Federal Detention Center SeaTac Overview
Federal Detention Center SeaTac, often written as FDC SeaTac, is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at 2425 South 200th Street, SeaTac, WA 98198. The phone number in the research file is 206-870-5700. It is an administrative security federal detention center, not a King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention facility.
FDC SeaTac houses male and female federal detainees. The research describes federal pretrial, holdover, immigration-linked federal custody, and some short-term sentenced federal custody connected to federal agencies and the Western District of Washington. A person held here may have been arrested in King County, but the controlling custody system is federal. That is why the BOP Inmate Locator is the correct search tool.
The BOP FDC SeaTac facility page is the matching source for the facility image below.
The image points to the agency that controls the facility: BOP rules govern federal lookup, visits, mail, money, and release information for FDC SeaTac.
Federal Detention Center SeaTac Capacity and Population
The strongest sourced capacity figure in the research is from the U.S. DOJ Office of the Inspector General's 2025 inspection report. That report cited FDC SeaTac's rated capacity as 1,004 inmates. King County DAJD population reports should not be used as FDC SeaTac figures because they cover local adult secure detention and alternatives, not federal BOP detention.
How to Look Up an Inmate at Federal Detention Center SeaTac
Use the BOP Inmate Locator for federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to present. Do not use the King County Subject Lookup Tool as the primary search for FDC SeaTac custody. The county roster is for King County DAJD custody, while the BOP locator searches federal inmate records.
The BOP locator is also different from Washington DOC search. DOC covers sentenced state prisoners in Washington's correctional system; BOP covers federal custody. A King County arrest can lead to either system only after the underlying case path changes. County pretrial custody, state prison custody, and federal detention should be checked through their own official tools.
- Open the official BOP Inmate Locator.
- Search by number if you have a BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, or INS Number. A BOP register number uses the format #####-###.
- Search by name if you do not have a number. BOP name search uses first and last name, with optional middle name, race, age, and sex filters.
- Review the result columns for name, register number, age, race, sex, release date, and location, then confirm whether the listed location is FDC SeaTac.
BOP warns that release dates may change because sentences are reviewed or recalculated, including under First Step Act review. A status such as Released or Not in BOP Custody can also mean the person is in another system. If the person does not appear in BOP, check county, city, state DOC, ICE, or court records based on the case path.
Search results should be read narrowly. A BOP location result shows federal custody information, not the complete criminal case record, prosecutor filing, or local arrest history. To track the case itself, use federal court records and the U.S. Attorney or court channels that apply to the Western District of Washington.
The BOP locator page is also represented in the federal locator image below.
This locator is the central public search channel for federal custody at FDC SeaTac and other BOP facilities.
Federal Detention Center SeaTac Address and Contact
Contact FDC SeaTac or BOP for federal facility questions. King County DAJD cannot confirm BOP housing, federal release dates, federal mail rules, or federal visitation status unless a separate county custody event exists.
Federal Detention Center SeaTac
2425 South 200th Street
SeaTac, WA 98198
206-870-5700
BOP administrative security federal detention center.
Visiting Someone at Federal Detention Center SeaTac
FDC SeaTac visitation follows federal BOP rules, not King County adult-jail, Kent city jail, or SCORE rules. The research file does not provide a captured public visiting schedule table for this facility, so visitors should confirm current visiting days, approval requirements, identification rules, dress standards, and any operational restrictions through the BOP facility page or by calling FDC SeaTac before travel.
| Visit Topic | Federal Facility Step | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | Follow BOP visitor approval and scheduling rules. | Federal facilities commonly require approval before visits. |
| Schedule | Confirm with FDC SeaTac before travel. | Schedules can change for federal operations or housing status. |
| Identification | Bring valid government-issued photo ID. | Entry is controlled by federal facility staff. |
| Custody status | Check BOP location first. | Federal transfers may move a person outside King County. |
Mail, Phone, and Money at Federal Detention Center SeaTac
Mail, money, and communications at FDC SeaTac follow BOP systems. Do not send federal inmate mail to King County's Securus Digital Mail Center, Kent city jail, or SCORE unless the person has been transferred into one of those systems. Use the BOP facility page and BOP inmate register information to confirm the required address format before mailing anything.
Federal detainees and sentenced inmates are also different from King County jail residents for public mugshot purposes. BOP locator results publish identity, register number, age, race, sex, release date, and location. The research does not support describing BOP as a federal mugshot gallery.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | Use BOP's current FDC SeaTac inmate mail format and register number. |
| Phone / Visits | Federal BOP rules and facility approval apply. |
| Money Deposit | Use BOP-approved deposit channels after confirming the register number. |
Federal Intake and Custody at FDC SeaTac
FDC SeaTac receives federal detainees and inmates through federal custody channels. A person arrested in King County may first appear in a local jail record if booked locally, but a federal case can place the person under U.S. Marshals or BOP custody. The research identifies the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington at 700 Stewart Street, Suite 5220, Seattle, WA 98101-1271, phone 206-553-7970. Federal cases in Seattle or Tacoma may result in custody at FDC SeaTac or another federal or contract facility.
Immigration custody should also be handled carefully. ICE's Online Detainee Locator System is a separate JavaScript search app at locator.ice.gov/odls, and it is used for immigration detainees. The research did not locate a dedicated ICE detention facility in King County. Do not tell readers to use the county roster for ICE-only custody.
Federal holds and transfers can make custody status look inconsistent across systems. A person may leave King County DAJD custody, appear later in BOP, or show no longer in BOP custody after transfer or release to another authority. When records conflict, rely on the current holding agency first and then confirm court status through the court of record.
For King County families, the most reliable practical clue is the case forum. A Seattle or Tacoma federal court matter, a U.S. Marshals hold, or a federal agency arrest points toward BOP or federal court records. A Seattle, Kent, or south county municipal arrest points first to local jail systems. A felony sentence over local jail time may point to Washington DOC after transfer. Matching the case forum to the custody system saves time and reduces false negatives.
About Federal Detention Center SeaTac
FDC SeaTac is the federal facility physically located in King County, which makes it a frequent source of confusion in local inmate searches. A King County arrest, federal indictment, U.S. Marshals hold, or immigration-linked federal custody can move a person across systems. The best search starts with the agency that currently holds the person: King County DAJD for KCCF and MRJC, Kent JILS for Kent city jail, SCORE for regional municipal custody, Washington DOC for state prison, and BOP for FDC SeaTac.
The DOJ OIG 2025 inspection is relevant federal oversight context for FDC SeaTac. The research notes that the inspection cited the rated capacity of 1,004 and identified staffing or coverage concerns. Use official OIG and BOP sources for facility conditions and avoid treating local jail population reports as federal inspection material.
Public-record expectations are also different. Local jail booking records may be requested through local public-records processes, while federal facility records are controlled by federal agencies and federal disclosure rules. BOP public lookup fields are limited, and federal agencies generally do not publish mugshots through a local-style jail roster. For a local booking photo, check the local booking agency. For federal custody confirmation, use BOP.
Note: Confirm BOP location, visiting status, and release information with federal sources before travel or deposits.