- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
- Georgia
- PO Box 150160, Atlanta, GA 30315
- 404-635-5100
- Official Website
- Featured
United States Penitentiary (USP) – Atlanta'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 USP-Atlanta is a federal prison located at 601 McDonough Blvd SE in Atlanta, GA. 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 404-635-5100.
The United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (USP Atlanta) is a medium-security United States federal prison for male inmates in Atlanta, Georgia. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the US Department of Justice. The facility also has a detention center for pre-trial and holdover inmates and a satellite prison camp for minimum-security male inmates.
USP Atlanta is located southeast of Atlanta, at the junction of Boulevard and McDonough Boulevard; off I-20 (south on Boulevard) off I-285 (north on Moreland Avenue, left on McDonough Boulevard).
USP Atlanta is currently one of several facilities, including the Federal Transfer Center, Oklahoma City, that are used to house prisoners who are being transferred between prisons. As of 2006, the prison was housing three to five in-transit prisoners in each approximately 56-square-foot isolation cell for up to eight weeks at a time.
In the 1980s, USP Atlanta was used as a detention center for Cuban refugees from the Mariel Boatlift who were ineligible for release into American society. In November 1987, Cuban detainees, tired of indefinite confinement and in constant fear of being deported back to Cuba, rioted for 11 days, staged a bloody riot, seizing dozens of hostages and setting fire to the prison. At least one prisoner was killed. Local hospitals reported admitting a total of eight Cubans suffering gunshot wounds, along with two prison guards who were slightly injured.
Notable inmates include Jimmy Burke (portrayed by Robert DeNiro), an associate of the Lucchese crime family was convicted of extortion with fellow Goodfellow character Henry Hill. He was the suspected mastermind of the Lufthansa Heist at JFK Airport in which $6 million in cash and jewels were stolen. Meyer Harris ("Mickey") Cohen who was transferred from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to USP Atlanta in January 1963. Lucchese crime family associate Vincent Papa convicted of masterminding of the 1975 theft of heroin seized during the French Connection investigation from the NYC Police Department property office. Whitey Bulger the former Boss of the Boston Irish Mob crew known as the Winter Hill Gang entered USP Atlanta in 1956 and then transferred to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1959.
Housing: Inmates are housed in one and two-person cells.
Health Services: At USP Atlanta, the Health Services Department provides routine, urgent and chronic care to inmates as needed. These include sick call, emergency medical treatment, medications, physical examinations, preventative health screening, HIV testing, treatment for on-the-job injuries, TB screening, and routine and emergency dental care. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day.
Psychology Services: USP Atlanta provides a psychological intake screening. General psychological services include individual and group psychotherapy. Regular groups include anger management, criminal thinking, and others. The Mental Health Step Down Program is also available for inmates with serious mental health issues who need to develop functional skills. Notices of groups are posted in inmate housing units.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP): USP Atlanta does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) but inmates can be referred to an institution that house RDAP. The facility also offers a drug program, Drug Education class, the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP), and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Education Services: USP Atlanta offers literacy, GED, and English-as-a-second language (ESL) programs. An Adult Continuing Education (ACE) and parenting program are also available to inmates. High school diplomas and post-secondary programs are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education: USP Atlanta offers advanced occupation education in Custodial Maintenance.
Vocational Training: USP Atlanta offers vocational training in Basic Custodial Maintenance, Electrical, and HVAC. The camp also offers Custodial Maintenance. Some work experiences available include cook, baker, butcher, electrician, plumber, painter, and carpenter.
Library Services: USP Atlanta offers both leisure and law libraries. In the leisure library, inmates can check out books, newspapers, and magazines. The law library primarily consists of the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library. Typewriters and a copy machine are also available. The law library is open Monday through Saturday.
UNICOR: The USP Atlanta UNICOR facility employs inmates as industry workers (mailbag, battle dress uniform, mattress), quality assurance workers, and clerks orderlies.
Commissary: The Commissary is located on the lower compound. Each inmate may spend a maximum of $360.00 per month on commissary items. Inmates may only shop once a week on their designated shopping day. It offers a variety of candies, beverages, toiletries, and other items for sale. Deposits are made through the centralized inmate lockbox.
Recreation Services: USP Atlanta recreation services consist of both indoor and outdoor activities, and range from individualized arts and crafts programs to intramural team sports such as softball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Musical instruments are also available in the recreation area.
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.
PREA Report – This report, posted on September 02, 2015, details the findings of an audit that was conducted to determine compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
visitation Info
United States Penitentiary (USP) – Atlanta Medium – Visiting Hours
- Friday 8:00am – 3:00pm
- Saturday 8:00am – 3:00pm
- Sunday 8:00am – 3:00pm
- Holidays 8:00am – 3:00pm
