FCI Oxford
Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford (FCI Oxford) is a low-security federal prison for male inmates in Oxford, Wisconsin. The Federal Bureau of Prisons, which operates it, is part of the United States Department of Justice. You'll find the facility in Adams County, roughly 60 miles north of Madison. It opened in 1973 and has held some notable prisoners over the years, including former Illinois Governor George Ryan and ex-Congressman Dan Rostenkowski.
Overview
This low-security facility houses male offenders exclusively. As of December 2025, roughly 1,050 inmates are incarcerated here. The main prison contains one- and two-person cells spread across four separate housing units. An adjacent minimum-security satellite camp used to operate here. It closed in 2024.
The North Central Region of the Bureau of Prisons includes this institution, which falls within Wisconsin's Western District. Being near major Midwest population centers, especially Chicago (about 180 miles away), has made it a common placement for white-collar criminals and political figures from Illinois over its history.
History
Establishment and Early Years
Oxford opened its doors in 1973 as a federal correctional institution. The Bureau of Prisons created it to handle capacity needs across the Midwest.
Satellite Camp Addition
A minimum-security satellite camp opened adjacent to the main facility in 1985. It held approximately 80 to 100 male inmates and served dual purposes: it provided labor support to the main institution and ran off-site work programs.
Mission Change (2023)
On June 21, 2023, everything shifted. The Bureau of Prisons announced FCI Oxford would change from medium-security to low-security status. Under BOP Director Colette Peters, this reclassification aimed to:
- Reduce the Bureau's critical shortage of low-security beds
- Support the First Step Act by placing individuals closer to their eventual release communities (within 500 miles)
- Help people reintegrate successfully after their time inside
This wasn't the first facility to make the switch. FCI Memphis, FCI Estill, and FCI Estill Satellite Camp had already gone through it. Oxford was the fourth.
Satellite Camp Closure (2024)
By June 2024, the Bureau of Prisons shut down the satellite camp. They were dealing with severe staffing shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, and tight budgets. Inmates got transferred elsewhere. Staff members moved to the main institution instead. The main prison kept running without interruption.
Programs and Services
Drug Treatment Programs
Several substance abuse treatment options exist at FCI Oxford:
- Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) - a nine-month intensive program offering up to 12 months off sentences
- Drug Abuse Education Program
- Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Educational Programs
The facility offers a wide range of educational opportunities. Inmates can pursue literacy programs, GED prep and testing, English-as-a-Second Language courses, Adult Continuing Education classes, parenting education, high school diplomas, and post-secondary correspondence courses.
The TRULINCS Electronic Law Library sits in the Education Department. Prisoners access legal resources there for case research and document preparation.
Vocational Training
Job training programs and apprenticeships are available here:
- Certified Production Technician
- Culinary Arts
- Carpentry apprenticeship
- Dental Assistant apprenticeship
- Maintenance Repair (formerly at camp)
- Painting (formerly at camp)
- Stationary Engineering (formerly at camp)
- Wastewater Treatment (formerly at camp)
- Welding (formerly at camp)
Mental Health Services
Every inmate gets evaluated. A psychologist conducts an intake interview for each person. What's available after that includes:
- Crisis intervention and suicide prevention, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Individual counseling for family issues, interpersonal problems, adjustment difficulties, or personal matters
- Educational and therapeutic groups covering stress management and anger management
Health Services
Medical and dental care covers routine exams, emergency treatment, and medication management. Inmates submit a triage form for routine visits. Emergency care is available through any staff member at any time.
Notable Inmates
Several high-profile prisoners have served time at Oxford, many of them politicians and public figures from the Chicago region:
| Name | Offense | Sentence | Dates at FCI Oxford | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Ryan | Racketeering, bribery, fraud, tax fraud | 6.5 years | November 2007 - February 2008 | Former Illinois Governor (1999-2003). Transferred to FCI Terre Haute after Oxford stopped accepting inmates over 70. Released July 2013. Died May 2025. |
| Dan Rostenkowski | Mail fraud | 17 months | 1996-1997 | Former U.S. Congressman (D-IL), Chairman of House Ways and Means Committee. President Clinton pardoned him in 2000. He later joked about getting "my Oxford education." |
| George Papadopoulos | Making false statements to FBI | 14 days | November 26 - December 7, 2018 | Former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser. President Trump pardoned him in December 2020. |
| Jesus Cortez Zambrano | Murder | 27 years | Current | Currently serving a lengthy sentence for murder conviction. |
Notes from Alumni
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Keep in mind that everyone's experience is different and conditions may have changed since someone was incarcerated.
Location & Visitation
Contact Information
| Type | Information |
|---|---|
| Phone | 608-584-5511 |
| Fax | 608-584-6314 |
| [email protected] |
Location
Physical Address:
- FCI Oxford
- County Road G & Elk Avenue
- Oxford, WI 53952
Mailing Address (Inmates):
- Inmate Name, Register Number
- FCI Oxford
- P.O. Box 1000
- Oxford, WI 53952
You'll find FCI Oxford in Adams County in central Wisconsin. It's about 60 miles north of Madison and roughly 180 miles northwest of Chicago. Interstate 39 gets you there. Just exit at County Road G.
Visitation
Visiting Hours:
- Saturday, Sunday, and Federal Holidays: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Friday: 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Visits can run up to five hours. It depends on when you arrive and how full the facility is that day. All visitors need pre-approval before they can see an inmate during visiting hours.
Specific rules and procedures apply when visiting. Check out our Visitation Guide for the details.
For the most current visiting rules and to schedule a visit, consult the institution's official page on the Bureau of Prisons website: Official BOP Page.
Sending Money
Important: Don't send money directly to inmates at the prison address. All funds sent by mail go through a Federal Bureau of Prisons processing center instead:
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Inmate Name, Register Number
- P.O. Box 474701
- Des Moines, IA 50947-0001
See Also
- Index of Federal Prison Facilities
- Bureau of Prisons Classification Methods
- Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
- First Step Act
- Visiting Policies and Procedures
- Self-Surrender Procedures
- George Ryan
- Mail Fraud
References
- Bureau of Prisons - FCI Oxford Official Page
- BOP News: FCI Oxford Mission Change Announcement (June 2023)
- WPR: Satellite Camp Closure Announcement