Questions about sentencing or prison?

Call 949-799-3277Schedule a Call
Back to Directory
RDAP Facility

Lompoc I Low FCI

Low

Federal Correctional Institution

Lompoc I Low FCI is a federal correctional institution in Lompoc, California, housing approximately 914 people. Below you'll find insider tips, programs, visiting hours, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

FCIWestern RegionMale

What to Expect at Lompoc I Low FCI

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: FCI Lompoc I is 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles, adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base off Route 1. Served by Santa Barbara Airport (25 miles south), Santa Maria Airport (25 miles north), and Greyhound. Drive west through Lompoc on Ocean Avenue (Route 246), right on Floradale Avenue, proceed about three miles to main entrance on the left.
  • •Location & Travel: O'Cairns Inn and Suites — 805-735-7731
  • •Location & Travel: Holiday Inn Express — 805-736-2391
  • •Location & Travel: Embassy Suites Hotel — 805-735-8311

Visiting

  • •Visiting: Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays 8:30 AM–3:00 PM. Six visiting points per month; each visit costs two points.

Daily Life

  • •Programs: UNICOR sign factory employing approximately 150 people.

Insider Information

Housing

Two-person cells.

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month, 15-minute call limit, **60-minute** wait between calls, 30-number caller list.

Library

Law library open Mon–Sun (closed Wed) 7:30 AM–8:30 PM. Electric typewriters and copier available.

UNICOR

Sign factory employing approximately 150 people.

Psychology/Counseling Services

The Psychology Services Department offers a full range of individual and group counseling and psychotherapy. Programs include drug abuse education (in English and Spanish), non-residential drug abuse treatment, a 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), and transitional services including stress management, anger management, and relapse prevention. Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Rational Recovery are also available. The department is staffed by three full-time psychologists.

Health Services

Urgent medical attention is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 AM. Emergency sick call is provided during both duty and non-duty hours. Dental sick call is by appointment from 6:00 to 6:30 AM during regular sick call. Pill line hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 to 7:15 AM, 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM (prescription pickup only), and 5:00 to 6:00 PM; weekends and holidays 8:30 to 9:30 AM and 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Medical staff is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Persons under 50 may request a physical every two years, while those over 50 may request one annually.

Fitness & Recreation

The recreation department offers weights, a music room, a full gym, tennis courts, pool tables, ping-pong tables, foosball, horseshoes, and bocce. The hobby craft center offers ceramics, leather, oil painting, crocheting, and pencil art.

Religious Services

The facility is staffed by two full-time chaplains. Contract rabbi and imam services are available, and a community of volunteers provides services for most faiths. The chapel is open all day Saturday, Sunday, and during several weekday evenings. A sweat lodge is located on the recreation yard and may be used with permission from the chaplain. The chaplain maintains a well-supplied religious library with books, cassettes, videos, and equipment. Crisis counseling is also available through the chaplains.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Lompoc I Low FCI below, including available items and pricing.

View Lompoc I Low FCI Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Lompoc I Low FCI by posting journal entries, release plans, and book reports at PrisonProfessors.org—so others can hold you accountable while you build skills and earn freedom through merit.

Preparing for Self-Surrender at Lompoc I Low FCI

Lompoc I Low FCI is a Federal Correctional Institution. FCIs house people of varying security levels and typically offer educational, vocational, and treatment programs to support rehabilitation and reentry.

Pre-Surrender Checklist

  • •Bring your contact list and release plan
  • •Close out work and professional obligations
  • •Set up power of attorney and financial access
  • •Handle all medical preparations
  • •Choose one primary point of contact
  • •Prepare your family for phone and visitation limits
  • •Pack only what the facility allows
  • •Arrange transportation and surrender details
  • •Form a reading list before you arrive
  • •Know which programs are actually offered

Helpful Resources

Top 10 Self Surrender Checklist

Visitation Information For Families

Do you understand early release opportunities, including The First Step Act and RDAP?

Access Our Books For Free

Need personalized guidance?

Our team of experienced advisors can help you prepare for your journey, make the most of your time, and set yourself up for a successful return.

Schedule a Consultation

Programs & Services

Education Programs

  • GED
  • ESL
  • Adult Continuing Education
  • Correspondence Courses

Vocational Training

  • Microsoft Office Computer Applications (Advanced)
  • Industrial Maintenance Sanitation (Advanced)
  • Computer Applications
  • Computer-Aided Drafting
  • Landscaping Apprenticeship

Health & Wellness

  • 500-Hour RDAP
  • Non-Residential Drug Treatment
  • Drug Education Program (English and Spanish)
  • AA
  • NA
  • Rational Recovery
  • Stress Management
  • Anger Management
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Sick Call (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 6:00–7:00 AM)

Recreation

  • Weights
  • Music Room
  • Full Gym
  • Tennis Courts
  • Pool Tables
  • Ping-Pong
  • Foosball
  • Horseshoes
  • Bocce
  • Ceramics
  • Leather Craft
  • Oil Painting
  • Crocheting
  • Pencil Art

Reentry Preparation

  • Relapse Prevention
  • Non-Residential Drug Treatment

Visiting Information

Regular Visiting Hours

  • Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Sunday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Federal Holidays: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Important Notes

  • • Valid government-issued photo ID required
  • • All visitors subject to search
  • • Dress code enforced

Note: Visiting schedules may vary. Contact the facility directly for the most current visiting hours and procedures. For a complete breakdown of visitation rules, dress code, and how to get approved, visit our Visitation Guide.

What a Smaller Facility Means for You

With a population of approximately 914 people, Lompoc I Low FCI is a smaller facility — and that has real implications for daily life, programming, and how you're treated.

Pros

  • ✓Easier to build relationships with staff — case managers and counselors are more likely to know you personally, which can help with halfway house and home confinement recommendations
  • ✓Shorter lines for commissary, phones, sick call, and laundry — daily logistics have less friction
  • ✓Fewer interpersonal conflicts — smaller populations generally mean a calmer, more predictable environment
  • ✓More structured environment — staff can maintain closer oversight, which often means clearer expectations and fewer surprises

Cons

  • ✗Fewer program options — vocational training, education, and RDAP slots may be limited, and waitlists can be unpredictable
  • ✗Less anonymity — staff and other people know your business, which can feel suffocating
  • ✗Limited work assignments — fewer UNICOR slots and job options mean less flexibility in how you spend your time
  • ✗Disciplinary issues are more visible — any problems stand out quickly in a smaller population

Frequently Asked Questions About Lompoc I Low FCI

Lompoc I Low FCI is a low-security Federal Correctional Institution. Unlike a federal prison camp, it generally has double perimeter fencing and more structured movement, though programming and work opportunities are still available.

Yes. Lompoc I Low FCI offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Eligibility depends on sentencing documents and BOP evaluation. Successful completion may result in sentence reduction.

Individuals reporting to Lompoc I Low FCI typically undergo intake processing including identification verification, medical screening, housing assignment, and orientation specific to this institution's low-security level and cell-based housing structure.

Visiting at Lompoc I Low FCI typically takes place on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. All visitors must be on the approved visiting list and present a valid government-issued photo ID upon arrival. Visitors should follow the BOP dress code: no revealing clothing, no clothing that resembles prisoner uniforms (typically khaki or orange), and no open-toed shoes at some facilities. Contact Lompoc I Low FCI directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Lompoc I Low FCI should be sent through BOP-approved methods: MoneyGram, Western Union, or U.S. Postal Money Orders. All funds are processed through the Federal Bureau of Prisons' centralized National Finance Center in Des Moines, Iowa — not sent directly to Lompoc I Low FCI. Money orders should be made payable to the individual's committed name and include their BOP register number. Allow 7–10 business days for processing.

Individuals at Lompoc I Low FCI have access to three primary communication channels. Phone: you receive 300 free phone minutes per month if you are First Step Act eligible, then you pay six cents a minute for up to 210 additional minutes. Calls cut off after 15 minutes, and calls will come from a 202 number or private caller. Phone access is seven days a week. Email: the TRULINCS system allows electronic messaging for a small per-minute fee. Regular mail: letters and cards can be sent and received through the U.S. Postal Service. Mail can be sent to: INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER | FCI Lompoc I | Federal Correctional Institution | 3600 Guard Road | Lompoc, CA 93436.

The commissary at Lompoc I Low FCI operates on a set schedule and offers snacks, beverages, hygiene products, over-the-counter medications, writing materials, stamps, and limited clothing items. The standard monthly spending limit is $360 (excluding telephone credits, stamps, and OTC medications). Some facilities implement this as a bi-weekly $180 cap. A current commissary list is typically available through the unit team.

Length of stay at Lompoc I Low FCI varies based on sentence length, offense type, and good conduct time calculations. Individuals at low-security facilities typically serve sentences ranging from one year to well over a decade, depending on circumstances.

The Bureau of Prisons requires all facilities to offer literacy and GED programs for individuals without a high school diploma. Lompoc I Low FCI provides educational programming that may include GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), and post-secondary education opportunities through correspondence or partnerships. Current offerings include: GED, ESL, Adult Continuing Education, Correspondence Courses. Availability may change based on staffing and enrollment.

The BOP enforces a dress code for all visitors. Clothing must not be revealing — no low-cut tops, shorts above the knee, or see-through materials. Visitors should avoid wearing colors that match prisoner uniforms (typically khaki, orange, or olive drab). Open-toed shoes may be prohibited at some facilities. Undergarments are required. Visitors who do not meet dress code standards may be turned away. Contact Lompoc I Low FCI in advance if you have questions about specific items.

Yes, but publications must be sent directly from the publisher, a bookstore, or a book club — not from an individual. Hardcover and softcover books, newspapers, and magazines are generally permitted as long as they do not contain content deemed a security threat. Used books are typically not accepted. All incoming publications are subject to inspection by mailroom staff at Lompoc I Low FCI.

Lompoc I Low FCI is located in Lompoc, California, within the Western Region of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Contact the facility directly for driving directions and nearby lodging options.

Compare to Similar Facilities

Lompoc II Low FCILow

Lompoc, California · ~1,946 people

Terminal Island FCILow

San Pedro, California · ~871 people

Other Federal Prisons in California

How Long Will You Actually Serve?

Federal sentences are not always served in full. Good time credit, the First Step Act, and RDAP can significantly reduce your time served.

Estimate Your Actual Release Date

RDAP Program Available

This facility offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which can reduce your sentence by up to 12 months.

500-hour RDAP. Also offers drug education (English and Spanish), non-residential drug treatment, AA/NA, Rational Recovery, and transitional services (stress management, anger management, relapse prevention).

View All RDAP Facilities

Contact Information

3600 Guard Road

Lompoc, California 93436

805-736-4154

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI Lompoc I

Federal Correctional Institution

3600 Guard Road

Lompoc, CA 93436

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Low
Facility Type
FCI
Region
Western
Gender
Male
Population
914
Updated: Mar 5, 2026

How Far Is This Facility?

Enter your zip code to estimate the drive to Lompoc I Low FCI.

Estimates via OpenStreetMap. Actual travel time may vary.

Security Notice

All phone calls are recorded. All emails are saved. Mail can be read by staff.