Federal Prison Custody Levels

Federal prisons have five different levels of security custody for inmates: High, Medium, Low, Minimum, and Administrative. Depending on what an inmate scores on the Security Classification Form (BP-337), he will be assigned to one of the previous five custody levels. Below is a brief description of each level.
also known as Federal Prison

Minimum Security:

Camps (FPCs) are work- and program-oriented facilities

with dormitory housing, limited or no perimeter fencing,

and a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio. Some FPCs are

located next to military bases, making it possible for

inmates to help serve the labor needs of the base. A

number of BOP facilities have a small, minimum

security camp adjacent to the main facility. Sometimes

referred to as satellite prison camps (SPCs), these

provide inmate labor to the main institution and to offsite

work programs.

Low Security Federal Correctional Institutions

(FCIs):

detection systems, mostly dormitory or cubicle housing,

and strong work and program components. The staff-toinmate

ratio is somewhat higher than that in FPCs.

Medium Security FCIs:

with electronic detection systems) perimeters,

mostly cell-type housing, a wide variety of work and

treatment programs, a higher staff-to-inmate ratio than

that in low security FCIs, and greater internal controls.

High Security United States Penitentiaries (USPs):

have highly secured perimeters featuring walls or

reinforced fences, multiple- and single-occupant cell

housing, the highest staff-to-inmate ratio, and close

control of inmate movement.

Administrative Facilities:

as the detention of pretrial offenders; the treatment of

inmates with serious or chronic medical problems; or the

containment of extremely dangerous, violent, or escapeprone

inmates. Administrative facilities include

Metropolitan Correctional Centers (MCCs), Metropolitan

Detention Centers (MDCs), Federal Detention Centers

(FDCs), Federal Medical Centers (FMCs), the Medical

Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP), the Federal

Transfer Center (FTC), and the Administrative-

Maximum USP (ADX).

Federal Correctional Complexes (FCCs):

include institutions with different missions and security

levels located in close proximity, allowing them to share

services, enable staff to gain experience at institutions of

many security levels, and enhance emergency

preparedness by having additional resources readily

available.

Satellite Low Security Facilities:

Jesup each have a small low security satellite facility

adjacent to the main institution. FCI La Tuna has a low

security facility affiliated with, but not adjacent to, the

main institution. FCIs Elkton andFCCshave special missions, suchhave strengthened (doublefencedhave double-fenced perimeters with electronic