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Mendota Camp SCP

Minimum

Satellite Camp

Mendota Camp SCP is a satellite prison camp in Mendota, California. Below you'll find insider tips, programs, visiting hours, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

SCPWestern RegionMale

What to Expect at Mendota Camp SCP

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: Located in Fresno County, 36 miles west of Fresno, California. Fresno Yosemite International Airport is about 40 miles away, served by United, American, Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, and US Airways.
  • •Location & Travel: From Fresno/Yosemite International Airport, take East Clinton Way to North Peach Ave, merge onto 180 West, turn left on Panoche Road (becomes California Avenue), turn right into the institution.
  • •Lodging: Best Western Apricot Inn — 559-659-1444
  • •Lodging: Motel 33 — 559-659-2971
  • •Lodging: Hampton Inn & Suites Madera — 559-561-0910

Communication & Mail

  • •Mail: Inmate Name & Register Number, FCI Mendota, Federal Correctional Institution, Satellite Camp, P.O. Box 9, Mendota, CA 93640

Visiting

  • •Visiting: Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays, 8:15 AM–3:00 PM. Maximum of six visitors at a time.

Good to Know

  • •Location & Travel: From Fresno, take 180 West to Panoche Road, turn left. Panoche Road becomes California Avenue. Turn right into the institution.

Insider Information

Housing

Camp residents are housed in open dormitories.

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month, 15-minute call limit, 30 approved numbers.

Health Services

Camp sick call and medication schedules follow standard BOP procedures. Specialist services are coordinated through the Health Services Department.

Library

Law library and leisure library available. Leisure library includes fiction, non-fiction, reference materials, magazines, and newspapers. Typewriters available for legal material only. Education staff and clerks available for assistance.

Psychology/Counseling Services

A drug education program and non-residential drug program are available at the camp, along with group and individual therapy or counseling, personal development groups, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other voluntary groups.

Fitness & Recreation

The recreation department offers team sports, hobby craft, and structured leisure and wellness programs. The outdoor recreation yard includes six handball/racquetball courts, two softball fields, five basketball courts, one soccer field, and a quarter-mile track. A gymnasium is available for aerobics, yoga, calisthenics, and spinning. The indoor leisure center has board games, table games, treadmills, band rooms, and a hobby craft room. The music program offers structured classes in guitar, drums, accordions, and music theory. Hobby craft options include leather craft, ceramics, stick art, crochet, beading, and drawing.

Religious Services

The Chapel includes facilities for worship services, prayer, religious study areas, and a religious library. Worship, counseling, spiritual guidance, and education services are available. Community volunteers of various faiths periodically visit the facility. A Prisoner Visitation and Support Services program sends volunteers to visit persons who would not ordinarily receive visits. Religious diets may be approved through the chaplain.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Mendota Camp SCP below, including available items and pricing.

View Mendota Camp SCP Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Mendota Camp SCP 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 Mendota Camp SCP

Mendota Camp SCP is a Federal Prison Camp. Camps generally have greater freedom of movement, no perimeter fencing, lower levels of violence, and access to First Step Act programming.

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

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Programs & Services

Education Programs

  • GED
  • ESL
  • Parenting Classes
  • Foreign Languages
  • Career Resources
  • Correspondence Courses

Vocational Training

  • Warehousing
  • Building Trades
  • Automotive
  • Culinary Arts

Health & Wellness

  • Drug Education Program
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Individual Therapy
  • Group Counseling
  • Personal Development Groups

Recreation

  • Team Sports
  • Handball/Racquetball
  • Softball
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Quarter-Mile Track
  • Aerobics
  • Yoga
  • Calisthenics
  • Spinning
  • Hobby Crafts (Leather, Ceramics, Stick Art, Crochet, Beading, Drawing)
  • Music Program (Guitar, Drums, Accordions, Music Theory)
  • Board Games
  • Table Games

Reentry Preparation

  • Release Preparation Program

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mendota Camp SCP

Mendota Camp SCP is a minimum-security Federal Prison Camp (FPC). It typically has dormitory-style housing, no perimeter fencing, and more flexible movement compared to higher-security institutions.

No. Mendota Camp SCP does not currently offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program. Individuals seeking RDAP placement must be designated to an institution that provides the program.

Individuals reporting to Mendota Camp SCP typically undergo intake processing including identification verification, medical screening, housing assignment, and orientation specific to this institution's minimum-security level and dormitory housing structure.

Visiting at Mendota Camp SCP 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 Mendota Camp SCP directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Mendota Camp SCP 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 Mendota Camp SCP. 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 Mendota Camp SCP 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 Mendota Federal Correctional Institution Satellite Camp P.O. Box 9 Mendota, CA 93640.

The commissary at Mendota Camp SCP 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.

Mendota Camp SCP is a minimum-security facility where most individuals serve sentences ranging from several months to 10+ years. Sentence length depends on the offense, sentencing guidelines, and any applicable reductions such as good conduct time or RDAP completion.

The Bureau of Prisons requires all facilities to offer literacy and GED programs for individuals without a high school diploma. Mendota Camp SCP 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, Parenting Classes, Foreign Languages, Career Resources, 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 Mendota Camp SCP 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 Mendota Camp SCP.

Mendota Camp SCP is located in Mendota, California, within the Western Region of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Contact the facility directly for driving directions and nearby lodging options.

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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

Contact Information

33500 West California Avenue, Mendota, CA 93640

Mendota, California 93640

559-274-4000

Mailing Address

Inmate Name & Register Number

FCI Mendota

Federal Correctional Institution

Satellite Camp

P.O. Box 9

Mendota, CA 93640

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Minimum
Facility Type
SCP
Region
Western
Gender
Male
Updated: Mar 5, 2026

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Security Notice

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