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RDAP Facility

Terminal Island FCI

Low

Federal Correctional Institution

Terminal Island FCI is a federal correctional institution in San Pedro, California, housing approximately 871 people. Below you'll find insider tips, programs, visiting hours, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

FCIWestern RegionMale

What to Expect at Terminal Island FCI

Location & Travel

  • •Location & Travel: FCI Terminal Island is on a pier in Los Angeles Harbor between San Pedro and Long Beach. Off Harbor Freeway (I-110) south to San Pedro, cross Vincent Thomas Bridge, take Seaside Avenue to main gate. Served by LAX, Long Beach Airport, Amtrak, and commercial bus lines.
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Visiting

  • •Visiting: Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays 7:00 AM–1:00 PM. Max 4 visitors at a time (including infants and children).

Daily Life

  • •Programs: U.S.C. Law School legal assistance applications available in law library.

Insider Information

Housing

Open dormitories with single and two-person rooms.

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month, 15-minute call limit, 30-number caller list. Phones operational daily 6:00 AM–11:55 PM.

Library

Law library Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–9:00 PM. Electronic Law Library with inmate law clerks. U.S.C. Law School legal assistance applications available. Leisure library is very small; inter-library loan and cop-out requests for specific materials.

Psychology/Counseling Services

The Psychology Services department is staffed by a Chief Psychologist, Advanced Care Level Psychologist, Staff Psychologist, two RDAP Coordinators, an Internship Program Coordinator, and four Psychology Interns. A 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is available and runs 9 to 12 months in length. RDAP is restricted to designated low-security persons only and is not available to minimum-security work cadre persons. The facility also offers a non-residential drug treatment program, a drug education program, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and individual psychotherapy. Programs include initial psychology screening, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention.

Health Services

On-site emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day. The facility provides outpatient care and has a small infirmary. San Pedro Hospital is approximately five minutes away. Sick call sign-up is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 AM. Pill line hours are Monday through Friday at 5:45 to 6:30 AM, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 4:45 to 5:30 PM (insulin only), and 4:45 to 5:45 PM after count; weekends at 6:15 to 7:00 AM (insulin only). All persons are eligible for age-specific periodic physical examinations.

Fitness & Recreation

Programs include indoor and outdoor activities ranging from individualized arts and crafts to intramural team sports such as basketball, flag football, baseball, and volleyball. Wellness programs include screening, assessments, goal-setting, fitness and nutrition prescriptions, and counseling. Hobby craft programs include knitting, crocheting, painting, and leather lacing.

Religious Services

The Religious Services Department provides pastoral care and religious accommodation for individual and group beliefs and practices. Chaplains offer worship, education, counseling, spiritual direction, support, and crisis intervention. They also oversee the religious diet program, ceremonial meals, and holiday observances.

Commissary

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

View Terminal Island FCI Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island FCI

Terminal Island 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
  • Parenting Classes
  • Adult Continuing Education
  • Post-Secondary Correspondence Courses

Health & Wellness

  • 500-Hour RDAP (9–12 Months)
  • Non-Residential Drug Treatment
  • Drug Education Program
  • AA
  • NA
  • Individual Psychotherapy
  • Group Psychotherapy
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Wellness Screening and Assessments
  • Sick Call (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 6:30–7:00 AM)

Recreation

  • Basketball
  • Flag Football
  • Baseball
  • Volleyball
  • Knitting
  • Crocheting
  • Painting
  • Leather Lacing

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 871 people, Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island FCI

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

Funds for individuals at Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island | Federal Correctional Institution | P.O. Box 3007 | San Pedro, CA 90731.

The commissary at Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island 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. Terminal Island 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, Parenting Classes, Adult Continuing Education, Post-Secondary 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 Terminal Island 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 Terminal Island FCI.

Terminal Island FCI is located in San Pedro, 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

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, 9–12 months. For designated low-security people only, not minimum-security work cadre. Also offers non-residential drug treatment, drug education, AA/NA, and individual psychotherapy.

View All RDAP Facilities

Contact Information

1299 Seaside Avenue

San Pedro, California 90731

310-831-8961

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI Terminal Island

Federal Correctional Institution

P.O. Box 3007

San Pedro, CA 90731

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Low
Facility Type
FCI
Region
Western
Gender
Male
Population
871
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.