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About UNICOR

Federal Prison Industries

The Federal Prison Industries program (now operating under the trade name UNICOR) was established in 1934 by an Executive Order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On January 1, 1935, FPI officially began operations as a wholly-owned corporation of the United States Government. More than eighty-seven years after its establishment, the program continues to operates at no cost to taxpayers and benefits communities across the Nation creating safer prisons and reducing inmate recidivism.

In the words of Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger, "We must accept the reality that to confine offenders behind walls without trying to change them is an expensive folly with short term benefits - winning the battles while losing the war."

UNICOR Mission Statement

The mission of Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI) is to protect society and reduce crime by preparing inmates with job training and practical work skills for reentry success.

UNICOR's Vision

  • UNICOR restores lives by being a thriving corrections program that provides marketable skills and qualifications for inmates to succeed as productive citizens in our communities.
  • We are a diverse, team-based organization where collaboration and respect for the capabilities of all staff and inmates is valued through work that is fulfilling.
  • We deliver a competitive advantage in quality, on-time delivery, service, and cost in an innovative and safe environment that makes us the preferred supplier to our customers.

Strategic Goals

  • Objective 1 – Maintain and develop meaningful work and job training opportunities to prepare inmates to become law-abiding citizens.
  • Objective 2 – Ensure the corporation remains financially self-sustaining.
  • Objective 3 – Prepare our staff to assume positions of greater responsibility by providing quality training and developmental opportunities.