FDC SeaTac | Federal Detention Center SeaTac

Federal Detention Center SeaTac is an administrative-security federal prison in Seattle, Washington. It is also known as FDC SeaTac and the Seattle Correctional Facility. The facility houses male and female inmates.

FDC SeaTac Contact Information

Facility Address & Contact Information

Federal Detention Center SeaTac
2425 South 200th Street
Seattle, WA
98198

Phone: 205-373-5000
Fax: 205-373-5020
Email: [email protected]

BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page

Inmate Correspondence Address

FDC SeaTac

Inmate Name and Registration Number
FDC SeaTac
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

How to Send Money

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

Federal Detention Center SeaTac Inmate Information

Inmate Gender

Male and Female Inmates

Prison Security Level

Administrative Security Federal Prison

Facility Location

FDC SeaTac is 12 miles south of Seattle, 16 miles north of Tacoma, and 1 mile west of I-5 (200th Street exit).

BOP Region

Western Region

BOP Institution Code

SET for FDC SeaTac

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

Western District of Washington

Population Number

FDC SeaTac houses approximately 755 inmates.

FDC SeaTac Prison Services Information

FDC SeaTac | Federal Detention Center SeaTac

Background

Federal Detention Center SeaTac is an administrative-security federal prison in Seattle, Washington, which houses both male and female inmates. It was opened in 1988.

FDC SeaTac primarily houses pre-trial and pre-sentence detainees and holdover inmates.

Notable inmates include Colton Harris-Moore (who served time for theft and burglary), cannabis advocate Marc Emery, and drug lord Clayton Roueche.

Media reports indicate that one guard was indicted for possession of child pornography, another guard was indicted for threatening to kill his wife after he learned about a Jerry Springer tape, and one woman was indicted for mailing greeting cards to inmates which contained methamphetamines.

Inmate Housing

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

Health Services

Medical and dental sick calls, physical examinations, x-rays, TB tests, medications, chronic care, urgent medical and dental care, routine care, and dentures are all provided at FDC SeaTac. Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day.

Psychology Services

Psychology services at Federal Detention Center SeaTac include crisis intervention, suicide prevention, brief individual counseling, bibliotherapy (self-help reading material), medication referrals, and forensic evaluations (for select inmates). Group counseling services are also periodically available for inmates. Groups have been offered in anger management, stress management, coping skills, and dealing with trauma (which includes female inmates with histories of physical and/or sexual abuse).

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

FDC SeaTac does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), but referrals can be made to institutions that provide RDAP. The facility does provide a Drug Education Class and the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP).

FDC SeaTac Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings

Education Services

Seattle Correctional Facility provides GED and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.

Advanced Occupational Education

The SeaTac federal prison does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.

Vocational Training

Seattle federal prison does not offer any vocational training programs.

Apprenticeship

FDC SeaTac does not offer any apprenticeship programs.

Library Services

The Education Department maintains a mobile leisure book cart in all housing units, including the Special Housing Unit (SHU). The carts are rotated bi-weekly. The Education Department also provides various magazines and newspapers (English and Spanish) distributed to the units. The law library is in an electronic law database accessible via computer workstations in each unit. Most legal materials can be located by searching the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library database.

UNICOR

Seattle Correctional Facility does not house a UNICOR facility.

Commissary

FDC SeaTac operates a commissary that provides numerous items for inmate purchase. Inmates are not limited to the amount of money they may spend at any one time but may not spend more than $360.00 per month. Inmates are permitted to shop once a week on their designated shopping day.

Recreation Services

Indoor and outdoor activities at the Seattle prison include:

  • Aerobics
  • Ping Pong
  • Hobby Craft Classes
  • Chess Club/Chess Class
  • Wellness and Nutrition Programs
  • Screenwriting Class
  • Movies
  • Abs Class

There are ten federal holidays in which additional activities are offered. During these specific holidays, special tournaments are held (e.g., bingo, card tournaments, pool, ping pong, basketball, and volleyball).

Visitation Information for FDC SeaTac

On Sunday and Saturday, visitation is held between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On Monday and Friday, visitation is held between 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.

FDC SeaTac | SeaTac Federal Prison | Seattle Correctional Facility

FDC SeaTac in the News

In July 2018, Yolany Padilla, one of 55 parents at Federal Detention Center SeaTac who were separated from their children at the border as part of the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, was the first to be released, though without her child.

In June 2018, thousands protested outside FDC SeaTac, where more than 150 migrant detainees were being held. The protesters opposed the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” policy and the separation of immigrant parents from their children.

In October 2014, William Cline, a guard at Seattle Correctional Facility, admitted to downloading child pornography and was placed on administrative leave.

In June 2011, Lakewood, Washington, resident Michael A. Tharp was brought to FDC SeaTac after being charged with possessing child pornography. Tharp was also suspected of sending child porn to civilly committed sex offenders being held at Washington State’s McNeil Island Special Commitment Center.

In May 2008, the director of the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum in Bangkok, Thailand, who was held at Seattle Prison for wire fraud, died there due to peritonitis.

In December 2003, the Drug Enforcement Agency arrested Kristina Landry for sending cards laced with methamphetamine to a prisoner held at FDC SeaTac.

In February 2003, Dennis Fontenot, a guard at FDC SeaTac, was charged with felony harassment after threatening to kill his wife over a Jerry Springer tape.

More Information About Federal Detention Center SeaTac

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