FULTON RECEPTION AND DIAG CTR

The **Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (FRDC)** is a specialized facility located in Fulton, Missouri, operated by the Missouri Department of Corrections. Unlike a traditional educational institution, its primary purpose is to serve as the initial entry point for adult male offenders entering the Missouri state prison system. Upon arrival, incarcerated individuals undergo an intensive diagnostic process that evaluates their security risk, medical and mental health needs, and educational background to determine their permanent housing assignment within the state’s correctional network.

While the facility focuses heavily on intake and assessment, it provides essential diagnostic services that inform the individual's future rehabilitative path. During their stay, residents are assessed for educational attainment and vocational aptitude, which helps officials decide on appropriate programming, such as GED preparation or technical training, to be pursued once the individual is transferred to a long-term correctional facility. The center functions as a critical processing hub, ensuring that the state's prison population is correctly classified and placed in environments that match their specific needs and custody levels.