A federal prison is operated under the jurisdiction of a federal government as opposed to a state or provincial body. Federal prisons are used for convicts who violated federal law (U.S., Mexico), inmates considered dangerous (Brazil), or those sentenced to longer terms of imprisonment (Canada). Not all federated countries have a legal concept of "federal prison".

The Federal Bureau of Prisons classifies prisons into several categories:

• United States Penitentiaries
• Federal Correctional Institutions
• Federal Prison Camps
• Administrative Facilities
• Federal Correctional Complexes