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Federal Bureau of Prisons Closes FCI Dublin and Six Satellite Camps Amid Budget Cuts

Published on January 7, 2025, by InmateAid

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is undertaking significant structural changes, including the permanent closure of FCI Dublin in California and six minimum-security prison camps in Florida, Minnesota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. This bold move, driven by critical staffing shortages, rising costs, and aging infrastructure, reflects the agency’s ongoing struggle to balance its operational demands with limited budgetary resources.

The closures include the following facilities:

Closures Overview

At FCI Dublin, a low-security institution that previously housed female offenders, the decision follows a damning security and infrastructure assessment. The facility had garnered national attention after being temporarily shuttered amid reports of widespread sexual abuse by staff, leading to its notorious “rape club” label. Despite efforts to rehabilitate the prison’s culture and environment, the agency cited prohibitive repair costs and insufficient staffing—exacerbated by the Bay Area’s high cost of living—as key factors in its closure.

Administrative and Financial Pressures

Although the federal inmate population has decreased by over 50,000 in the past decade, operational costs continue to rise, driven by escalating healthcare expenses and maintenance of outdated facilities. The BOP initially sought a $3 billion budget increase to its existing $8.3 billion allocation for fiscal year 2024, but with no funding increase forthcoming, Director Colette Peters opted to pursue consolidation as a means of alleviating financial strain. The closures will result in the relocation of approximately 1,600 inmates and 340 staff members to other facilities.

According to internal documents obtained by the Associated Press, the BOP views these closures as a strategic step toward addressing its staffing crisis and reducing reliance on mandatory overtime and augmentation, which often forces non-correctional staff to serve as temporary guards. The agency has emphasized its commitment to finding new positions for affected employees within the federal prison system.

Challenges with Infrastructure and Inmate Management

The affected facilities, many of which were constructed decades ago, suffer from dilapidated infrastructure, including condemned buildings plagued by asbestos and lead contamination. For instance, the Duluth camp in Minnesota has been deemed unsafe, necessitating the relocation of 736 inmates and 90 staff members. Similarly, the Pensacola camp in Florida, located on Navy-owned land, faces demolition due to significant structural disrepair.

In addition to addressing infrastructure issues, the closures are intended to curtail the frequent escapes and contraband smuggling associated with minimum-security camps, which feature dormitory-style housing and minimal fencing. The Morgantown camp in West Virginia, which houses 400 inmates and employs 150 staff members, will also be deactivated, with operations shifted to the federal prison complex in Hazelton, located roughly 23 miles away.

Repercussions for Inmate Rehabilitation and the First Step Act

The closures come at a critical juncture for the implementation of the First Step Act, a hallmark criminal justice reform law enacted during the Trump administration. Although the act was designed to reduce incarceration costs by facilitating early release and community placement for minimum-security offenders, its rollout has been hampered by staffing shortages and confusion over its provisions.

Case managers—essential to coordinating reentry plans—currently handle overwhelming caseloads of more than 100 inmates each, limiting their ability to focus on individual rehabilitation efforts. Expanding halfway house capacity, a key component of the act’s success, remains a pressing challenge. The BOP acknowledges that its current network of 11,000 contracted halfway house beds is near capacity and that developing new facilities can take years.

To expedite this process, the BOP may turn to private corrections companies, such as CoreCivic and GEO Group, which have the capability to quickly expand halfway house operations and provide monitoring for inmates on home confinement. This shift could reduce reliance on aging institutions and help fulfill the act’s goal of increasing community-based corrections.

Future Outlook and Reforms

Beyond consolidating facilities, the BOP may also revisit its inmate classification system, which critics argue unnecessarily restricts low-risk offenders to higher-security environments. Non-U.S. citizens and individuals convicted of non-violent offenses, such as possession of illegal materials, are frequently excluded from minimum-security placements due to Public Safety Factors (PSFs). Reforming these classifications could facilitate more efficient use of resources and reduce operational costs by placing low-risk offenders in less restrictive settings.

Meanwhile, construction is underway on a new medium-security prison and minimum-security camp in Roxana, Kentucky, with $500 million allocated by Congress. The facility, designed to house approximately 1,400 inmates, represents a significant investment in modern correctional infrastructure. However, questions remain about whether this new development aligns with the broader goals of reducing incarceration and promoting community-based alternatives.

FAQs

  1. Why is the Bureau of Prisons closing six satellite offices and FCI Dublin?
    The closures are driven by critical budget constraints, staffing shortages, and the deteriorating infrastructure of aging facilities.

  2. Which federal prison camps are being closed?
    Camps in Pensacola, Florida; Duluth, Minnesota; Morgantown, West Virginia; Oxford, Wisconsin; Littleton, Colorado; and Loretto, Pennsylvania.

  3. What will happen to staff and inmates at these facilities?
    Staff will be reassigned to other facilities, and inmates will be relocated to nearby prisons.

  4. What was the reason for closing FCI Dublin?
    FCI Dublin was permanently closed due to extensive repair needs, low staffing levels, and previous issues with staff misconduct and inmate abuse.

  5. How does this affect the First Step Act’s implementation?
    The closures may hinder the program due to limited staff and insufficient halfway house capacity for transitioning inmates to community-based settings.

  6. What issues are affecting existing federal prison facilities?
    Many facilities suffer from dilapidated infrastructure, asbestos contamination, and rising maintenance costs, contributing to operational inefficiencies.

  7. Will new prisons be built despite these closures?
    Yes, a new medium-security prison and camp are being constructed in Roxana, Kentucky, and $500 million has been allocated for modern infrastructure.

  8. What reforms are being considered for the prison system?
    The BOP may revise its security classification system to allow low-risk inmates greater access to less restrictive environments and reduce costs.

Conclusion

The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ decision to close FCI Dublin and six satellite prison camps underscores the immense operational challenges facing one of the nation’s largest correctional systems. While the agency frames these closures as a necessary step toward fiscal responsibility and improved staffing, critics warn of potential setbacks in inmate rehabilitation and community reintegration. As the BOP navigates this period of transformation, the need for long-term solutions—ranging from expanded halfway house capacity to comprehensive classification reform—remains more pressing than ever.