People charged with or convicted of federal crimes in Southern California are often sent to the Federal Correctional Complex in Victorville.
Located in the High Desert north of San Bernardino, the complex includes several separate facilities:
- United States Penitentiary (USP Victorville)
- Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium I
- Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium II
FCC Victorville includes three principal male institutions and a minimum-security women’s camp. The BOP directory distinguishes USP Victorville, FCI Victorville Medium I and FCI Victorville Medium II. Confirm the institution and camp designation, rather than relying on the complex name alone.
The address for the Victorville Federal Correctional Complex is:
USP / FCI Victorville
13777 Air Expressway Blvd.
Victorville, CA 92394
(760) 530-5000
Driving directions: Google Maps
How do I post bail for someone at Victorville Federal Prison?
If a defendant is being held at Victorville before trial, bail must be arranged through the U.S. District Court, not at the prison itself.
A federal judge decides whether bail will be granted at the initial appearance or a detention hearing.
For pretrial release, the court’s order determines whether a deposit, surety documents or nonfinancial conditions are required. Federal release does not universally require full cash bail. Someone serving a federal sentence needs a different release or postconviction analysis.
How to post cash bail
If the order requires a cash deposit, follow the issuing district’s payment instructions and bring the case number and required identification. An unsecured appearance bond does not require paying its stated face amount. Any return of deposited funds depends on the court’s exoneration, forfeiture or other order.
Bring a valid photo ID and the defendant’s full name and case number.
If all court appearances are met, the money is returned after the case concludes minus any applicable fees. If the defendant fails to appear, the bail is forfeited.
How to post bail with a cashier’s check or money order
You can also pay bail by cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court.
Be sure to include the defendant’s name and case number.
Funds must clear before the defendant can be released.
How to pay bail with a bail bond
A corporate surety may be used only when the court accepts that form of security. Any premium, collateral and indemnity obligation depend on the approved agreement; do not assume a universal 10% cap or automatic acceptance.
If the defendant fails to appear, you or the bondsman will be responsible for the entire amount.
Once bail is posted and the court orders release, the U.S. Marshals will notify Victorville. Release from the facility typically follows after processing is completed.
How do I look up an inmate’s information?
The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides a free online Inmate Locator. You can search by the inmate’s full name or BOP register number to see their current location, projected release date, and custody status.
You can also call the Victorville facility at (760) 530-5000 during normal business hours to confirm whether an individual is housed there.
For details about charges, bail, or upcoming hearings, you will need to contact the federal court handling the case.
How do I contact someone who is being held at Victorville Federal Prison?
Inmates at Victorville cannot receive incoming personal phone calls. They can make outgoing calls through a monitored phone system using collect calls or funds from their commissary account.
Sending money
You can send money for calls or commissary by:
- Using MoneyGram or Western Union’s offender payment service (requires the inmate’s BOP register number and committed name), or
- Mailing a cashier’s check or money order to the designated BOP deposit address.
Verify the correct committed name and register number and retain the receipt. Posting time and availability depend on BOP and the payment method; do not promise that funds will be usable within a few hours.
Sending mail
Use the specific institution’s inmate-mail destination and camp designation from its current BOP page. The physical street address and a placeholder P.O. box are not sufficient mailing instructions.
Incarcerated person’s full committed name and eight-digit register number
Exact institution and camp designation
Current inmate-mail address from the relevant BOP facility page
Include the inmate’s register number on all correspondence. Do not send prohibited items.
Victorville inmates have access to the BOP’s TRULINCS email system. Friends and family must be approved before exchanging messages.
Visiting
Visitation at the Victorville complex is allowed on scheduled days and times. Visitors must be approved and present valid photo ID.
Schedules vary by facility (USP vs. FCI), so call ahead to confirm visiting hours before you travel.
How to get help for someone in custody
Federal cases are often more complex and carry harsher penalties than state charges. A skilled defense attorney can guide you through federal bail procedures, protect the defendant’s rights, and build a strong defense.
Robert M. Helfend has practiced criminal defense since 1984. His active State Bar record and Super Lawyers selection for 2020 through 2023 provide independently checkable professional information. Call 800-834-6434 for a free consultation.
Which Victorville facility should you contact?
| Facility | Official institution page |
|---|---|
| USP Victorville | USP directory, visiting and mail |
| FCI Victorville Medium I | Medium I directory, visiting and mail |
| FCI Victorville Medium II | Medium II directory, visiting and mail |
The women’s camp is part of the complex; BOP’s April 2025 report describes female camp residents attending community college. A common physical campus does not mean all units share a visiting schedule or inmate-mail address.
For a legal consultation, identify whether the person is awaiting a hearing, awaiting designation, or serving a sentence. Keep the register number, case number, judgment and current court orders together; the BOP locator is not a substitute for the court docket.
Sources and legal standards
- BOP Victorville complex directory
- BOP communication and deposits
- BOP inmate locator
- Central District bond postings
Legal information checked October 10, 2026. The charge, evidence and applicable version of the law control the analysis of an individual case.
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