The Lompoc federal penitentiary has started transitioning to housing lower-security inmates under a wider Bureau of Prisons change.

U.S. Penitentiary, Lompoc, which has been home to more than 900 medium-security inmates for approximately 20 years, has started receiving low-security prisoners.

“Populations are continuously changing throughout the Bureau of Prisons, and currently, our agency has the highest population pressure within our low-security populations.  The USP in Lompoc has an additional housing unit which could be utilized, based on specific design features, if it were housing low-security inmates,” BOP spokesman Scott Taylor said.

BOP representatives said they announced the change in March, but began the transition several months earlier when BOP discontinued use of low-security private prisons elsewhere.

That meant moving about 19,000 inmates into existing federal facilities across the nation.  

“Ultimately, this resulted in several medium-security institutions throughout the agency receiving low-security inmates,” Taylor added.

In the first wave, USP Lompoc received approximately 300 low-security inmates to house.  

“USP Lompoc will no longer receive medium-security inmates and will only receive low-security inmates moving forward,” Taylor said.

The security level for federal prisons ranges from minimum to low to medium to maximum to administrative.

The Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex actually includes two prisons plus a pair of satellite prison camps. 

USP, known as the big gray structure set off the road, was built in the 1940s by the military. 

The newer Federal Correctional Institution has approximately 960 low-security inmates. 

The Lompoc facility also has two satellite prison camps with more than 350 minimum-security inmates or those with the lowest level and most freedom. They often perform chores on prison grounds and must report back to the facility at designated times.

Razor-wire-topped fencing still surrounds low-security federal prisons, although the inmates typically don’t have the history of violence that comes with higher-level prisoners.

This isn’t the first switch at USP, which once held high-security inmates until an early 2000s change that saw most sent to a new federal prison featuring modern security measures in Victorville.

Despite the latest change, the facility’s name will continue to be USP, Lompoc, Taylor said. 

The new-to-Lompoc low-security inmates will come from other medium-security institutions. 

Additional low-security inmates will arrive directly from the courts as well as other BOP facilities through routine transfers and changes to their custody and classification. 

“There will be very limited impact on the required staffing throughout the complex,” Taylor said.

The switch won’t require physical changes to accommodate the new population, according to BOP representatives. 

“However, the staff will be utilizing the time during the transition when we experience a reduced population, to make needed repairs throughout the facility,” Taylor said.

Once the mission change is complete, the institution will be capable of housing more than 2,000 inmates while the capacity of FCI is 900. 

Of the 158,000 inmates across BOP, 35.4% are deemed low security with 14.5% being minimum security and medium security making up 34%. High-security inmates account for 12.5% and roughly 3.7% are unclassified or those yet to be assigned a security level.

Taylor said the Lompoc facilities continue working to add additional programming opportunities for the inmate population, including developing vocational training in culinary arts as well as a barista program. 

Lompoc FCC continues to seek employees for positions across the spectrum, including for correctional officers, as well as drug treatment specialists, teachers, secretaries, general maintenance, time and attendance clerks, skilled trades and several health care positions. 

A hiring event for the Lompoc federal prison complex will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Scott Williams Training Center, 403 Oakridge Road (off Santa Lucia Canyon Road) in Lompoc. 

Lompoc FCC is seeking to hire more than 70 correctional officers in addition to filling other slots. 

The opportunity to apply is open continuously for some positions. The salary range for correctional officers is $53,835 to $81,836, which does not include shift differential, overtime or holiday pay.

To apply for correctional officer and other vacancies, go to usajobs.gov. To learn of the many opportunities available, visit bop.gov. 

For specific job questions and hiring information, call or email the Human Resource Department at 805.737.5069 or send an email to LOX-HRSpecial-S@bop.gov.