Security Levels in Federal Prisons

Security levels in federal prisons describe the structural, operational, and staffing features the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) uses to confine individuals in facilities appropriate to their security designation. BOP institutions operate at minimum, low, medium, and high security levels, as well as administrative facilities with specialized missions (e.g., medical centers, detention centers). Security level determines perimeter security, housing type, movement controls, internal security features, and staff-to-inmate ratio.

Security level assignment interacts with custody classification, medical care level, and program needs. The BOP’s classification system is governed by Program Statement 5100.08 and subsequent change notices, and placement decisions are made by the Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC).

How security levels are defined

Security levels are based on exterior and interior controls and staffing patterns, including:

• Perimeter security (fences, walls, detection systems, patrols, towers)
• Housing type (dormitory vs. cells)
• Internal security (locked doors, controlled movement, counts)
• Staff-to-inmate ratios and supervision intensity

Descriptions by security level

Minimum security (Federal Prison Camps)

• Perimeter: Limited or no external perimeter fencing; open campus style.
• Housing: Dormitory housing predominates.
• Movement: Greater freedom of movement; work details and community custody may be possible subject to custody level.
• Mission: Often adjacent to larger institutions; focus on work programs and lower-security operations.

Low security

• Perimeter: Double-fenced perimeters and detection systems; vehicle patrols common.
• Housing: Primarily dormitory or cubicle housing.
• Movement: Controlled movement with regular counts; fewer program restrictions than higher levels.

Medium security

• Perimeter: Strengthened perimeters (double fences, electronic detection); more robust patrols.
• Housing: Mostly cell-type housing.
• Movement: More frequent and stricter controlled movement; enhanced internal security features.

High security (United States Penitentiaries)

• Perimeter: Highly secured perimeters (walls, multiple fences, electronic detection, towers).
• Housing: Predominantly cell housing with restricted movement.
• Movement: Very limited inmate movement; intensive supervision and security protocols.

Administrative facilities

Administrative institutions house individuals with specialized needs or legal statuses and may operate across security levels:

• Medical centers (e.g., Medical Referral Centers) for higher Care Levels (3–4)
• Metropolitan Detention Centers and Metropolitan Correctional Centers for pretrial/holdover
• Federal Transfer Centers for transport/holdover
• Facilities with specialized missions (e.g., chronic care, protective custody)

Security level vs. custody level

Security level describes the institution’s physical and operational controls. Custody level governs an individual’s movement and housing within and outside the institution (e.g., community, out, in, maximum). Together with Public Safety Factors (PSFs) and Management Variables (MVs), custody level can affect eligibility for camps, outside work details, and community programs even within the same security level.

Classification and placement considerations

Security level assignment is part of national classification:

• Security scoring and offense severity determine baseline security level.
• PSFs (e.g., greatest severity, sex offense, deportable alien) may impose minimum placement floors.
• MVs allow exceptions for mission, safety, or capacity reasons.
• Care Levels (1–4) and program needs influence selection among institutions at the same security level.
• Proximity to release residence is considered “as close as practicable,” subject to availability and safety.

Impact on daily life and programming

Security level influences:

• Visitation and movement (count frequency, call-outs, pass systems)
• Housing (dormitory vs. cell; cell restrictions)
• Work assignments and education/vocational programs
• Access to RDAP and other programs; availability varies by institution and level
• Safety environment and staff supervision intensity

Conjugal visits in federal prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not allow conjugal visits at any security level. This policy applies uniformly across all BOP facilities—minimum security camps, low security FCIs, medium security institutions, high security USPs, and administrative facilities. There are no exceptions.

Unlike some state prison systems, where four states (California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington) still permit conjugal or "extended family" visits for certain inmates, the federal system has never implemented such programs. Federal courts have consistently held that inmates do not have a constitutional right to conjugal visits, and the BOP has maintained this prohibition throughout its history.

While the BOP encourages family visitation as beneficial for morale and successful reentry, all visits occur within structured, supervised environments. Contact visits are permitted in lower-security facilities, allowing brief embraces at the start and end of visits, but prolonged physical contact results in staff intervention. High-security facilities may only allow non-contact visits through glass partitions.

For more information on federal prison visiting rules, see Visiting Policies and Procedures.

Statistics and distribution

The BOP publishes weekly statistics on inmate distribution by security level (minimum, low, medium, high, and unclassified) across the federal system. These figures fluctuate based on designation, transfers, and intake/outflow.

Criticisms and challenges

Common concerns include:

• Limited transparency in how PSFs/MVs affect eligibility for lower security placements
• Constraints on honoring judicial recommendations due to PSFs, care levels, and capacity
• Program access differences between levels (e.g., fewer slots at certain institutions)
• Family hardship due to distance when higher-security or administrative placements are necessary

History

Security levels developed as part of BOP’s national standardization of classification in the late 20th century. Program Statement 5100.08 consolidated security scoring, custody levels, PSFs, and MVs. Later updates (including First Step Act-related changes) emphasized proximity considerations and programmatic needs during designation, while maintaining security and safety priorities.

Terminology

• Security level – Institutional category (minimum, low, medium, high, administrative) tied to physical/operational controls.
• Custody level – Classification governing movement and housing within/outside institutions.
• Public Safety Factor (PSF) – Mandatory placement threshold for certain risks/offenses.
• Management Variable (MV) – Exception mechanism for mission/safety/capacity reasons.
• Administrative facility – Institution serving specialized populations or missions (e.g., medical centers, detention/transfer).

See also

• Federal prison designation
• Bureau of Prisons classification methods
• Residential Drug Abuse Program
• Overview of federal prison medical intake

External links

• BOP: Federal Prisons – Security levels overview
• Program Statement 5100.08 (PDF)
• Program Statement 5100.08 – Change Notice (PDF)
• BOP Statistics: Prison Security Levels
• BOP: Locations overview

Nightmare Success Guides

• What the First Week in Federal Prison Feels Like — First-person accounts of intake and the habits that matter most in the first seven days.