- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
- Minnesota
- PO Box 1731, Waseca, MN 56093
- 507-835-8972
- Official Website
- Featured
Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) – Waseca'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-Waseca is a federal prison located at 1000 University Dr SW in Waseca, MN. This federal low 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 507-835-8972.
The Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca (FCI Waseca) is a low-security United States federal prison for female offenders in Minnesota. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.
The site, located 75 miles from Minneapolis, was converted into a prison in 1992 after formerly serving as a University of Minnesota campus.
FCI Waseca opened in 1995 as an all-male facility. It used many of the buildings from the former college. In 2006, FCI Waseca received its most high-profile prisoner when Jeffrey Skilling, CEO of the now-defunct Enron Corporation was sent there after he was convicted of insider trading, securities fraud and other charges for making a $60 million profit by selling company stock in anticipation of the company's 2001 collapse. Skilling was transferred to FCI Englewood, another low-security facility in Colorado after FCI Waseca was converted into an all-female prison in 2008.
Notable inmates include Catherine Greig, the girlfriend of former FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive and Irish Mob figure James "Whitey" Bulger; pleaded guilty in 2012 to harboring a fugitive and identity fraud for illegally obtaining Social Security numbers, licenses and birth certificates in order to assist Bulger evade capture. Shelley Shannon a former member of the extremist group Army of God; served 10 years in state prison for the attempted murder of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller in 1993; pleaded guilty in 1995 to firebombing six abortion clinics in California, Nevada, and Oregon is serving a 20-year sentence under her real name, Rachelle Shannon.
Housing: Inmates are housed in dormitories consisting of two and four-person cubicles, along with four-person rooms.
Health Services: Health services at FCI Waseca include medical sick call, dental sick call, emergency medical services, treatment of infectious diseases, periodic health assessments, routine dental care, chronic care, medications, TB testing, immunizations, physical and periodic health examinations, eye care, health promotion, and disease prevention. While emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day, inmates must submit a triage form to be evaluated for routine health care needs.
Psychology Services: Inmates at FCI Waseca are screened by Psychology Services staff within 14 days of arriving at the prison. Inmates who have family or personal problems, or are in a crisis may also be seen for individual therapy. Typical groups offered include Trauma and Life Workshop, Resolve (Trauma and Recovery), Basic Cognitive Skills, Criminal Thinking, and Emotional Self-Regulation. Additionally, Illness Management and Recovery are offered to inmates who are identified as needing additional assistance in self-care due to mental illness.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP): FCI Waseca houses a Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). It also offers a Drug Education Program and a Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP). Some inmates are mandated to take Drug Education based on their documented use history, judicial recommendations, and/or violation behavior, but all other programs are voluntary.
Education Services: FCI Waseca provides literacy, GED, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. The Education Department also sponsors Adult Continuing Education (ACE) classes and a parenting program. High school diplomas and post-secondary programs are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education: FCI Waseca offers advanced occupational education as a Business Office Specialist, a Cosmetology Program, and the P.A.W.S. (Prisoners Assisting With Service Dogs) Program.
Vocational Training: FCI Waseca offers vocational training in Horticulture and Woodworking.
Apprenticeship: FCI Waseca offers apprenticeship training in Landscape Technician.
Library Services: A leisure and law library are available to inmates. The leisure library offers fiction and nonfiction books, newspapers, and magazines. The law library contains a variety of legal reference materials for use in preparing legal papers. Reference materials include the United States Code Annotated, Federal Reporter, Supreme Court Reporter, Bureau of Prisons program statements, institution supplements, indexes, and other legal materials. Most of these, plus federal case law, are available on the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library computers. Inmates also have access to typewriters and a copy machine.
UNICOR: The FCI Waseca UNICOR facility produces clothing and textiles.
Commissary: Inmates are allowed to buy commissary items such as food, drinks, clothing, electronics, and other items. A $360.00 monthly spending limit is imposed, which does not include the purchase of copy cards, postage stamps, or over-the-counter medications.
Recreation Services: FCI Waseca offers a wide variety of athletic and leisure time activities for the inmate population. In addition to a full-sized gymnasium, there are other indoor workout areas for aerobics, exercise machines, spin bikes, stretching, and yoga. There is a large DVD library with workout and fitness videos available for check out, as well as basic nutrition DVDs. Outdoor recreation areas offer a variety of activities, including racquetball, volleyball, bocce ball, tennis, frisbee golf, basketball, horseshoes, a multi-purpose field, and a large walking track which is open year round. A variety of wellness classes are offered in the Recreation Department to address general wellness, nutrition, and fitness. In season, the Recreation Department offers an opportunity to participate in a Community Flower Garden.
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.
Surrendering voluntarily? When you are ordered by the Court to voluntarily surrender, you will be notified by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). If you have been instructed to surrender at this facility, please follow these instructions on your surrender date.
visitation Info
Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) – Waseca Low – Visiting Hours
- Friday 4:30pm – 8:30pm
- Saturday 8:30am – 3:00pm
- Sunday 8:30am – 3:00pm
- Holidays 8:30am – 3:00pm
