises this prison. FCI Herlong is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 888 male inmates.

FCI Herlong Camp

Federal Correctional Institution Herlong Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Herlong, California. FCI Herlong Camp is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 62 male inmates.

USP Lompoc

United States Penitentiary Lompoc is a medium-security level federal prison located in Lompoc, California. The Western Regional Office provides support and oversight for this correctional institution. USP Lompoc is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 1,081 male inmates.

USP Lompoc Camp

United States Penitentiary Lompoc Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Lompoc, California. USP Lompoc Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 140 male inmates.

FCI Lompoc

Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc is a low-security level federal prison located in Lompoc, California. The Western Regional Office is responsible for managing this facility. FCI Lompoc is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 964 male inmates.

FCI Lompoc Camp

Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Lompoc, California. FCI Lompoc Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 300 male inmates.

MDC Los Angeles

Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles is an administrative-security-level federal prison located in Los Angeles, California. MDC Los Angeles is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 553 male and female inmates. While MDC Los Angeles is one of the few women’s federal prisons in California, it primarily houses pre-trial detainees, not sentenced inmates.

FCI Mendota

Federal Correctional Institution Mendota is a medium-security level federal prison located in Mendota, California. FCI Mendota is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 723 male inmates.

FCI Mendota Camp

Federal Correctional Institution Mendota Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Mendota, California. FCI Mendota Camp is a Medical Care Level 1 prison. It houses 112 male inmates.

MCC San Diego

Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego is an administrative-security-level federal prison located in San Diego, California. MCC San Diego is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 668 male and female inmates. MCC San Diego is one of five women’s federal prisons in California, primarily housing detainees not yet convicted.

CI Taft

Correctional Institution Taft is a low-security level private prison located in Taft, California. It is a private prison operated by Management & Training Corporation. This California correctional institution houses male inmates.

CI Taft Camp

Correctional Institution Taft Camp is a minimum-security level private prison located in Taft, California. It is a private prison operated by Management & Training Corporation. It houses male inmates.

Please note that federal prison camps are not fire camps, which fight state and local fires. Only minimum-security California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation prisons operate fire camps.

FCI Terminal Island

Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island is a low-security level federal prison located in San Pedro, California. The Western Regional Office oversees this facility’s operations. FCI Terminal Island is a Medical Care Level 2/3 prison. It houses 959 male inmates.

USP Victorville

United States Penitentiary Victorville is a high-security level federal prison located in Victorville, California. USP Victorville is a Medical Care Level 2/3 prison. It houses 1,156 male inmates.

FCI Victorville Medium 1

Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium 1 is a medium-security level federal prison located in Victorville, California. FCI Victorville Medium 1 is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 1,107 male inmates.

FCI Victorville Medium 2

Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium 2 is a medium-security level federal prison located in Victorville, California. The Western Regional Office is responsible for this facility’s operations. FCI Victorville Medium 2 is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 1,201 male inmates.

FCI Victorville Camp

Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison located in Victorville, California. FCI Victorville Camp is a Medical Care Level 2 prison. It houses 210 female inmates and is one of the most sought-after women’s federal prisons in California.

Federal Prisons in California

List of Federal Prisons in California

The Golden State is home to numerous penal institutions. There are 13 stand-alone federal prisons in California and eight federal prison camps. Click on the below links to read each Federal Bureau of Prisons facility’s detailed profile, where you can learn about specific facility offerings, information, and contact details.

Atwater USP

United States Penitentiary Atwater is a high-security facility for male inmates in Merced County, California. Occupying land once part of the Castle Air Force Base, the federal penitentiary is 130 miles from San Francisco.

USP Atwater also features a minimum-security camp for nonviolent male offenders. California federal inmates at the camp must have less than ten years remaining on their sentences. Whereas the high-security portion of the prison is heavily controlled and violent, inmates at the federal prison camp have more privileges and freedom of movement.

Dublin FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Dublin is a low-security institution in Alameda County, California. The facility houses female inmates. The institution also contains a minimum-security satellite prison camp for female offenders.

FCI Dublin is situated 20 miles southeast of Oakland in the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area. It opened in 1974 and served inmates of both sexes at that time. However, it is now the only federal prison in California and one of just five federal facilities in the United States that houses female offenders.

An administrative detention facility is adjacent to the main institution. It houses male detainees and inmates. Additionally, a minimum-security satellite prison camp for females is also on the premises, making it one of the preferred women’s federal prisons in California.

Herlong FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Herlong is located in Lassen County near Herlong, California. Situated in the northeastern part of the state near the Nevada border, it opened in 2007.

FCI Herlong is approximately 60 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada, and 190 miles northeast of Sacramento, California. There is also a minimum-security satellite camp for nonviolent male inmates adjacent to the main medium-security prison.

Lompoc USP

United States Penitentiary Lompoc is a medium-security facility for male inmates. The facility is in Santa Barbara County, 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex. At one time, USP Lompoc was a Camp Cook military barracks.

In addition to medium-security housing, USP Lompoc has a Special Housing Unit (SHU), where California federal inmates are confined for administrative or disciplinary reasons.

The complex also contains two minimum-security prison camps, USP Lompoc Camp and FCI Lompoc Camp. Only nonviolent offenders with less than ten years remaining on their sentences may be housed at federal prison camps.

Lompoc FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc is a low-security facility for male inmates. The prison is part of the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex. It is approximately 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California, located adjacent to the Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Inmates are housed in four inmate housing units. Two of these housing units feature dormitory-style inmate housing. As with other California federal prisons, this facility provides all offenders with mental and physical health services.

Additionally, educational, vocational training, and self-improvement groups are available to inmates. These programs help make re-entry into the outside world more successful.

Los Angeles MDC

Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles is an administrative facility in downtown Los Angeles, California. It is two blocks from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

MDC Los Angeles houses males and females of all security levels. Many detainees are awaiting trial. Other California federal inmates serve out short sentences at the prison or are otherwise part of the work cadre. It is one of the few women’s federal prisons in California.

Inmates have access to substance abuse and educational programs while incarcerated at MDC Los Angeles.

Mendota FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Mendota is a medium-security prison for male inmates. The correctional institution is located in Fresno County near the town of Mendota, California. Situated in the central part of the state, it is 36 miles west of Fresno.

FCI Mendota opened in 2012. The facility also contains a minimum-security satellite prison camp for nonviolent male offenders.

Inmates live in cells and have access to common areas for bathing and recreation. Like all inmates incarcerated in California federal prisons, prisoners must hold jobs. They are also encouraged to participate in educational and vocational programs.

San Diego MCC

Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego holds male and female inmates of all security levels. Many of these detainees are awaiting trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Other inmates remain at MCC San Diego until they complete brief prison sentences.

The MCC San Diego 23-story building houses over 1,000 detainees and California federal inmates. Inmates can take advantage of educational and substance abuse support programs while at the correctional institution.

Taft Low CI

Correctional Institution Taft is a low-security private prison. The Management & Training Corporation owns and operates the facility under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

CI Taft is in Taft, California, and is under the purview of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Opened on August 20, 1997, CI Taft primarily houses deportable aliens. The facility also has an adjacent minimum-security prison camp, Taft Prison Camp.

Terminal Island FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island is a low-security facility for male inmates. Located in Los Angeles at the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor, it opened in 1938.

All FCI Terminal Island inmates must earn a GED before their release. Additionally, inmates must maintain a job within the prison unless medically exempt. All males and females incarcerated in federal prisons in California must work in prison jobs unless excused.

Victorville USP

United States Penitentiary Victorville is a high-security facility for male inmates. The federal penitentiary is in Victorville, California, located approximately 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Victorville Federal Correctional Complex and occupies land that once belonged to the George Air Force Base.

USP Victorville contains six V-shaped housing units, guard towers, double-electrical fencing, and guarded exterior walls. California male inmates live in two-person cells. Three offenders may be required to live in a two-person cell in the SHU if overcrowding occurs or if they are pending transfer elsewhere while on holdover status.

Victorville Medium I FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium I is part of the Victorville Federal Prison Complex. The George Air Force Base once owned this land. FCI Victorville Medium 2 is 85 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California.

Inmates are assigned to a prison work detail while housed at FCI Victorville Medium 2. They are also encouraged to participate in educational, vocational, and enrichment programs. These programs are designed to enhance inmates’ physical and mental health and smooth their eventual transition to the outside world upon their release.

Victorville Medium II FCI

Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium II is a medium-security federal prison for male inmates in Victorville, California. Inmates are housed in two-person cells.

Inmates at the medium-security prison also have access to various educational, vocational, substance abuse, and recreational opportunities. These programs include GED, ESL, and college correspondence classes.

Additionally, a minimum-security satellite camp for nonviolent female inmates is next to FCI Victorville Medium 2. It is one of the few women’s federal prisons in California.

Women’s Federal Prisons in California

Only 7 percent of the federal prison population consists of female inmates. This equates to roughly 11,000 female federal inmates. Due to this small population, few facilities house women prisoners.

There are five women’s federal prisons in California. Of these five correctional institutions, both MDC Los Angeles and MCC San Diego house male and female inmates in different and separate areas. The five women’s federal prisons in California are:

  • FCI Dublin (Dublin, CA)
  • FCI Dublin Camp (Dublin, CA)
  • MDC Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
  • MCC San Diego (San Diego, CA)
  • FCI Victorville Medium 2 Camp (Victorville, CA)

Wikipedia Pages About Each Federal Prison in California

You can also learn more about each of these California federal prisons on the following Wikipedia pages. These pages provide basic information about each facility.

Please note that while these pages can provide a decent background on each of these facilities, our federal prison profiles offer more comprehensive and trustworthy information about each facility.

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the Zoukis Consulting Group.

Searching for an incarcerated loved one can be a frustrating process. Luckily, each prison system has an inmate locator tool to help you. If you are looking for a California federal inmate search tool, you’ve come to the right place.

Please look at our inmate search page to find more information about using California federal inmate search tools. This page explains what these inmate locator tools are and how they work. Additionally, the page explains how to search for both California state prison inmates and Federal Bureau of Prisons offenders.

Briefly, these California federal inmate locators allow you to search by inmate name or prison number. After you search, you will be shown the California federal inmate’s name, inmate number, prison location, and release date. Some of these tools also provide additional information about incarcerated people.

Please contact us at the Zoukis Consulting Group if you need assistance conducting a California federal inmate search. Our team of expert consultants can help you utilize the federal inmate locator in California.