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FCI Waseca (low-security)

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{{Infobox prison
{{PrisonInfobox
| prison_name = Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
| name = Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
| image =  
| image =
| location = [[Waseca, Minnesota]]
| location = Waseca, Minnesota
| coordinates = {{coord|44|04|N|93|31|W|region:US-MN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| security_level = Low security
| status = Closed (converted to detention center)
| gender = Female
| classification = Former low-security (female)
| population = Approximately 728 (2023)
| capacity =  
| rdap = Yes
| region = North Central
| address = 1000 University Drive SW, Waseca, MN 56093
| managed_by = Federal Bureau of Prisons
| opened = 1995
| opened = 1995
| closed = 2016 (as FCI)
| managed_by = [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]
| director =
}}
}}


'''Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca''' ('''FCI Waseca''') was a low-security [[Federal Bureau of Prisons|federal prison]] for female inmates located in [[Waseca, Minnesota]]. The facility operated as a federal correctional institution from 1995 until 2016, when it was converted into a detention center.
'''Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca''' ('''FCI Waseca''') is a low-security federal prison for women in Waseca, Minnesota. It is run by the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]], part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The prison sits about 75 miles south of Minneapolis. It held roughly 728 inmates in early 2023.<ref name="oig">{{cite web |title=Inspection of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Federal Correctional Institution Waseca |url=https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-068.pdf |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General |date=2023-05-10 |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref><ref name="bop">{{cite web |title=FCI Waseca |url=https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/was/ |publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>


==History==
== Overview ==


FCI Waseca opened in 1995 as a low-security facility designed to house female federal inmates. The institution was located in Waseca, Minnesota, a small city in south-central Minnesota approximately 80 miles south of the [[Twin Cities]] metropolitan area. During its operational period, the facility served as one of several federal correctional institutions for women in the United States prison system.
FCI Waseca houses adult female offenders at the low-security level. The facility belongs to the Bureau's North Central Region. Inmates are assigned to housing units, and the prison operates the standard range of Bureau programs, including education, work assignments, and substance-abuse treatment.<ref name="bop"/>


In 2016, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced the closure of FCI Waseca as a traditional correctional institution. The facility was subsequently repurposed and converted into a federal detention center, representing a significant shift in its operational mission from long-term incarceration to temporary detention of individuals awaiting trial or deportation proceedings.
The prison offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program, known as RDAP. RDAP is a voluntary nine-month treatment program. Inmates who complete it may qualify for a sentence reduction of up to twelve months.<ref name="prisonprofessors">{{cite web |title=FCI Waseca Prison Guide |url=https://www.prisonprofessors.org/waseca-fci |publisher=Prison Professors |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>


The conversion reflected broader strategic decisions by the Bureau of Prisons regarding facility utilization and the changing needs of the federal prison system. The repurposing of the Waseca campus allowed the facility to continue serving federal law enforcement purposes while adapting to evolving detention requirements.
A 2023 inspection by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General found the prison generally well run, with staff and inmates reporting that they felt safe. The same report flagged building problems. Some inmates were housed in basements. Beds in those areas sat close to pipes that leaked at times. Roofs across the institution were in disrepair and leaked. The report also noted heavy reliance on overtime due to correctional officer shortages.<ref name="oig"/>


==See also==
== History ==
* [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]
* [[List of U.S. federal prisons]]
* [[Federal Correctional Institution]]


==References==
The Waseca site began as a college campus. The land and buildings once served as a University of Minnesota technical campus. In 1992 the property was converted into a federal prison, and many of the former college buildings were kept in use.<ref name="prisonprofessors"/><ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web |title=Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Correctional_Institution,_Waseca |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-06-03}}</ref>
{{reflist}}


==External links==
FCI Waseca opened in 1995 as a facility for men. It operated that way for more than a decade. In 2008 the Bureau converted it into an all-female prison. Male inmates were transferred out, and the institution has held women since.<ref name="prisonprofessors"/><ref name="wikipedia"/>
* [https://www.bop.gov/ Federal Bureau of Prisons official website]


[[Category:Federal Correctional Institutions]]
The conversion to a women's facility came during a period when former Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling was briefly held at Waseca following his 2006 conviction. When the prison shifted to female inmates, Skilling and other male prisoners were moved to other Bureau facilities.<ref name="wikipedia"/>
[[Category:Prisons in Minnesota]]
 
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Waseca County, Minnesota]]
== Notable Inmates ==
[[Category:Women's prisons in the United States]]
 
[[Category:1995 establishments in Minnesota]]
{| class="wikitable"
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in Minnesota]]
! Name !! Register Number !! Offense !! Status
|-
| Holly Ann Grigsby || 42508-086 || Murder || Serving a life sentence<ref name="wikipedia"/>
|-
| Catherine Greig || 57820-112 || Harboring a fugitive, identity fraud || Released July 2020<ref name="wikipedia"/>
|-
| Lisa Biron || 12775-049 || Child exploitation offenses || Projected release 2047<ref name="wikipedia"/>
|-
| Shelley Shannon || 59755-065 || Arson and attempted murder || Released 2018<ref name="wikipedia"/>
|}
 
Catherine Greig was the longtime companion of Boston organized-crime figure James "Whitey" Bulger. She pleaded guilty to helping him evade capture during his years as a fugitive.<ref name="wikipedia"/>
 
== Location and Visitation ==
 
FCI Waseca is located at 1000 University Drive SW, Waseca, MN 56093. Waseca is a small city in south-central Minnesota, in Waseca County. The prison is about 75 miles south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.<ref name="prisonprofessors"/><ref name="bop"/>
 
Visiting days, approved-visitor requirements, and mail rules are set by the Bureau of Prisons and posted on the facility's official page. Inmate mail is addressed to the inmate's committed name and register number at the Waseca post office box or street address listed by the Bureau. Visitors should confirm current hours and procedures before traveling.<ref name="bop"/>
 
== References ==
 
<references />
 
[[Category:Federal Prisons]]
[[Category:Low-Security Facilities]]
 
{{#seo:
|title=FCI Waseca — Low-Security Federal Women's Prison in Minnesota | Prisonpedia
|description=FCI Waseca is a low-security federal prison for women in Waseca, Minnesota. History, programs, notable inmates, location, and visitation details.
|type=Article
|site_name=Prisonpedia
|locale=en_US
|modified_time=2026-06-03
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{{MetaDescription|FCI Waseca is a low-security federal women's prison in Waseca, Minnesota. Overview, history, notable inmates, and visitation information on Prisonpedia.}}

Revision as of 14:19, 3 June 2026

Female
Gender
Low security
Security Level
Approximately 728 (2023)
Population (Nov. 2025)


Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca (FCI Waseca) is a low-security federal prison for women in Waseca, Minnesota. It is run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The prison sits about 75 miles south of Minneapolis. It held roughly 728 inmates in early 2023.[1][2]

Overview

FCI Waseca houses adult female offenders at the low-security level. The facility belongs to the Bureau's North Central Region. Inmates are assigned to housing units, and the prison operates the standard range of Bureau programs, including education, work assignments, and substance-abuse treatment.[2]

The prison offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program, known as RDAP. RDAP is a voluntary nine-month treatment program. Inmates who complete it may qualify for a sentence reduction of up to twelve months.[3]

A 2023 inspection by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General found the prison generally well run, with staff and inmates reporting that they felt safe. The same report flagged building problems. Some inmates were housed in basements. Beds in those areas sat close to pipes that leaked at times. Roofs across the institution were in disrepair and leaked. The report also noted heavy reliance on overtime due to correctional officer shortages.[1]

History

The Waseca site began as a college campus. The land and buildings once served as a University of Minnesota technical campus. In 1992 the property was converted into a federal prison, and many of the former college buildings were kept in use.[3][4]

FCI Waseca opened in 1995 as a facility for men. It operated that way for more than a decade. In 2008 the Bureau converted it into an all-female prison. Male inmates were transferred out, and the institution has held women since.[3][4]

The conversion to a women's facility came during a period when former Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling was briefly held at Waseca following his 2006 conviction. When the prison shifted to female inmates, Skilling and other male prisoners were moved to other Bureau facilities.[4]

Notable Inmates

Name Register Number Offense Status
Holly Ann Grigsby 42508-086 Murder Serving a life sentence[4]
Catherine Greig 57820-112 Harboring a fugitive, identity fraud Released July 2020[4]
Lisa Biron 12775-049 Child exploitation offenses Projected release 2047[4]
Shelley Shannon 59755-065 Arson and attempted murder Released 2018[4]

Catherine Greig was the longtime companion of Boston organized-crime figure James "Whitey" Bulger. She pleaded guilty to helping him evade capture during his years as a fugitive.[4]

Location and Visitation

FCI Waseca is located at 1000 University Drive SW, Waseca, MN 56093. Waseca is a small city in south-central Minnesota, in Waseca County. The prison is about 75 miles south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.[3][2]

Visiting days, approved-visitor requirements, and mail rules are set by the Bureau of Prisons and posted on the facility's official page. Inmate mail is addressed to the inmate's committed name and register number at the Waseca post office box or street address listed by the Bureau. Visitors should confirm current hours and procedures before traveling.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Inspection of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Federal Correctional Institution Waseca". U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "FCI Waseca". Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "FCI Waseca Prison Guide". Prison Professors. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-06-03.


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