Brief History of the Federal Prison System
The United States federal prison system was formally established in 1891 with the passage of the Three Prisons Act. This legislation authorized the construction of three federal penitentiaries: United States Penitentiary (USP) Leavenworth in Kansas, USP Atlanta in Georgia, and McNeil Island in Washington State.
In 1930, Congress created the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) within the Department of Justice through Public Law No. 71-218, 46 Stat. 325. The Bureau is tasked with overseeing all federal correctional institutions, which at the time included 11 facilities. This marked a major step toward standardizing regulations and improving oversight of the federal prison system.
1891 – Congress passes the Three Prisons Act, creating USP Leavenworth, USP Atlanta, and McNeil Island as the first three federal prisons.
1902 – USP Atlanta opens after approval from President William McKinley, making it one of the oldest operating federal prisons.
1906 – USP Leavenworth is officially completed, and all prisoners are transferred to the new facility.
1930 – The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is established to regulate and manage federal correctional institutions.
1932 – USP Lewisburg opens as the first penitentiary built under direct BOP oversight, introducing a modern approach to security classification.
1933 – The Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri, becomes the first federal prison hospital, partnering with the U.S. Public Health Service.
1934 – Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) is established to provide vocational training and work opportunities for inmates.
1934 – USP Alcatraz opens as the first maximum-security federal prison, designed to house violent and escape-prone inmates.
1940 – The federal prison system expands to 24 institutions, housing over 24,000 inmates and introducing formal inmate classification policies.
1971 – Attica Prison Riot brings national attention to prison conditions.
1974 – National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is founded to improve corrections through training and reform.
1984 – Comprehensive Crime Control Act which eliminated parole for federal inmates, instituting mandatory minimum sentences, and reintroducing the federal death penalty. It also established the U.S. Sentencing Commission to create uniform sentencing guidelines.
1994 – Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act which expanded federal correctional facilities and provided funding for state prison construction through the Truth-in-Sentencing initiative, which required inmates to serve a higher percentage of their sentences before becoming eligible for release.
1997 – The National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act transfers responsibility for adult felons convicted under D.C. law to BOP.
2018 – First Step Act reform aimed to reduce recidivism by expanding rehabilitative programs, modifying sentencing laws for certain nonviolent offenses, and improving conditions within federal prisons. It included provisions for earned time credits, allowing eligible inmates to transition to prerelease custody earlier.
2023 – Federal Prison Oversight Act increased oversight of the Bureau of Prisons by requiring risk-based inspections of federal facilities.
