Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island is a low-security federal prison located in San Pedro, California. It is also known as FCI Terminal Island. The facility houses male inmates.
Table of contents
- FCI Terminal Island Contact Information
- Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island Inmate Information
- FCI Terminal Island Prison Services Information
- FCI Terminal Island Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
- Visitation Information for FCI Terminal Island
- FCI Terminal Island Prison Culture Information
- FCI Terminal Island in the News
- More Information About Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island
FCI Terminal Island Contact Information
Facility Address & Contact Information
Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island
1299 Seaside Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: 310-831-8961
Fax: 310-732-5325
Email: [email protected]
BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page
Inmate Correspondence Address
FCI Terminal Island
Inmate Name and Registration Number
FCI Terminal Island
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 3007
San Pedro, CA 90733
How to Send Money
Funds cannot be sent directly to inmates. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.
Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island Inmate Information
Inmate Gender
Male Inmates
Prison Security Level
Facility Location
FCI Terminal Island is located in Los Angeles Harbor, between San Pedro and Long Beach; off Harbor Freeway (110 South) at the Terminal Island exit.
BOP Region
BOP Institution Code
TRM for FCI Terminal Island
Medical Care Level
Level 2/3. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.
Mental Health Care Level
Level 3.
Judicial District
Central District of California
Population Number
FCI Terminal Island houses approximately 820 inmates.
FCI Terminal Island Prison Services Information
Background
Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island is a low-security federal prison in San Pedro, California, which houses male inmates. It was opened in 1938.
FCI Terminal Island served as the Naval Disciplinary Barracks from 1942 to 1950. For a period, it was also a medical facility for the California Department of Corrections. In 1995, it was converted into the low-security federal prison it is today. FCI Terminal Island serves as a medical facility for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Notable inmates include internet music entrepreneur Mouli Cohen (serving 22 years for wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion); Earth Liberation Front member Eric McDavid (served 10 years for conspiracy to destroy a dam, a lab, and other targets); former stockbroker Anthony Elgindy (served eight years for racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, securities fraud, and extortion); Admiral Robert Gilbeau (served 18 months for lying to investigators); and former LAPD detective Randy Adair (convicted of bank robbery).
Media reports indicate that at least one guard has been indicted for smuggling contraband into the prison.
Inmate Housing
Inmates are housed in various housing structures ranging from dormitories to one- and two-person cells. E, F, and J Units have two-person cells (E and J Units also have toilets in the cell). A, B, C, D, and K Units are open dormitories (only K Unit has air conditioning).
Health Services
On-site emergency medical care, sick call, dental care, and medication are all provided at FCI Terminal Island. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day. Sick call is conducted at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Psychology Services
FCI Terminal Island offers screening, assessment, and treatment of mental health and drug abuse problems, individual and group counseling, psycho-educational classes, self-help and supportive services, and referral to Health Services for medical treatment of a mental illness. Notices of upcoming treatment programs are posted in inmate housing units. Inmates must submit a cop-out requesting program placement.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
FCI Terminal Island offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). The facility also provides drug education classes and a Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP).
FCI Terminal Island Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
Education Services
FCI Terminal Island offers literacy, GED, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs to inmates. Incentive awards are provided to recognize inmates making satisfactory progress and successfully completing the literacy (i.e., GED and ESL) program. Inmates may also receive incentives for progressing to various levels in the GED or ESL programs. Graduation ceremonies recognize GED, ESL, and Occupational Education completions. A parenting program, Release Preparation Program (RPP), and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes are also available. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs. Coastline Community College also offers classes to inmates. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, excluding meals and counts.
Advanced Occupational Education
FCI Terminal Island offers advanced occupational education in Carpentry, CFC, Electrical Home Wiring, Home Inspection, Plumbing, and Welding.
Vocational Training
FCI Terminal Island does not offer any vocational training aside from its advanced occupational education programs and apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship
FCI Terminal Island offers apprenticeships in Baking, Cooking, AutoCAD, Cabinet Making, Dental Assistant, Electrical, Electrostatic Powder Paint Machine, Engraver, HVAC, Industrial Truck Mechanic, Machine Setter, Maintenance Repairer, Material Coordinator, Pipefitter, Plumbing, Production Planner-Shipping Clerk, Quality Control, Stationary Engineer, and Tool and Die (Machinist).
Library Services
The leisure library offers inmates a variety of reading materials, including periodicals, newspapers, fiction, nonfiction, and reference books. An interlibrary loan program is also available. The TRULINCS Electronic Law Library allows inmates access to legal materials and an opportunity to prepare legal documents. Typewriters and a copy machine are also available for inmate use.
UNICOR
FCI Terminal Island does not have a UNICOR facility.
Commissary
Inmates may use funds in their account to purchase items at the institution commissary, place funds on their inmate phone account, purchase TRU-Units for their TRULINCS account, or send funds out of the institution using Form BP-199. The spending limit is $360.00 per month. Inmates may only shop on their designated shopping day each week. Regular sales are conducted at 12:00 and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Over-the-counter medications are sold on Friday to all inmates.
Recreation Services
FCI Terminal Island provides a variety of leisure, wellness, and social programs to inmates. Leisure activities include organized and informal games, sports, physical fitness, table games, hobby crafts, music programs, intramural activities, social and cultural organizations, and movies. Art activities include paintings and sketches using traditional methods (e.g., oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). Hobbycraft activities include ceramics, leatherwork, models, clay, mosaics, crochet, knitting, sculptures, woodworking, and lapidary. Wellness programs include screening, assessments, goal setting, fitness/nutrition plans, and counseling. Inside, inmates have access to yoga, pool tables, TVs, and more. Outside, inmates have access to a weight pile, track, basketball, handball, shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, softball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball.
Visitation Information for FCI Terminal Island
On Sunday, Monday, and Saturday visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.
FCI Terminal Island Prison Culture Information
Prison Politics at Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island
There is a low level of prison politics at this facility. According to one respondent, “this is a wannabe political yard.” Another inmate explained, “There are some politics. The chow hall is segregated by race and political group.” One respondent explained, “The politics are a joke from a bunch of gang drop-outs, snitches, gays, and sex offenders who all want to act like they are still solid gang members.”
Level of Violence
While some inmates stated that there was no violence, others assert that there is a moderate level of violence. As put by one inmate, “not too violent, but more than most Lows.” Another explained, “While there are occasional fights, they don’t seem to be anything to worry about as long as you are respectful and mind your own business.”
Vulnerable Populations
Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can walk the yard. One respondent explained that “it is their yard.” Another stated, “They can all walk the yard, but they can’t watch TV.” One inmate explained, “They can do any programs, classes, or jobs that they want.” The same inmate disagreed about the TVs, stating that they can “even watch the TVs.”
Good at FCI Terminal Island
“The food and location are great.” “It’s by the water.” “Lack of violence.” “The food isn’t too bad.”
Bad at FCI Terminal Island
“Bad medical, and dental services are horrible.” “The staff are extremely unprofessional.” “Medical care is horrible.” “Lots of fake politics and idiots who bark but who couldn’t make it elsewhere.” “The compound is falling apart; the buildings all look like they are abandoned.”
Other Inmate Comments
“Most of the departments and programs are on par with other facilities in lack of care or benefit from participation.” “The place is staffed with rejects from everywhere else. They are about the least professional group you’re going to find.”
FCI Terminal Island in the News
In July 2015, Randy Adair, aka the Snowbird Bandit, a former LAPD detective who decided to start robbing banks in his retirement, was arrested, convicted, and sent to Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island.
In February 2015, Luis Borjon, a guard at FCI Terminal Island, was sentenced to two days in jail with time served, 160 hours of community service, and two years of supervised release for his role in smuggling cell phones into the facility.
More Information About Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island
For a comprehensive look at life in federal prison, pick up a copy of Christopher Zoukis’ Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Surviving the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For more detailed information about FCI Terminal Island, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.
Published Jun 3, 2018 | Last Updated May 18, 2022 at 5:54 pm
