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RDAP Facility

Waseca FCI

Low

Federal Correctional Institution

Waseca FCI is a federal correctional institution in Waseca, Minnesota. Below you'll find insider tips, programs, visiting hours, and preparation resources.

Last verified: March 5, 2026

FCINorth Central RegionFemale

What to Expect at Waseca FCI

Location & Travel

  • •**Location & Travel:** Located in southern Minnesota, 75 miles south of Minneapolis on I-35. 13 miles west of Owatonna on State Highway 57. Airports in Minneapolis (75 miles) and Rochester (70 miles).
  • •**Lodging:** Crossings by GrandStay Waseca (507-835-0022), Lodging at Lake Aire (507-835-2121), American Motel (507-835-4300).

Visiting

  • •**Visiting:** Friday 4:30–8:30 PM; Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays 8:30 AM–3:00 PM. Up to 5 adult visitors and 5 children at a time.

Insider Information

Housing

Open bay dormitories, two-person and four-person cubicle dormitories, and four-person rooms. Two general population units. Unit televisions available during established hours.

Phone Policy

300 minutes per month. 15-minute call limit with 15-minute wait between calls. 30-number approved list. Calls via debit card.

Library

Law library open daily afternoons and evenings, including weekends and holidays. Law library clerk available. Copier available. Leisure library with periodicals, newspapers, fiction, non-fiction, and reference books.

UNICOR

Textile sewing factory producing military shorts. Positions include maintenance, packaging, quality assurance, business office, and warehouse.

Cosmetology Services

Haircuts, styling, chemical applications, manicures, pedicures, and facials available through the Cosmetology AOE program. Scheduling during lunch mainline.

Psychology/Counseling Services

The facility offers a 9-month, 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), a non-residential drug treatment program, and a drug education program. Additional programs include Resolve (Trauma and Recovery), Basic Cognitive Skills, Criminal Thinking, Emotional Self-Regulation, Anger Management, Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive-Processing Therapy, the Trauma and Life Workshop, and various First Step Act groups. Illness Management and Recovery is offered to persons who need additional assistance in self-care due to mental illness. The facility is staffed by full-time psychologists.

Health Services

Each person is assigned a primary care provider (physician assistant) working under the supervision of a physician. Outpatient care is provided, with the nearest hospital five minutes away. Sick call sign-up is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 AM. Dental sick call sign-up is on the same days in the Health Services Department. Persons are assigned to a specific pill line (morning or evening) for medications not authorized on the compound. Age-specific preventative health examinations are available: persons under 50 may request a physical exam every three years, while those over 50 may request one annually.

Fitness & Recreation

The Recreation Department is ordinarily open from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM every day. Facilities include a full-sized gymnasium, indoor workout areas for aerobics, exercise machines, spin bikes, stretching, and yoga, plus a large DVD library of workout, fitness, and nutrition videos. Outdoor activities include racquetball, volleyball, bocce ball, tennis, Frisbee golf, basketball, horseshoes, a multi-purpose field, and a large walking track open year-round. Wellness classes address general wellness, nutrition, and fitness. A seasonal Community Flower Garden program allows persons to purchase and plant six varieties of seeds, with basic tools provided and rainwater collected for watering. Hobby craft programs include beading, leather craft kits, drawing, card making, and crocheting, with lockers and totes available. Persons may own harmonicas; all other instruments must be borrowed from the Recreation Department.

Religious Services

The Chapel supports voluntary pursuit of religious beliefs and practices, offering worship, learning, fellowship, and service. The Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS) Program is a volunteer visitor program focusing on persons who do not ordinarily receive visits from family and friends. The Threshold Program is a non-residential faith-based program lasting approximately 6 to 9 months, focusing on managing mental and emotional health, decision-making, personal relationships, accepting personal responsibility, daily living, wellness, educational growth, positive use of leisure time, and spiritual growth.

Commissary

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

View Waseca FCI Commissary List↗

Become Extraordinary and Compelling!

Live as the CEO of your life at Waseca 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 Waseca FCI

Waseca 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 (English as a Second Language)

Vocational Training

  • Office Administration (Riverland Community College)
  • Cosmetology (AOE-funded)
  • PAWS (Prisoners Assisting With Service Dogs)
  • Horticulture
  • Apprenticeship Programs

Health & Wellness

  • 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) — 9 months
  • Non-Residential Drug Treatment Program
  • Drug Education Program
  • RESOLVE (Trauma and Recovery)
  • Basic Cognitive Skills
  • Criminal Thinking
  • Emotional Self-Regulation
  • Anger Management
  • Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive-Processing Therapy
  • Trauma and Life Workshop
  • First Step Act Groups
  • Illness Management and Recovery
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Suicide Prevention

Recreation

  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Racquetball
  • Tennis
  • Frisbee Golf
  • Bocce Ball
  • Horseshoes
  • Aerobics and Spin Bikes
  • Yoga and Stretching
  • Walking Track (year-round)
  • Community Flower Garden (seasonal)
  • Hobby Crafts (beading, leather craft, drawing, card making, crocheting)
  • Fitness and Wellness Classes
  • DVD Fitness Library

Reentry Preparation

  • Threshold Program (faith-based, 6–9 months)
  • Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS) 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 Waseca FCI

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

Yes. Waseca FCI houses female individuals and offers programming tailored to female populations.

Individuals reporting to Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca FCI directly or check the BOP website for the most current schedule and any facility-specific restrictions.

Funds for individuals at Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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\nFCI Waseca\nFederal Correctional Institution\nP.O. Box 1731\nWaseca, MN 56093.

The commissary at Waseca 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 Waseca 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. Waseca 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 (English as a Second Language). 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 Waseca 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 Waseca FCI.

Waseca FCI is located in Waseca, Minnesota, within the North Central 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.

9-month, 500-hour residential drug abuse treatment program. Also offers non-residential drug treatment, drug education, RESOLVE (Trauma and Recovery), Basic Cognitive Skills, Criminal Thinking, Emotional Self-Regulation, Anger Management, DBT, Cognitive-Processing Therapy, Trauma and Life Workshop, and First Step Act groups.

View All RDAP Facilities

Contact Information

1000 University Dr SW, Waseca, MN 56093

Waseca, Minnesota 56093

507-835-8972

Mailing Address

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER

FCI Waseca

Federal Correctional Institution

P.O. Box 1731

Waseca, MN 56093

Questions? Call us now: 949-799-3277

Facility Details

Security Level
Low
Facility Type
FCI
Region
North Central
Gender
Female
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.