- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
- California
- PO Box 9, Mendota, CA 93640
- 559-274-4000
- Official Website
- Featured
Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) – Mendota's comprehensive information to help guide you through the federal prison process, specifically on how to remain connected to your inmate while they are incarcerated.
The FCI-Mendota is a federal prison located at 33500 W California Ave in Mendota, CA. This federal medium security prison is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to hold inmates who have been convicted to and sentenced for a federal crime through the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Locate all federal inmates here. If you would like to speak with a case manager or counselor, call 559-274-4000.
The Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota (FCI Mendota) is a medium-security United States federal prison for male inmates in California. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the US Department of Justice. The facility also has an adjacent satellite prison camp housing minimum-security male offenders. FCI Mendota is located in central California, 36 miles west of Fresno.
FCI Mendota is located on 960 acres and is enclosed with a 12-foot-high razor wire fence. Inside the facility, inmates have access to educational programs where they may work toward their GED certificate and gain vocational training. Prisoners are required to work on a number of duties, ranging from food preparation in the dining hall to maintenance work. A recreation yard has basketball courts, a soccer field, and a track.
Inmates sleep in seven- by twelve-foot cells, complete with toilet and sink. They have access to a common area where they can exercise, shower, and watch basic cable television.
Housing: Inmates are housed in two-person cells. At the camp, inmates are housed in dormitories.
Health Services: FCI Mendota provides sick call, medications, physical examinations, dental care, and emergency care. Inmates must submit a sick call form in order to be evaluated for routine care needs. Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day.
Psychology Services: Crisis counseling, coping skills, suicide prevention, mental health counseling, and spiritual counseling are all available to FCI Mendota prisoners. Treatment options include self-image groups and other voluntary groups. Typical groups include anger management, criminal thinking, and HIV/AIDS Awareness.
Education Services: FCI Mendota provide GED and English-as-a-Second Language programs. All inmates undergo education testing and counseling. The Education Department offers non-credit courses in a variety of subjects. Some of the courses include parenting, language lab, and career resources. High school diplomas and post-secondary programs are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education: FCI Mendota does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.
Vocational Training: FCI Mendota offers vocational training in Building Trades, Automotive, Warehouse, Recycling, and Computer Literacy.
Library Services: An inmate leisure library and law library are available to prisoners. The leisure library houses a wide variety of books including general reference books like encyclopedias and dictionaries, fiction, and nonfiction. Several magazines and daily newspapers are also provided. The TRULINCS Electronic Law Library is available for inmate legal use. Typewriters are available for legal material only. A copy machine is also available.
Commissary: A commissary is available for prisoners to supplement their regular meals. Food, snacks, candy, ice cream, clothing, shoes, and electronics are available for purchase. A monthly spending limit of $360.00 is imposed. Inmates may only shop once a week on their designated shopping day.
Recreation Services: The FCI Mendota Recreation Department provides indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities. The outdoor recreation yard has six handball/racquetball courts, two softball fields, five basketball courts, one soccer field, and one quarter mile track. The gymnasium has structured exercise and wellness activities such as spinning, aerobics, stretching, yoga, physical agility, sports agility, calisthenics, and officiating classes. Sit-up benches and glute/hamstring stations are located on the patio in front of the leisure center. The indoor leisure center has checker/backgammon tables, board games, ping pong, table soccer, treadmills, stair climbers, stair steppers, hobby craft programs, and a music program. The music program consists of three band rooms with structured classes offered in basic guitar, advanced guitar, basic drums, advanced drums, music theory, advanced music theory, and accordion. The hobby craft programs consist of leather (kits only), ceramics, stick art, crochet, beading (seed), and pencil/pastel/chalk drawing.
Important links
Admissions and Orientation (A&O) Handbook – This document provides you with general information about the institution, programs, rules, and regulations that you will encounter during your confinement. Familiarizing yourself with this information and knowing your responsibilities will help you to adjustment to institution life.
Commissary List – In 1930 the Department of Justice authorized and established a Commissary at each Federal institution. The Commissary provides a bank type account for your money & for the procurement of articles not issued regularly as part of the institution administration. Funds deposited by your family, friends, or other sources are stored in your commissary account that we maintain.
Legal Activities – This document outlines the procedures for access to legal reference materials and legal counsel, and the opportunities that you will be afforded to prepare legal documents while incarcerated.
visitation Info
Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) – Mendota Medium – Visiting Hours
- Saturday 8:15am – 3:00pm
- Sunday 8:15am – 3:00pm
- Holidays 8:15am – 3:00pm
