Federal Detention Center Houston is an administrative-security federal prison located in Houston, Texas. It is also known as FDC Houston. The facility houses male and female inmates.
Table of contents
FDC Houston Contact Information
Facility Address & Contact Information
Federal Detention Center Houston
1200 Texas Avenue
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-221-5400
Fax: 713-229-4200
Email: [email protected]
BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page
Inmate Correspondence Address
FDC Houston
Inmate Name and Registration Number
FDC Houston
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 526255
Houston, TX 77052
How to Send Money
Funds cannot be sent directly to inmates. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.
Federal Detention Center Houston Inmate Information
Inmate Gender
Male and Female Inmates
Prison Security Level
Administrative Security Federal Prison
Facility Location
FDC Houston is located in downtown Houston at the intersection of Texas Avenue and San Jacinto Avenue.
BOP Region
BOP Institution Code
HOU for FDC Houston
Medical Care Level
Level 2. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.
Mental Health Care Level
Level 2.
Judicial District
Population Number
FDC Houston houses approximately 720 inmates.
FDC Houston Prison Services Information
Background
Federal Detention Center Houston is an administrative-security federal prison in Houston, Texas, which houses both male and female inmates. It was opened in 1999.
FDC Houston houses male and female pre-trial and pre-sentence detainees, as well as hold-over inmates.
Notable inmates include Joel Lopez (after being sentenced to life in prison as a result of a federal drug offense, attempted to pay a soon-to-be-released inmate $2 million to kill her judge, U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Hinojosa).
Media reports indicate that at least one guard sexually assaulted an inmate at the prison.
Inmate Housing
Inmates are housed in various formats, from two-person cells to dormitories. There are four total housing units.
Health Services
Inmates at FDC Houston have access to routine medical and dental evaluations, medications, preventive health care services, emergency services, prenatal care, and diagnosis and treatment of chronic infectious diseases. While emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day, inmates must submit a triage form for routine care.
Psychology Services
Short-term individual and group psychotherapy are available depending on individual needs and staff availability. Individual therapy for crisis resolution is available to all inmates at FDC Houston. Group sessions are also available. Notices of group offerings are posted in inmate housing units. Inmates must submit an Inmate Request to staff form to attend such groups. A smoking cessation program is available upon submitting a copout to Psychology services, as FDC Houston is a smoke-free environment.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
FDC Houston does not have the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), however, the facility does offer the Drug Education class and the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP).
FDC Houston Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
Education Services
FDC Houston offers literacy, GED, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL), and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) programs. Education services focus on the self-study style of learning, with students’ progress monitored by education staff. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education
FDC Houston does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.
Vocational Training
FDC Houston does not offer any vocational training programs.
Apprenticeship
FDC Houston does not offer any apprenticeship programs.
Library Services
Both a law library and wellness/leisure library are available to inmates at FDC Houston. In the law library, inmates have access to the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library. A wellness leisure library is also maintained in each unit’s Activity Room. Various books, magazines, newspapers, and pamphlets are maintained for use by all inmates within the housing units. In addition to the unit libraries, a large selection of videotapes and reading materials are available for viewing in the institution Law Library. Access to the video library is coordinated with the Education Law Library schedule.
UNICOR
FDC Houston does not house a UNICOR facility.
Commissary
Inmates can spend up to $360.00 a month at the commissary on their designated shopping day once a week. Various items are available, such as clothing, shoes, electronics, food, drink mixes, and other items. A list of the price of each item can be obtained from the unit officer. Inmates must have funds in their account to purchase any goods from the Commissary.
Recreation Services
Recreation activities at FDC Houston include a wide range of physical and passive programs, including hobby crafts activities and various sports. The schedules are updated each month and are posted throughout each housing unit. Movies are available for viewing.
Visitation Information for FDC Houston
On Sunday, Friday, and Saturday visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. as well as 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. On Monday and Thursday visitation is held between 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., 12:00 and 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. as well as 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.
FDC Houston in the News
In August 2017, seventeen staff members at the Federal Detention Center in Houston were unable to leave the facility because of extensive flooding by Hurricane Harvey. Staff volunteers from FMC Carswell, FMC Fort Worth, FCI Seagoville, and the U.S. Army helped deliver food, water, and other necessities to the facility.
In May 2017, an unnamed former female prisoner at FDC Houston, who was having a consensual sexual relationship with a guard named Samuel Hawkins, sued Hawkins and the federal government for $10 million after Hawkins raped her just four days before she was released.
More Information About Federal Detention Center Houston
For a comprehensive look at life in federal prison, pick up a copy of Christopher Zoukis’ Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Surviving the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For more detailed information about FDC Houston, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.
Published Jun 2, 2018 by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA | Last Updated by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA on May 12, 2023 at 4:09 pm
