FCI Safford (low-security)

FCI Safford is a low-security federal correctional institution for men in Safford, Arizona, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It held about 675 people as of November 2025. The institution's main number is 928-428-6600.

MALE

Gender

LOW

Security Level

675

Population (Nov. 2025)

RDAP

Location

Physical location: SAFFORD, AZ 85546

Mailing address: 1529 WEST HIGHWAY 366, SAFFORD, AZ 85546

Visitation

There are many specific rules and procedures to be aware of when you're considering visiting the institution. Read more on our Visitation Guide.

For full, current visiting rules and scheduling, always check the institution's official page on the Bureau of Prisons website: Official BOP Page.

Daily life and programs

The Federal Correctional Institution, Safford (FCI Safford) is a low-security U.S. federal prison for adult male inmates operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The compound sits in a high-desert setting near the foot of Mount Graham, located near Swift Trail Junction in Graham County, southeastern Arizona. It is situated roughly 7 miles south of the city of Safford, about 127 miles northeast of Tucson, and 165 miles east of Phoenix. FCI Safford is a standalone institution with no satellite prison camp attached, and it is entirely separate from the nearby state-run Arizona State Prison Complex, Safford, and the historic Fort Grant site. Reported population counts vary widely across sources, but the facility is generally described as holding roughly 830 low-security men. Inmates live in dormitory-style housing rather than traditional cells. This accommodation is commonly described as three housing units subdivided into six- to eight-person cubicles, a layout consistent with the open-movement design typical of low-security BOP institutions.

The Safford site has a long federal history that predates its current low-security designation. It began as a minimum-security facility, referred to historically as the Swift Trail Federal Prison Camp (Federal Prison Camp Safford), and is variously cited as opening in 1958 and in 1974. The site was subsequently converted or redesignated as the low-security Federal Correctional Institution. This conversion is most commonly reported around 1985, although the exact opening and conversion dates differ between sources. Because of that camp-era history, some figures often listed among Safford's notable inmates actually served at the minimum-security predecessor rather than the low-security FCI. Watergate figure John Ehrlichman, for example, was held at the Swift Trail minimum-security camp from October 1976 to April 1978. Former Oklahoma governor David Hall also served during the same pre-conversion camp era; therefore, both fall outside the low-security roster documented here.

At FCI Safford, all able-bodied inmates are required to work. The standard work day extends from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., although staggered shifts are utilized for details such as food service, laundry, recreation, and unit orderlies. A Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) factory operates on site, specializing in the production of textiles and clothing for government agencies. By employing a large share of the population, the factory provides one of the higher paying assignments, which is notable considering that most institutional jobs compensate individuals only in cents per hour. Education is equally treated as a core focus at the facility. Any inmate lacking a high school credential is required to enroll in the GED program, and the prison further provides instruction in English as a Second Language, Adult Continuing Education, and parenting classes. For those pursuing higher education, college coursework is available by correspondence or in a formal classroom setting through Eastern Arizona College. Additionally, vocational training has been offered in fields such as carpentry, HVAC, business, and retail sales.

FCI Safford facilitates substance-abuse treatment by operating the Bureau's Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Because it functions as an intensive residential track, this program can qualify eligible inmates for a sentence reduction, while the facility additionally provides a non-residential drug program and basic drug education classes. Inmates can independently access legal materials through the TRULINCS electronic law library, which features LexisNexis. Consistent with other low-security compounds, recreation centers on an outdoor space containing a track, sports fields, and basketball and handball or racquetball courts. The institution also provides indoor options like hobby and arts-and-crafts programs alongside cardio and weight machines, although current BOP policy prohibits the use of free weights. Inmates are permitted to supplement their institutional meals through the commissary, provided they remain within the Bureau's monthly spending cap. The facility itself drew national attention throughout 2022 and 2023 when it held Jacob Chansley, the 'QAnon Shaman' from the January 6 Capitol riot, until his final transfer to a halfway house.

Notable inmates

Name	Sentence	Offense	Dates
Jacob Chansley	41 months	The 'QAnon Shaman'; obstruction of an official proceeding in the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot	Held at FCI Safford from January 2022 until transfer to a halfway house in March 2023
Stephen Walter	210 months (17.5 years)	Distribution of fentanyl connected to the 2018 overdose death of rapper Mac Miller	Projected release c. 2035
Kevin Tubbs	About 12 years (151 months)	Arson in the Earth Liberation Front / Animal Liberation Front 'Operation Backfire' eco-sabotage conspiracy
Allen Pace		Masterminded the 1997 Dunbar Armored robbery, one of the largest cash robberies in U.S. history (about $18.9 million)
Lyle Jeffs	57 months	FLDS Church bishop; conspiracy to divert SNAP (food-stamp) benefits and fleeing while on house arrest
Dennis Alexio		Kickboxing champion; tax fraud, money laundering, and related charges
Karl F. Thompson Jr.		Former Spokane police officer convicted in the 2006 beating death of Otto Zehm (federal civil-rights violation)	Released July 2016