Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin (FCI Dublin) is a federal prison
in the United States, primarily housing women. It is located near the city of Dublin
in Alameda County
, California
, 20 miles (32.2 km) southeast of Oakland
and approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) east of San Francisco.
(PRFTA), FCI Dublin opened in 1974 and is one of only three federal facilities for women in the US. It is a medium-security facility incarcerating female offenders who are serving an average sentence of 5 years. The prison is completely surrounded by a double fence topped with multiple coils of razor wire
. It has a design capacity of 250 inmates, but houses well in excess of 1,000. Conditions are cramped, with three inmates sharing a cell
designed to house a single prisoner. Meals are served in shifts due to the small size of the dining facilities.
Like most American prisons, FCI Dublin also contains an SHU (Security Housing Unit), where any prisoners who are deemed to have broken prison rules are kept in segregation under a highly restrictive regime. Prisoners in the SHU spend more time locked in their cell than the general prison population, are only allowed out for limited amounts of time and must be transported to/from their cell wearing handcuffs
. Depending on the circumstances, an inmate may spend weeks or even months in the SHU.
FCI Dublin is surrounded by two separate fences with a gap of approximately 10 feet (3 m) between them. Measuring 14 feet (4.3 m) high, each chain-link fence is reinforced with multiple coils of razor wire
(at the top and bottom) plus electronic sensors to detect escape attempts.
The institution also has an adjacent administrative detention facility housing adult males on holdover or pre-trial status, and a minimum security satellite camp housing adult female offenders, which opened in 1990.
and ESL
programs, as well as courses in parenting skills. The prison also provides legal and leisure library services in addition to training in the use of various computer software.
There are two Federal Prison Industries UNICOR programs at FCI Dublin: the Textiles and the Call Center. Textiles employs approximately 150 inmates on the manufacture of custom draperies, parachute
s, and disaster blankets. They also sort and repair USPS mailbags. The Call Center employs around 250 inmates on directory assistance enquiries.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
in the United States, primarily housing women. It is located near the city of Dublin
Dublin, California
Dublin is a suburban city of the East Bay region of Alameda County, California, United States. Located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly east of Hayward, west of Livermore and north of San Jose, it was named after the city of Dublin in...
in Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 20 miles (32.2 km) southeast of Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) east of San Francisco.
History
Situated on the Parks Reserve Forces Training AreaParks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area is a United States Army facility located in Dublin, California that is currently a semi-active mobilization and training center for Army Reserve Component personnel to be used in case of war or natural disaster....
(PRFTA), FCI Dublin opened in 1974 and is one of only three federal facilities for women in the US. It is a medium-security facility incarcerating female offenders who are serving an average sentence of 5 years. The prison is completely surrounded by a double fence topped with multiple coils of razor wire
Razor wire
Barbed tape or razor wire is a mesh of metal strips with sharp edges whose purpose is to prevent passage by humans. The term "razor wire", through long usage, has generally been used to describe barbed tape products...
. It has a design capacity of 250 inmates, but houses well in excess of 1,000. Conditions are cramped, with three inmates sharing a cell
Prison cell
A prison cell or holding cell or lock-up is a small room in a prison, or police station where a prisoner is held.Prison cells are usually about 6 by 8 feet in size with steel or brick walls and one solid or barred door that locks from the outside. Many modern prison cells are pre-cast. Solid doors...
designed to house a single prisoner. Meals are served in shifts due to the small size of the dining facilities.
Like most American prisons, FCI Dublin also contains an SHU (Security Housing Unit), where any prisoners who are deemed to have broken prison rules are kept in segregation under a highly restrictive regime. Prisoners in the SHU spend more time locked in their cell than the general prison population, are only allowed out for limited amounts of time and must be transported to/from their cell wearing handcuffs
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
. Depending on the circumstances, an inmate may spend weeks or even months in the SHU.
FCI Dublin is surrounded by two separate fences with a gap of approximately 10 feet (3 m) between them. Measuring 14 feet (4.3 m) high, each chain-link fence is reinforced with multiple coils of razor wire
Razor wire
Barbed tape or razor wire is a mesh of metal strips with sharp edges whose purpose is to prevent passage by humans. The term "razor wire", through long usage, has generally been used to describe barbed tape products...
(at the top and bottom) plus electronic sensors to detect escape attempts.
The institution also has an adjacent administrative detention facility housing adult males on holdover or pre-trial status, and a minimum security satellite camp housing adult female offenders, which opened in 1990.
Programs
The prison’s education department offers GEDGED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
and ESL
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
programs, as well as courses in parenting skills. The prison also provides legal and leisure library services in addition to training in the use of various computer software.
There are two Federal Prison Industries UNICOR programs at FCI Dublin: the Textiles and the Call Center. Textiles employs approximately 150 inmates on the manufacture of custom draperies, parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
s, and disaster blankets. They also sort and repair USPS mailbags. The Call Center employs around 250 inmates on directory assistance enquiries.
Notable inmates
| Name | Number | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pavlo Lazarenko Pavlo Lazarenko Pavlo Ivanovych Lazarenko is a former Ukrainian politician and former Prime Minister who, in August 2006, was convicted and sentenced to prison in the United States for money laundering, wire fraud and extortion... |
Held at FCI, Dublin. | Prime Minister of Ukraine in 1996–1997 | |
| Heidi Fleiss Heidi Fleiss Heidi Lynne Fleiss is an American former madam, and also a columnist and television personality regularly featured in the 1990s in American media. She is often referred to as the "Hollywood Madam".... |
Held at FCI, Dublin. | LA Madame | |