USDB HQ Leavenworth, KS

• Oldest U.S. Military Prison: The United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is the oldest military correctional facility in the United States, established in 1875. • Only Maximum-Security Military Prison: USDB is the Department of Defense’s only maximum-security prison for military male prisoners convicted at court-martial for serious offenses. • Historic Architecture: The original USDB, often called the "Castle," was a massive stone structure with imposing towers and walls. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 before being decommissioned in 2002. • Famous Inmates: The USDB has housed notable inmates, including Robert Bales (the Kandahar massacre), Nidal Hasan (the Fort Hood shooter), and Chelsea Manning (WikiLeaks source). • Renovation and Modernization: In 2002, the old "Castle" was replaced with a new $67.8 million, state-of-the-art facility about a mile away on Fort Leavenworth, designed for modern correctional standards. • Execution Chamber: USDB is home to the military’s only execution chamber. Since 1961, no military executions have occurred, but several inmates remain on military death row. • Capacity and Staffing: The new USDB can house up to about 515 prisoners and is staffed by several hundred military and civilian personnel. • Role of HQ: USDB HQ oversees daily operations, security, rehabilitation programs, and prisoner management, and it coordinates with other military and federal correctional agencies. • Historic Escapes and Riots: Over its history, the USDB has experienced famous escape attempts and riots, including a notorious 1919 riot that required military intervention to quell. • Women in the USDB: Although designed for males, a small number of women have been incarcerated at the USDB over the years, but most female military prisoners are housed at other facilities.