FDC Philadelphia | Philadelphia Federal Prison

Federal Detention Center Philadelphia is an administrative-security federal prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is also known as FDC Philadelphia. The facility houses male and female inmates.

FDC Philadelphia Contact Information

Facility Address & Contact Information

Federal Detention Center Philadelphia
700 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Phone: 215-521-4000
Fax: 215-521-7220
Email: [email protected]

BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page

Inmate Correspondence Address

FDC Philadelphia

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FDC Philadelphia
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 562
Philadelphia
, PA 19105

How to Send Money

Funds cannot be sent directly to inmates. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.

Federal Detention Center Philadelphia Inmate Information

Inmate Gender

Male and Female Inmates

Prison Security Level

Administrative Security Federal Prison

Facility Location

FDC Philadelphia is located in the heart of the city of Philadelphia.

BOP Region

Northeast Region

BOP Institution Code

PHL for FDC Philadelphia

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

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Population Number

FDC Philadelphia houses approximately 780 inmates.

FDC Philadelphia Prison Services Information

FDC Philadelphia | Federal Detention Center Philadelphia

Background

Federal Detention Center Philadelphia is an administrative-security federal prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which houses male and female inmates. It was opened in 2000.

FDC Philadelphia holds male and female detainees before or during court proceedings and inmates serving brief sentences. The detention center is 12 stories high. It has 628 cells for United States Marshal Service pre-trial detainees, primarily from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Southern and Northern Districts of New Jersey, and the District of Delaware. FDC Philadelphia is also a United States Parole Commission Revocation Site. There are 120 prisoners, already sentenced, that serve as orderlies. A tunnel connects the prison to the James A. Byrne United States Courthouse.

Media reports indicate that one male guard was indicted for sexually assaulting male inmates, another for sexually assaulting inmates, and a third guard was indicted for smuggling contraband into the institution.

Inmate Housing

Inmates are housed in either two- or three-person cells or dormitories.

Health Services

Health services at FDC Philadelphia include prenatal care, mental health assessments, eyeglasses, medical and dental sick call, and chronic care. Medical appointments are requested by submitting a sick call request form to the Health Services Unit for a fee of $2.00 per visit. Inmates without funds will still receive medical care by submitting a sick call request. Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day.

Psychology Services

Psychology services include intake screening, group and individual treatment and counseling, mental health assessments, and crisis intervention. Inmates are screened upon arrival and referred to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health specialist for follow-up evaluation and intervention as needed.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

FDC Philadelphia does not have the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). A Drug Education Class and the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP) are available.

FDC Philadelphia Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings

Education Services

Philadelphia Detention Center provides GED, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs, and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) courses. Parenting and re-entry programs such as Money Smart, Mock Job Fair, Resource Fairs, employment workshops, HIV seminars, Celebrate Recovery support program, financial planning, living on a budget, and other programs are also available. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.

Advanced Occupational Education

FDC Philadelphia does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.

Vocational Training

Philadelphia prison does not offer any vocational training programs.

Apprenticeship

FDC Philadelphia does not offer any apprenticeship programs.

Library Services

FDC Philadelphia offers both a leisure and law library to inmates. The leisure library offers magazines, newspapers, fiction, nonfiction, and reference books. Inmates are provided access to legal materials and an opportunity to prepare legal documents using the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library. A copy machine is available to reproduce materials needed for research. Electric typewriters are also available for inmate use.

UNICOR

Federal Detention Center Philadelphia does not have a UNICOR facility.

Commissary

Inmates can spend $360.00 monthly in the commissary on their assigned shopping days. Clothing, candies, food, drink mixes, and other items are available for purchase. Quantity limits on certain items may apply.

Recreation Services

Recreation Services available at FDC Philadelphia include both physical and leisure activities. Physical activities include:

  • Basketball
  • Mini Soccer
  • Handball
  • Volleyball
  • Aerobic and Yoga Classes

Body fat analysis, fitness assessments, walking programs, health and wellness classes, and nutrition classes are also available. Leisure activities include board games, dominoes, card games, bingo, and music programming. The hobby craft program includes drawing, calligraphy, watercolors, and crochet/knitting.

Visitation Information for FDC Philadelphia

On Sunday and Saturday, visitation is held between 7:15 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Frida,y visitation is held between 6:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 7:15 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.

FDC Philadelphia | Philadelphia Federal Prison

FDC Philadelphia in the News

In April 2018, Federal Detention Center Philadelphia announced that it would rescind its policy that barred visitors who were not immediate family. Around 100 detainees were prevented from seeing their children under the old policy.

In July 2016, FDC Philadelphia changed its visitation policy to allow only immediate family members, which caused a fair amount of distress since many detainees have relationships and children with people they are not married to.

In June 2012, Richard Spisak, a guard at the Philadelphia federal prison, was sentenced to 32 months for having male prisoners perform oral sex on him in his office.

In 2006, Delton Doran, a guard at Philadelphia Detention Center, was charged with having sex with a prisoner at the facility.

In 2005, FDC Philadelphia guard Matthew Sartin pleaded guilty to smuggling cell phones and liquor to five prisoners.

More Information About Federal Detention Center Philadelphia

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 Philadelphia, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.