FCI Safford is a low-security federal prison for male inmates located in Swift Trail Junction, Arizona, in the southeastern part of the state near the town of Safford. Its roots go back to 1974, when it started out as a more minimum-security federal prison camp before being redeveloped into the low-security institution it is today in 1985. That shift was part of a broader effort by the Bureau of Prisons at the time to expand capacity in Arizona and ease overcrowding affecting the state's correctional system. Compared to some of the larger or more historically notable federal prisons, Safford has kept a relatively low profile over the decades, functioning as a steady, mid-sized facility rather than one associated with major events or famous inmates. Its desert setting in the foothills of southeastern Arizona means it's somewhat removed from major metro areas, worth keeping in mind for families planning visits, since travel from Phoenix or Tucson takes a couple of hours. Overall, it represents a fairly typical example of the smaller low-security institutions the Bureau built or converted during the 1970s and 80s expansion era.