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Federal Prison That Once Housed Capone and Manson to Close Due to Crumbling Infrastructure
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has announced the suspension of operations at the Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, citing serious safety concerns over deteriorating infrastructure. The low-security prison south of Los Angeles, which currently houses nearly 1,000 inmates, will temporarily close as chunks of concrete falling from tunnel ceilings threaten the facility’s steam heating system.
Bureau Director William K. Marshall III informed staff of the decision on Tuesday in an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press. “We are not going to wait for a crisis,” Marshall wrote. “We are not going to gamble with lives. And we are not going to expect people to work or live in conditions that we would never accept for ourselves.”
The 86-year-old facility, which opened in 1938, has a storied history as the former home to notorious criminals including Al Capone and Charles Manson. Its current inmates include high-profile figures such as cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried and disgraced celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti.
According to Bureau spokesperson Randilee Giamusso, inmates will be transferred to other federal prisons, with priority given to keeping them “as close as possible to their anticipated release locations.” The relocation process is expected to take several weeks, after which officials will further assess the facility’s future.
The closure highlights the mounting infrastructure challenges facing the federal prison system. An architectural and engineering firm contracted by the Bureau identified more than $110 million in critical repairs needed at Terminal Island over the next two decades. This assessment was completed just months ago, in April 2024.
Terminal Island is the latest casualty in a series of facility closures as the agency grapples with a $3 billion repair backlog across its national network of prisons. In December 2024, the Bureau idled six prison camps and permanently shut down a women’s prison in Dublin, California, infamously known as the “rape club” due to widespread sexual abuse by staff including the warden.
The deteriorating conditions at federal prisons extend well beyond Terminal Island. In February, a Bureau official testified to Congress that approximately 4,000 beds across various facilities were unusable due to dangerous conditions including leaking roofs, mold, asbestos, and lead contamination.
This latest closure mirrors the 2021 shutdown of the federal jail in Manhattan, which faced similar infrastructure challenges. The pattern of closures reflects the complex financial and logistical challenges facing the Bureau of Prisons, which operates 122 facilities housing approximately 155,000 inmates with an annual budget exceeding $8.5 billion.
Paradoxically, even as facilities close due to disrepair, the agency is simultaneously expanding in other areas. Construction continues on a new prison in Kentucky, and at President Trump’s direction, officials are exploring the possibility of reopening Alcatraz, the notorious San Francisco Bay penitentiary that hasn’t housed inmates in more than 60 years. Marshall, his deputy, and Attorney General Pam Bondi visited the site in July, though no concrete plans have emerged in the four months since.
Beyond crumbling infrastructure, the Bureau faces severe staffing shortages that have forced it to rely on prison nurses, teachers, and other non-security staff to guard inmates. These staffing issues have worsened recently, partly due to a hiring freeze and aggressive recruitment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has lured correctional officers away with signing bonuses of up to $50,000.
Labor relations within the agency have also deteriorated. In September, Marshall announced the cancellation of the Bureau’s collective bargaining agreement with workers, claiming their union had become “an obstacle to progress instead of a partner in it.” The Council of Prison Locals has filed a lawsuit challenging this move as “arbitrary and capricious.”
An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered significant systemic issues within the Bureau, including widespread sexual abuse, criminal activity by employees, multiple escapes, and the trafficking of contraband such as guns and drugs.
As Terminal Island prepares to transfer its inmates, the future of the historic facility remains uncertain, reflecting the broader challenges facing America’s federal prison system.
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9 Comments
Falling concrete poses a major safety hazard. Kudos to the Bureau of Prisons for taking a proactive approach to address the problem before a crisis occurs. Hopefully, the repairs can be completed quickly and efficiently.
Prisons with aging infrastructure are a concern across the country. I’m glad the Bureau of Prisons is taking the safety of inmates and staff seriously by temporarily closing this facility. Hopefully, the needed renovations can be done in a timely manner.
Aging prison infrastructure is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Safety should be the top priority, even if it means temporarily closing a facility. I hope the inmates can be transferred to other suitable prisons during the repairs.
The closure of this historic prison is certainly a significant event. I hope the inmates can be transferred to other suitable facilities without major disruptions. Maintaining aging correctional infrastructure is an ongoing challenge for authorities.
It’s unfortunate that this historic prison is having to close due to crumbling infrastructure. Maintaining aging correctional facilities is an ongoing challenge for authorities. I wonder what the long-term plan is for this site once the repairs are complete.
The closure of this prison is an important safety decision, even if it’s disruptive in the short term. I hope the inmates can be transferred to other suitable facilities without major issues. Maintaining aging correctional infrastructure is an ongoing challenge.
It’s concerning to hear about the deteriorating conditions at this prison. I hope the necessary repairs can be completed as soon as possible to ensure the safety of both inmates and staff.
Crumbling infrastructure is a major issue for many aging prisons. I’m glad the Bureau of Prisons is taking proactive steps to address the problem at this facility before a serious incident occurs.
This is a difficult but necessary decision by the Bureau of Prisons. Maintaining aging correctional facilities is an ongoing challenge, and I’m glad they are prioritizing safety over keeping the prison open.