Federal Medical Center Rochester is an administrative-security federal prison in Rochester, Minnesota. It is also known as FMC Rochester, Federal Medical Center Rochester MN, and Rochester Correctional Facility. The facility houses male inmates.
Table of contents
- FMC Rochester Contact Information
- Federal Medical Center Rochester Inmate Information
- FMC Rochester Prison Services Information
- FMC Rochester Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
- Visitation Information for FMC Rochester
- FMC Rochester Prison Culture Information
- FMC Rochester in the News
- More Information About Federal Medical Center Rochester
FMC Rochester Contact Information
Facility Address & Contact Information
Federal Medical Center Rochester
2110 East Center Street
Rochester, MN 55904
Phone: 507-287-0674
Fax: 507-424-7600
Email: [email protected]
BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page
Inmate Correspondence Address
FMC Rochester
Inmate Name and Registration Number
FMC Rochester
Federal Medical Center
P.O. Box 4000
Rochester, MN 55903
How to Send Money
Funds cannot be sent directly to inmates. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.
Federal Medical Center Rochester Inmate Information
Inmate Gender
Male Inmates
Prison Security Level
Administrative-Security Federal Prison
Facility Location
Located in southern Minnesota, 2 miles east of downtown Rochester.
BOP Region
BOP Institution Code
RCH for FMC Rochester
Medical Care Level
Level 3/4. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.
Mental Health Care Level
Level 4.
Judicial District
Population Number
FMC Rochester houses approximately 585 inmates.
FMC Rochester Prison Services Information
Background
Federal Medical Center Rochester is an administrative-security federal prison in Rochester, Minnesota, which houses male inmates. It was opened in 1984.
FMC Rochester was formerly a state mental hospital. Today it is a psychiatric and medical referral center for the Bureau of Prisons.
Notable inmates include Jared Lee Loughner (serving a life sentence for murder and an attempted assassination of a Congresswoman); Luke Helder (planted pipe bombs in five states); founder of Praise the Lord Ministries Jim Bakker (served five years for fraud); former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (served 13 months for structuring bank withdrawals to evade bank reporting requirements); former U.S. Representative Dan Rostenkowski; and fringe presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche.
Inmate Housing
Rochester Correctional Facility inmates are housed in various settings ranging from individual cells to open dormitories. Most inmates are housed in two-person cells. There are four housing unit buildings, each with a different purpose: Hospital, Outpatient, Psychiatric, and Work Cadre.
Health Services
Health Services staff at FMC Rochester includes physicians, dentists, dental assistants, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, radiological technicians, physical therapists, laboratory technologists, and respiratory therapists. Physical examinations, immunizations, sick calls, dental care, emergency services, medications, health and wellness programs, preventive health care, and reading glasses are provided to inmates.
Psychology Services
Mental Health Services through the Psychiatry and Psychology Departments are available to all inmates at FMC Rochester. These include screening, assessment, and treatment of mental health problems, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational classes, self-help and supportive services, and referral to Health Services (Psychiatry) for medical treatment of a mental illness.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
FMC Rochester does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). It does offer other drug abuse programs, a Drug Abuse Education class, and a Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP).
FMC Rochester Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
Education Services
Rochester, MN, prison provides literacy, GED, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. Incentive awards are provided to recognize inmates progressing satisfactorily and completing the literacy (i.e., GED and ESL) program. Inmates may also receive incentives for progressing to various levels in the GED or ESL programs. Graduation ceremonies recognize GED, ESL, and Occupational Education completions. Adult Continuing Education (ACE) and a parenting program are also available. Classes are available in Spanish, typing, and different types of Microsoft software. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education
Federal Medical Center Rochester, MN, offers no advanced occupational education programs.
Vocational Training
FMC Rochester offers vocational training in Landscape Management through Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC).
Apprenticeship
Rochester, MN, prison offers Biomedical Equipment Repair, Electrical, HVAC, Painting, and Plumbing apprenticeships.
Library Services
The leisure library offers inmates a variety of reading materials, including periodicals, newspapers, fiction, nonfiction, and reference books. An interlibrary loan program is also available. Inmates are provided access to legal materials and an opportunity to prepare legal documents using the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library. Rochester MN Prison inmates can also access electric typewriters and a copy machine.
UNICOR
FMC Rochester does not house a UNICOR facility.
Commissary
Rochester Correctional Facility inmates can shop in the commissary one day per week. Items such as clothing, shoes, food, sodas, drink mixes, radios, MP3 players, and more can be purchased. A $360.00 monthly spending limit is imposed.
Recreation Services
Physical fitness and leisure programs at Federal Medical Center Rochester, MN, are provided to promote positive lifestyle changes. Leisure activities include organized and informal games, sports, physical fitness, table games, hobby crafts, music programs, intramural activities, social and cultural organizations, and movies. Art activities include paintings and sketches using traditional methods (e.g., oils, pastels, crayons, pencils, inks, and charcoal). Hobbycraft activities include ceramics and leatherwork. Wellness programs include screening, assessments, goal setting, fitness/nutrition plans, and counseling.
Visitation Information for FMC Rochester
On Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday, visitation is held between 8:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.
FMC Rochester Prison Culture Information
Prison Politics at Federal Medical Center Rochester
Rochester, MN Prison is not political.
Level of Violence
There is a very low level of violence at Rochester Correctional Facility. One respondent stated that the prison was “safe.”
Vulnerable Populations
Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can walk the yard. One inmate said, “This is a very soft yard where informants, sex offenders, and gays can stay.”
Good at FMC Rochester
“Peaceful and calm.”
Bad at FMC Rochester
“There is minimal structured programming or vocational training.” “There are a lot of snitches who will openly and unashamedly go straight to the cops to tell on you.”
Other Inmate Comments
“If you are a sex offender, you’ll probably be comfortable living here. If you don’t mind sex offenders and snitches and like quiet, safe, boring, and peaceful prison time, you’ll do well here. I personally love it here.”
FMC Rochester in the News
In June 2016, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert reported to Federal Medical Center Rochester to begin his 15-month sentence for federal bank violations related to sexual misconduct against boys when he was a high school wrestling coach.
More Information About Federal Medical Center Rochester
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 FMC Rochester, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.
Published Apr 27, 2018 by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA | Last Updated by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA on Aug 6, 2023 at 8:04 pm