The United States Penitentiary in Atwater has the “Challenge Unit,” which is incredibly helpful to inmates who want to avoid problems in a high-security penitentiary. I’ve visited the Challenge Unit several times. Warden Matevousian purchased a program I created to help more people in prison prepare for success. It’s called the Earning Freedom Mastermind Course. I enjoy visiting USP Atwater to help. Also, I have a personal experience with the penitentiary, because when I concluded my journey through federal prison, I was at USP Atwater–but I was in the adjacent minimum-security camp. I highly recommend the federal prison camp in Atwater for people convicted of white-collar crimes or anyone with points that are low enough for placement in minimum security federal prison camps.
General Details
Security Level: Low Security
Inmate Gender: Male Offenders
Total Population Capacity: 1,188
Total Capacity at the Camp: 132
Total Population as of May 15, 2018: 121
Physical Address
1 FEDERAL WAY ATWATER
MERCED, CA 95301
United States
Contact Information
Phone: 209-386-0257
Email: ATW/ExecAssistant@bop.gov
How to send things here
Freight and non-USPS parcels
- [STAFF NAME]
ATWATER USP
U.S. Penitentiary
1 FEDERAL WAY
ATWATER, CA 95301
Inmate Mail
- [INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER]
ATWATER USP
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. BOX 019001
ATWATER, CA 95301
Inmate Money
- Do NOT send money to an inmate using this facility’s address. All funds sent through the mail must be addressed to a processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. This applies to all Federal inmates, regardless of where they are incarcerated.
Staff Mail
- [STAFF NAME]
ATWATER USP
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. BOX 019001
ATWATER, CA 95301
Visiting Schedule
FCI General Visiting Hours*
Sunday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Federal Holiday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
FCI CAMP Visiting Hours*