The Fort Dodge Correctional Facility is a medium security institution located on 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The institution has 1,250 beds, and as of July 30, 2010, it has 1,233[1] inmates (1,162 at capacity) and another 75 in segregation. About 372 people are employed by the institution.
The Fort Dodge facility is based on a campus model, with administration and treatment buildings, five living units, and support structures - such as warehouse and power plant buildings. The living areas are divided into units to provide easier supervision and control of inmates. A double fence with electronic detection provides perimeter security.
The facility offers a highly structured program called the Rivers Program that helps inmates to adjust to life and employment outside the correctional system. Treatment programs are offered for inmates with such needs. Inmates are assigned to a variety of jobs, which also include private sector jobs offered through a prison industries program located within the institution.
Fort Dodge is based mostly on its youthful offenders programs. The average inmate age of this prison is 22 years old. With the very young age of inmates at this facility there are often multiple fights a day, earning Fort Dodge Correctional Facility the nickname "Gladiator Camp"