Herlong Federal Correctional Institution

Opened in 2007, Herlong Federal Correctional Institution is a medium security institution with a minimum security prison camp.  The facility is located in Herlong of Lassen County, California.  FCI Herlong is 1 of 3 prisons located in Lassen County.  The prison is home to 986 prisoners.  Only male offenders are housed at the facilities, with 877 inmates at the FCI and 109 inmates at the Camp.  The FCI is designed to hold up to 1,152 prisoners and the Camp is designed to house just 137 prisoners.  There are 3 separate housing units at the main facility.  Each of these 3 housing units are 2 stories high and divided into 4 pods.  With a capacity of 180 offenders, the Special Housing Unit is separate from the other housing units.  The Camp has dormitory-style housing with double-bunking.  The Camp is not encompassed by a fence like the FCI is.  

At Herlong Federal Correctional Institution, inmates are encouraged to develop new skills and become law abiding citizens through the use of the Inmate Skills Development System (ISDS).  In addition, prisoners are also expected to participate in educational programs and recreational activities.  FCI Herlong offers a variety of programs, including spiritual activities.  The Education Department offers courses such as General Education Development, English as a Second Language, Parenting Program, Post-Secondary Education, Vocational Training, and Adult Continuing Education.  Vocational Programs include carpentry, welding, and computers.  Apprenticeships are also available to the offenders.  Inmates can take on apprenticeships as dental assistants, electricians, plumbers, welders, and more.  The Recreation Department is responsible for providing the inmates with wellness education, crafts, and other leisure activities.  A Residential Drug Abuse Program is also available, along with the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program and Drug Education classes.  At FCI Herlong, inmates have the opportunity to take on all these courses, including many more offered by other departments such as the Psychology Department and Religious Services.

In 2009, the FBI and IRS carried out a joint investigation and discovered a scheme where inmates were filling out false tax returns for other inmates at the FCI.  The men behind the scheme were Scott Whitney, Diego Paucar and Erik Alexander.  These inmates filled out false tax returns for their fellow prisoners and were requesting refunds.  To carry out the scheme, the 3 co-conspirators were making false W-2 forms and using the names of actual employers, despite the fact none of the inmates actually worked for these employers.  Luckily, the IRS got to the bottom of the conspirators' plans before any refunds were paid.  If the plan had been successful, Whitney, Paucar, and Alexander would have acquired $93,950 from the IRS.  The conspirators pleaded guilty and had time added to their original sentences.

Several notable inmates have served time at FCI Herlong as well.  For example, Tre Arrow was released from the FCI is 2009.  Arrow was a member of an ecoterrorist group known as Earth Liberation Front.  Arrow was also formerly part of FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive list.  Arrow served 5 years in Canada and then 5 years at FCI Herlong after pleading guilty to arson after lighting cement and logging trucks on fire in Oregon in 2001. 

Visiting Hours at Herlong Federal Correctional Institution:

• Visiting to Herlong Federal Correctional Institution is conducted on weekends and holidays.  Approved visitors can visit an inmate at the FCI or Camp on these days between 8:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. 
• Visits to prisoners who are a part of the Special Housing Unit take place on Fridays only.  Visiting hours are from 8:00 A.M until 3:00 P.M.  These visits cannot last any more than 4 hours.
• An offender can have up to 5 visitors at once, excluding anyone under the age of 16.
• There is a children's area in the visiting room for all children ages 5 - 12.  Inmates are not permitted in this area and all children should be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• The visiting room has a maximum capacity of 255 people.  When the number of people in the room approaches 255, visits may be terminated to take care of overcrowding and allow new visitors.
• If a visitor leaves the visiting area, they will not be allowed to re-enter the facility for visitation again that day.
• The following items are permitted in the visiting room:
  • Handkerchief
  • Comb
  • Coins or up to $25.00 in one-dollar and five-dollar bill denominations
  • A clear change purse no larger than 8" x 8"
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Reasonable amounts of jewelry
  • Identification cards
  • Life supporting medications
• If a visitor is carrying an infant, the following items are permitted in the facility:
  • Clear diaper bag
  • Up to 6 unopened containers of baby food or formula
  • Up to 6 empty plastic bottles
  • Up to 6 diapers
  • Baby wipes

Physical Address:

Herlong Federal Correctional Institution
741-925 Access Road A-25
Herlong, California 96113

Telephone:

(530)-827-8000

Inmate Mailing Address:

Mailing address for the FCI:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Herlong Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 800
Herlong, California 96113

Mailing address for the Camp:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Herlong Federal Correctional Institution Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 800
Herlong, California 96113