Did you know that the Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island started with both male and female prisoners? Today we explore the history and facts surrounding this low-security federal prison.
Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island is in San Pedro California. The facility houses male inmates. It sits at the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor between San Pedro and Long Beach.
The prison opened June 1 1938. It held 610 male and 40 female prisoners. The cost to construct Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island was 2 million dollars.
In 1942 the U.S. Navy took control of the prison. It was used as a receiving station and barracks for court-martialed prisoners. The Navy deactivated the facility in 1950. Then it was turned over to California for use as a medical and psychiatric institution.
California returned control to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in 1955. It became a low-to-medium security federal prison. The prison housed both male and female prisoners until 1977. Overcrowding led to the transfer of women to the federal prison in Dublin California.
In the early 1980s the prison added increased barbed wire and armed guards. This was an effort to dispel the facility’s “Club Fed” image. A corruption scandal rocked the prison during this time. Six employees were indicted on charges of bribes cover-ups marijuana sales to inmates and other corruption. Charles DeSordi the prison’s chief investigator of crimes was also indicted. He was the highest-ranking federal prison official ever to be indicted.
Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island offers various services to inmates. These include education health services and recreation. Inmates can earn their GED or take English as a Second Language classes. They can also participate in vocational training and apprenticeships. The prison also offers a Residential Drug Abuse Program.
Health services include on-site emergency medical care sick calls dental care and medications. Psychology services include screening assessment and treatment of mental health and drug abuse problems.
Inmates have access to a leisure library with periodicals newspapers and books. Recreation activities include games sports physical fitness table games hobby crafts and music programs.
Many notable people have been inmates at Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island. Al Capone the infamous leader of the Chicago Outfit was held here. Also Qian Xuesen a Chinese-born rocket scientist was held on suspicion of Communist sympathies. More recently Michael Avenatti the lawyer was convicted of attempting to extort Nike.
Life inside Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island has its challenges. Some inmates have complained about bad medical and dental services. They also cite unprofessional staff and buildings that look abandoned. In 2019 inmates went without heat during the coldest February in decades.
Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island houses approximately 820 inmates. Inmates live in various housing structures. These range from dormitories to one and two-person cells. Visiting hours are on Sunday Monday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island has a long and complex history. From its early days as a mixed-gender prison to its current status as a low-security facility. It continues to be a significant part of the federal prison system.