Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island (FCI Terminal Island) was a federal prison located at the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor near San Pedro, California. For many years it operated as a federal correctional institution under the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The institution is no longer listed as an active BOP facility. Operations were suspended in November 2025 after serious structural and infrastructure problems raised concerns about the continued safe operation of the prison.
FCI Terminal Island Information
| Facility Name | Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island |
| Common Name | FCI Terminal Island |
| Facility Type | Federal Correctional Institution |
| Former Security Level | Low Security |
| Former Inmate Population | Male federal inmates |
| Operator | Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice |
| Former Address | 1299 Seaside Avenue, Terminal Island, California 90731 |
| Former Main Phone | 310-831-8961 |
| BOP Region | Western Region |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Operations Suspended | November 2025 |
| Current Status | Operations suspended; no longer listed as an active BOP institution |
The address and telephone number above are historical facility information and should not be relied upon as contact information for a currently incarcerated person.
Where Was FCI Terminal Island Located?
FCI Terminal Island occupied a waterfront location on Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor area, between San Pedro and Long Beach. Its location placed the prison close to the Port of Los Angeles and other federal and maritime facilities.
The institution’s unusual harbor location was one of the characteristics that distinguished it from many other federal prisons in the United States.
History of FCI Terminal Island
The correctional complex dates to 1938. During World War II, control of the site passed to the U.S. Navy. From 1942 to 1950, the property was used as a Naval Disciplinary Barracks and for other military purposes.
After the Navy stopped operating the site, the State of California used the property for a period as a medical facility. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reacquired Terminal Island in 1955 and again operated it as a federal correctional institution.
Terminal Island historically housed both men and women during portions of its earlier history. By late 1977, it had become an all-male federal institution.
How Many Inmates Were Held at Terminal Island?
The inmate population changed substantially over the life of the institution and any population figure should be associated with a specific date.
For example, a Federal Bureau of Prisons PREA audit published before the closure listed a designated capacity of 892 and a facility population of 943 at the time of that audit. Those numbers are historical and should not be presented as a current inmate population.
By the time operations were suspended in November 2025, approximately 1,000 people were reported to be housed at the institution. They were subsequently transferred as the facility was taken out of normal operation.
Why Did FCI Terminal Island Suspend Operations?
Problems with the physical condition of Terminal Island had been documented before the shutdown. A U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General review of Bureau of Prisons infrastructure documented deterioration at the facility, including cracking and separation in areas containing important mechanical equipment.
In November 2025, additional concerns involving deteriorating underground tunnels became serious enough for the Bureau of Prisons to suspend operations. The tunnels contained infrastructure used by the prison’s steam heating system, and deteriorating concrete created safety and operational concerns.
The Bureau began relocating inmates to other federal facilities rather than continuing normal prison operations at Terminal Island.
What Happened to Terminal Island Inmates?
People who had completed their federal sentences before the shutdown remained historical former inmates of Terminal Island. People who were still serving federal sentences when operations were suspended were transferred to other Bureau of Prisons institutions or other appropriate federal custody arrangements.
For this reason, an old record associating someone with FCI Terminal Island does not establish that person’s present location.
Current federal custody information can be checked through the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.
FCI Terminal Island Inmate Records
Our historical database contains names, BOP Register Numbers and recorded or projected release dates for people associated with the institution.
Search FCI Terminal Island inmate and release records →
Notable Prisoners at Terminal Island
Because Terminal Island operated for many decades, people from organized-crime cases, financial-crime prosecutions, major federal cases and other historically significant cases served time there.
Rather than duplicating a long list on every inmate-record page, these historical profiles are maintained separately.
See notable inmates of FCI Terminal Island →
This page describes the former FCI Terminal Island facility and includes historical information. It should not be used as confirmation of a person’s present incarceration location, release status or custody status.