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RDAP Facility

Safford FCI

Low

Federal Correctional Institution

Safford FCI is a federal correctional institution in Safford, Arizona, housing approximately 657 people. Below you'll find insider tips, programs, visiting hours, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

FCIWestern RegionMale

What to Expect at Safford FCI

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: FCI Safford is in southwestern Arizona, 127 miles northeast of Tucson and 165 miles east of Phoenix, seven miles south of Safford off Highway 191. Served by airports, Amtrak, and bus lines in Tucson and Phoenix. From Tucson: I-10 east to Hwy 191 North to Hwy 366, turn left. From Phoenix: Hwy 60 to Hwy 70 east to Hwy 191 south to Hwy 366, turn right.
  • •Location & Travel: Economy Inn — 928-348-0011
  • •Location & Travel: Budget Inn — 928-428-7850
  • •Location & Travel: Best Western Desert Inn — 928-428-0521

Visiting

  • •Visiting: Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays 8:00 AM–3:00 PM.

Insider Information

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month, 15-minute call limit, 30-number caller list.

Library

General library with magazines, newspapers, reference materials, fiction and non-fiction. Electronic Law Library (LexisNexis). Electric typewriters (first come, first served) and copier available.

Psychology/Counseling Services

Weekly open house hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The facility offers a 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), a non-residential drug treatment program, a drug education program, and other groups.

Health Services

The facility is staffed by a clinical director, a health services administrator, an assistant health services administrator, and other medical professionals. Outpatient care is provided, with local hospitals seven miles away. The pill line is available Monday through Friday at 6:30 to 7:00 AM, 11:00 to 11:30 AM, and 3:00 to 3:30 PM; weekends and holidays at 9:30 to 10:00 AM and 3:00 to 3:30 PM. Sick call sign-up is available from 6:30 to 7:00 AM, four days a week. At least one physician assistant is on duty or on call 24 hours a day. Periodic health examinations are available based on age.

Fitness & Recreation

The recreation department includes an equipment issue room, hobby shop, music room, weightlifting area, auditorium, and outdoor activities. All recreation areas are open daily from 5:55 to 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and 4:30 to 9:00 PM; weekends and holidays from 6:30 to 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and 4:30 to 9:00 PM. Organized intramural leagues run throughout the year in soccer, volleyball, softball, and basketball.

Religious Services

Chaplains are dedicated to providing pastoral care with sensitivity and availability. Their mission includes ensuring impartial religious leadership to meet the diversity of different faith groups and providing necessary management through administrative support.

Commissary

See the full commissary list for Safford FCI below, including available items and pricing.

View Safford FCI Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Safford 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 Safford FCI

Safford 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

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Programs & Services

Education Programs

  • GED
  • ESL
  • Adult Continuing Education
  • College Correspondence Courses

Vocational Training

  • Building Trades (Advanced)
  • General Business Administration (Advanced)
  • Retail Management (Advanced)
  • HVAC (Advanced)
  • Baker Apprenticeship
  • Barber Apprenticeship
  • Carpenter Apprenticeship
  • Cook Apprenticeship
  • Education and Training Apprenticeship
  • Electrician Apprenticeship
  • HVAC Apprenticeship
  • Inspector Quality Assurance Apprenticeship
  • Maintenance Repairer Building Apprenticeship
  • Plumber Apprenticeship
  • Quality Control Inspector Apprenticeship
  • Quality Control Technician Apprenticeship
  • Teacher's Aide Apprenticeship

Health & Wellness

  • 500-Hour RDAP
  • Non-Residential Drug Treatment
  • Drug Education Program
  • Sick Call (4 Days/Week 6:30–7:00 AM)

Recreation

  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Softball
  • Basketball
  • Weight Area
  • Hobby Shop
  • Music Room
  • Auditorium

Reentry Preparation

  • 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 657 people, Safford 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 Safford FCI

Safford 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. Safford 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 Safford 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 Safford 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 Safford FCI directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Safford 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 Safford 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 Safford 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 Safford | Federal Correctional Institution | P.O. Box 9000 | Safford, AZ 85548.

The commissary at Safford 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 Safford 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. Safford 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, College 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 Safford 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 Safford FCI.

Safford FCI is located in Safford, Arizona, 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

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 non-residential drug treatment and drug education.

View All RDAP Facilities

Contact Information

1529 West Highway 366

Safford, Arizona 85546

928-428-6600

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI Safford

Federal Correctional Institution

P.O. Box 9000

Safford, AZ 85548

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Low
Facility Type
FCI
Region
Western
Gender
Male
Population
657
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.