45 Prisons in California – Stats, Locations, and Reputations

California has one of the largest prison systems in the United States, with a population of over 110,000 inmates. The state’s correctional system has been the subject of much scrutiny and debate over the years, as it has struggled to balance issues such as overcrowding, rehabilitation, and recidivism.

Despite various reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the system, California’s prisons continue to face a range of challenges, including issues related to healthcare, mental health treatment, and prison violence.

California Prison Map

Use the California prison map below to locate any facility. Click on the map markers to read our detailed guide of that facility.

State Prisons

Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Level	Gender	Operator/ Manager
Avenal State Prison	Avenal, Kings County	N/A	Level II	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California City Correctional Facility	California	2,304	Level II	Male	CoreCivic (Owned), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Operated)
California Correctional Center	Susanville, Northern California	N/A	Minimum Security	N/A	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Correctional Institution	Tehachapi, California	4,000+	Supermax	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Health Care Facility	Stockton, California	3,000+	N/A	N/A	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Institution for Men	Chino, San Bernardino County, California	N/A	Multiple	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Institution for Women	Chino, San Bernardino County, California	N/A	Multiple	Female	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Medical Facility	Vacaville, Solano County, California	N/A	Multiple	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Men’s Colony	San Luis Obispo County, CA	N/A	Min-Med	Male	California CDCR
California Rehabilitation Center	Norco, Riverside County, CA	N/A	Min-Max	Male	California CDCR
California State Prison, Centinela	Imperial County, CA	N/A	I-IV	Male	California CDCR
California State Prison, Corcoran	Corcoran, Kings County, CA	N/A	I-IV	Male	California CDCR
California State Prison, Los Angeles	Lancaster, Los Angeles County	2,300	I-IV	Male	California CDCR
California State Prison, Sacramento	Folsom, Sacramento County, CA	N/A	High	Male	California CDC
California State Prison, Solano	Vacaville	4,000+	Level IV	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran	Corcoran	5,352	Various	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Calipatria State Prison	Calipatria	2,308	Various	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Central California Women’s Facility	Chowchilla	2,640	Various	Female	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison	Blythe	1,738	Medium	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (scheduled for closure)
Correctional Training Facility	Soledad	3,116	Medium	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Folsom State Prison	Folsom, CA	N/A	Maximum	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
High Desert State Prison	Leavitt, CA	2,324	Maximum	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Ironwood State Prison	Blythe, CA	4,244	Medium	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Kern Valley State Prison	Delano, CA	2,448	Maximum	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Mule Creek State Prison	Ione, CA	N/A	Maximum	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
North Kern State Prison	Delano, CA	2,694	Medium	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Pelican Bay State Prison	Crescent City, California	N/A	Supermax	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Pleasant Valley State Prison	Coalinga, Fresno County	3,945	Min-Max	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Richard J. Donovan CF	San Diego County, California	3,666	Med-Max	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Salinas Valley State Prison	Monterey County, California	3,829	Max	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
San Quentin State Prison	Marin County, California	3,082	Max	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Sierra Conservation Center	Tuolumne County, California	N/A	Medium/Minimum	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Valley State Prison	Chowchilla, California	N/A	Medium	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Wasco State Prison-Reception Center	Wasco, Kern County, California	N/A	Medium/Minimum	Male	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Avenal State Prison

Avenal State Prison is a male-only state prison located in Avenal, Kings County, California, United States.

The prison spans 640 acres and has various structures including 17 open dorm buildings, six 200-bed open dorm E-bed buildings, six converted gymnasiums, a 100-cell administrative segregation unit, and a 10-bed firehouse.

It is classified as a low-medium security or Level II prison with open dormitories and secure perimeter fences, along with armed coverage. The prison offers various inmate programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, SAP, autobody, metal fabrication, plumbing and electrical, PIA furniture, warehouse, and egg production.

California City Correctional Facility

California City Correctional Facility is a men’s level II security prison located in California. It is owned by CoreCivic, a private prison corporation, but is currently operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The facility has a capacity of 2,304 inmates and is designed to house low to medium-security-level offenders. As a secure facility, CAC is equipped with various security measures to ensure the safety of both staff and inmates.

This includes a secure perimeter fence, surveillance cameras, and a team of trained correctional officers. Despite its strict security measures, CAC also provides educational and vocational programs to help prepare inmates for re-entry into society.

California Correctional Center

California Correctional Center, located in Susanville, Northern California, is a minimum-security state prison. It shares the area with other prisons, including High Desert State Prison (maximum security) and Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong.

Lassen County has a high concentration of prisons, providing employment to half of Susanville’s adult population.

Until 2012, the state facilities were overcrowded, but legislation was passed to reduce prison populations. However, many facilities are still operating above their capacity, posing a risk to both correction officers and inmates.

California Correctional Institution

California Correctional Institution, located in Tehachapi, California, is a supermax state prison that is also known as Tehachapi Prison. Its primary mission is to incarcerate and control felons while offering meaningful work and training opportunities to inmates.

The prison provides various programs for inmates who are willing to participate and work, including educational, vocational, and substance abuse treatment programs. CCI also offers mental health services and has a specialized unit for inmates with serious mental health needs.

With a capacity of over 4,000 inmates, CCI is one of the largest prisons in California and plays a significant role in the state’s criminal justice system.

California Health Care Facility

California Health Care Facility (CHCF) is a state prison that provides long-term medical care and mental health treatment to incarcerated patients. It is situated in Stockton, California, on the site of the former Karl Holton Youth Correctional Facility.

CHCF caters to patients of all security levels and offers a range of facilities and programs to treat their medical and mental health needs. The 61-building medical complex was built after two federal class action civil rights lawsuits against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s medical and mental health services.

The facility cost $839 million to construct and employs around 4,000 custody, medical, and support staff. CHCF provides both inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health treatment, including a diagnostic center, dental clinic, dialysis clinic, memory care center, and palliative care unit.

As of April 30, 2020, the facility was operating at 93.2% of its design capacity, with 2,751 occupants.

California Institution for Men

California Institution for Men, also known as CIM or Chino Men’s, is a male-only state prison located in Chino, San Bernardino County, California. The facility spans 2,500 acres of arid farmland and is the largest Level I inmate population within the California prison system.

CIM is comprised of three Reception Centers (RCs) which provide short-term housing to process, classify and evaluate incoming inmates. Reception Center Central receives intake from several southern California counties, including Orange, Riverside, Santa Clarita, San Diego, and San Bernardino County.

Reception Center East houses Mental Health inmates/patients requiring an Enhanced Out-Patient level of care and a 100-bed HIV/CID unit. Reception Center West is for medium-level custody inmates who are waiting for processing/transfer to programming institutions.

The prison is often colloquially referred to as Chino Men’s or just Men’s to avoid confusion with the city itself.

California Institution for Women

The California Institution for Women (CIW) is a state prison for women located in Chino, San Bernardino County, California, east of Los Angeles.

Although the mailing address states Corona, which is in Riverside County, the prison has been physically located in Chino since 2003 following the annexation of land in previously-unincorporated San Bernardino County.

CIW has 120 acres and offers Level I, II, and III housing facilities, as well as a Reception Center that provides short-term housing for incoming inmates.

California Medical Facility

California Medical Facility (CMF) is a male-only state prison medical facility located in Vacaville, Solano County, California. It is one of two state prisons in the city and is notable for its comprehensive healthcare services.

CMF has a general acute care hospital, correctional treatment center, in-patient and out-patient psychiatric facilities, hospice unit, and special housing for inmates with AIDS/HIV. The prison offers Level I, II, III, and IV housing, including individual cells with fenced perimeters and armed coverage.

It is considered the healthcare flagship of California’s prison system and has some of the best clinical programs. With the largest hospital among California prisons, CMF is equipped to provide high-quality medical care to its inmates.

The Department of State Hospitals also operates a licensed, acute-care psychiatric hospital within the facility.

California Men’s Colony

California Men’s Colony is a male-only state prison located in San Luis Obispo County, California. The prison is situated on 356 acres of land and is divided into two physically separate facilities, East and West.

The West facility is a minimum-security facility that includes Level I and Level II housing, while the East facility is a medium-security facility that includes Level III housing with individual cells, fenced perimeters, and armed coverage.

Additionally, the East facility houses a licensed hospital and mental health delivery system. The prison provides various programs and services to its inmates, including academic and vocational education, substance abuse treatment, and religious services.

California Rehabilitation Center

California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) is a state prison located in Norco, Riverside County, California. The facility is designed to provide rehabilitation services to inmates who are serving their sentences.

The prison is sometimes referenced as Norco or Norco Prison. The CRC houses minimum to maximum-security inmates who have been convicted of crimes ranging from drug offenses to violent crimes.

The facility offers a range of programs and services to help inmates prepare for their release, such as education and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.

The CRC is staffed by a team of professionals who are committed to ensuring the safety and security of both the inmates and the public. The prison’s mission is to provide a safe and secure environment that promotes positive change and rehabilitation for all inmates.

California State Prison, Centinela

California State Prison, Centinela is a male-only state prison located in Imperial County, California. The facility sits on 2,000 acres and has various housing units, including one Level IV GP, two Level III GP, one Level III SNY yard, and one Level I yard.

The CTC (Correctional Treatment Center) provides medical, dental, and mental health treatment, with an integrated hospital-type area. The ADSEG (administrative segregation) unit has a maximum occupancy of 175, and the Firehouse (Centinela Fire Department) houses eight Level I inmates who are actively trained as structural/wildland firefighters.

The Centinela Fire Department is part of the institution’s rehabilitation program and provides rigorous and accelerated training meeting state fire certification. The facility also has a library that was established in 2016.

California State Prison, Corcoran

California State Prison, Corcoran, also known as CSP-COR or Corcoran I, is a male-only state prison located in the city of Corcoran in Kings County, California. The facility is staffed by 1,703 personnel and has an annual institutional budget of US$115 million.

The prison has various facilities, including individual cells, fenced perimeters, and armed coverage. It also has Level IV housing with electronic security, more staff, and armed officers both inside and outside the installation.

The Security Housing Units are the most secure areas within the Level IV prison, designed to provide maximum coverage. The Protective Housing Unit & Death Row houses up to 47 prisoners who require extraordinary protection from other prisoners.

The unit is described as strikingly calm because inmates do not want to be moved somewhere less guarded. The prison also has an acute care hospital and a Prison Industry Authority.

California State Prison, Los Angeles County

California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) is a male-only state prison located in Lancaster, California. It is the only state prison in Los Angeles County and is sometimes referred to as Los Angeles County State Prison or CSP-LAC.

The prison has a design capacity of 2,300. LAC has a total of 262 acres, which includes Level I and Level IV housing, as well as a Reception Center for incoming inmates. As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, LAC had a total of 1,519 staff and an annual operating budget of $100 million.

California State Prison, Sacramento

California State Prison, Sacramento is a high-security male-only state prison located in Folsom, Sacramento County, California. The prison is also referred to as Sacramento State Prison, CSP-Sacramento, CSP-SAC, New Folsom, or New Folsom Prison.

The facility is adjacent to Folsom State Prison, and they share a mailing address in Represa, CA. SAC houses maximum security prisoners who have long sentences and are difficult to manage at other prisons.

The prison has a total of 1,585 staff and an annual operating budget of $187 million. SAC’s facilities include open dormitories, cells, fenced or walled perimeters, electronic security, and a psychiatric services unit.

The prison has three self-contained facilities, each comprised of eight housing blocks and a recreation yard. The prison’s housing blocks are partitioned into three separate, self-contained sections, forming a 180-degree half circle, which is considered the most secure prison design.

California State Prison, Solano

California State Prison, Solano is a male-only state prison situated in Vacaville, Solano County, California. The facility is located adjacent to the California Medical Facility and is commonly referred to as Solano State Prison, CSP-Solano, and CSP-SOL.

It is a level IV maximum-security prison that houses over 4,000 inmates, and its mission is to provide safe and secure confinement, supervision, and treatment for incarcerated individuals. The prison offers various rehabilitation programs, including academic and vocational education, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services, to help inmates successfully reintegrate into society upon release.

The facility also has a specialized housing unit for inmates with disabilities or medical conditions. California State Prison, Solano is an essential part of California’s correctional system, and its staff is committed to maintaining public safety and ensuring the well-being of inmates.

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran is a specialized correctional facility that primarily focuses on addressing substance use disorders among male inmates. It is located in Corcoran, a city in Kings County, California.

The facility is also known as Corcoran II and is designed to provide comprehensive substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation services to its inmates. SATF offers a range of evidence-based treatment programs, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and 12-step programs, to help inmates overcome addiction and achieve long-term recovery.

The facility has a capacity of 5,352 inmates and is staffed by a team of dedicated professionals, including licensed therapists, social workers, and medical personnel.

Calipatria State Prison

Calipatria State Prison, also known as CAL, is a male-only state prison situated in Calipatria, California. The prison is located within the city limits, approximately 3 miles away from the city center.

It is noteworthy that CAL is considered the lowest prison in the Western Hemisphere, as it is 184 feet below sea level. The prison has a total staff count of 1,143 as of Fiscal Year 2005/2006, and an annual operating budget of $123 million.

CAL has a capacity of approximately 2,308 inmates and offers a range of programs for its inmates, including academic education, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment.

Central California Women’s Facility

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) is a state prison located in Chowchilla, California. It is the second largest female correctional facility in the United States and houses the only State of California death row for women.

Covering 640 acres, CCWF had a total of 1,205 staff and an annual operating budget of US$138 million in Fiscal Year 2006/2007. As of April 30, 2020, CCWF was incarcerating people at 131.7% of its design capacity, with 2,640 occupants.

The prison holds prisoners at all security levels, including the Reception Center (RC) and Condemned (Cond) housing for inmates with death sentences. CCWF provides academic education, vocational training, counseling, and specialized programs for successful reintegration into society.

The Center for Restorative Justice (CRJW) Family Express program also provides weekly transportation for family members from major California cities to visit prisoners at the facility.

Chuckawalla Valley State Prison

Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) is a medium-security facility located in Blythe, California. It is a male-only prison covering 1,720 acres, adjacent to Ironwood State Prison.

The prison consists of 11 open dormitory-style buildings, each containing 340 beds, and a Level I yard with two buildings that have 200 beds each. The Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) serves as a temporary home for inmates who violate severe rules while incarcerated.

The ASU contains 100 cells, each with two beds. The prison’s annual budget is around US$83 million, and it was designed to hold 1,738 inmates, but in 2008-2009, it had 3,222 prisoners with a staff of 751. CVSP is scheduled for closure.

Correctional Training Facility

The Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in California is a state prison that is commonly referred to as the Soledad State Prison. It is situated on U.S. Route 101, just 5 miles north of Soledad, California, and is adjacent to the Salinas Valley State Prison.

The CTF serves as a medium-security facility for male inmates and has a maximum capacity of 3,116 inmates. The prison offers a variety of educational and vocational programs to help inmates prepare for life after incarceration.

These programs include adult basic education, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment. The CTF also has a mental health program that provides mental health services to inmates who require them. The facility is staffed by approximately 1,500 employees, including correctional officers, medical staff, and administrative personnel.

Folsom State Prison

Folsom State Prison is a well-known California State Prison located in Folsom, California, just a short distance from the state capital of Sacramento. Established in 1880, it is the second-oldest prison in the state and the first in the United States to have electricity.

Folsom State Prison is one of 34 adult institutions operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and it was also one of the first maximum-security prisons in the country.

Over the years, Folsom State Prison has been the site of 93 executions of condemned prisoners. The famous musician Johnny Cash performed two live shows at Folsom State Prison in 1968, which were recorded and later released as an album called At Folsom Prison.

The prison remains an important part of California’s correctional system and a notable landmark in the state’s history.

High Desert State Prison

High Desert State Prison is a high-security state prison located in Leavitt, Lassen County, California. It was opened in 1995 and has a capacity of 2,324 persons. The prison houses level IV inmates, which are the most dangerous and violent offenders in the state.

In addition to High Desert State Prison, Lassen County is also home to the California Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison, and the Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong. These three facilities provide much-needed jobs for the local community, with half the adult population of nearby Susanville working at the prisons.

The impact of the prisons on the community was explored in the documentary Prison Town, USA (2007), which aired on PBS.

Ironwood State Prison

Ironwood State Prison (ISP) is a state prison in Blythe, California. It is situated in a separate section of the city, to the west of the main area, and is located in eastern Riverside County.

The facility is adjacent to Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. ISP is a Level II, medium-security prison that houses adult male inmates. The prison has a capacity of 4,244 inmates and covers an area of 1,700 acres.

The facility offers educational and vocational programs to help inmates develop skills and prepare for re-entry into society. ISP also provides medical and mental health services to its inmates.

Kern Valley State Prison

Kern Valley State Prison is a maximum security male-only institution located in Delano, California. It was opened in June 2005 with a design capacity of 2,448 inmates and has an annual operating budget of US$123 million.

The facility is adjacent to North Kern State Prison and is designed to house some of the most dangerous and violent criminals in the state.

The prison provides a range of programs and services to help inmates prepare for reentry into society, including education and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. The safety and security of staff, inmates, and the public are a top priority at Kern Valley State Prison.

Mule Creek State Prison

Mule Creek State Prison is a California State Prison for men located in Ione, California. The facility was opened in June 1987 and spans 866 acres.

The prison is staffed by 1,242 personnel and has an annual operating budget of $157 million. As a maximum-security prison, MCSP houses some of California’s most dangerous criminals, including those who have committed violent crimes and have been sentenced to life in prison.

In addition to housing inmates, the prison offers vocational and educational programs to help prepare inmates for their eventual release back into society. The facility also provides medical and mental health services to inmates in need.

North Kern State Prison

North Kern State Prison is a medium-security facility located in Delano, Kern County, California. It was opened in 1993 and has the capacity to hold 2,694 incarcerated people.

The prison is primarily used as a reception center for incoming inmates, where they undergo a thorough assessment of their criminal and health records, and their physiological and social needs are evaluated before being assigned to another facility.

Educational programs are offered to inmates during their stay at North Kern. It is worth noting that Kern County has one of the largest prison populations of any county in the United States, with North Kern State Prison and Kern Valley State Prison, which is located one mile away, housing a combined total of approximately 6,200 inmates.

Pelican Bay State Prison

Pelican Bay State Prison is a supermax facility located in Crescent City, California. The prison was opened in 1989 and covers an area of 275 acres. The prison is situated in a detached section of Crescent City, several miles north of the main urban area and just south of the Oregon border.

The prison’s name is derived from a shallow bay on the Pacific coast, approximately 2 miles to the west. Pelican Bay State Prison is physically divided into different sections for administrative, security, and general population purposes.

The facility is known for housing some of California’s most dangerous and high-risk inmates, with a focus on solitary confinement and maximum security measures.

Pleasant Valley State Prison

Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) is a state prison located in Coalinga, Fresno County, California. With a 640-acre area, the facility has a minimum-to-maximum security level, housing a number of convicted murderers such as Sirhan Sirhan, Erik Menendez, X-Raided, and Hans Reiser.

PVSP offers a variety of vocational programs including air conditioning and refrigeration, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and welding. In addition, academic programs such as Adult Basic Education, High School/GED, Pre-Release, English as a Second Language, and Literacy Programs are also available.

PVSP also provides other programs like community service crews, religious, arts-in-corrections, and computers for schools. The facility does not have a Prison Industry Authority (PIA).

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJDCF or RJD) is a California state prison located in unincorporated southern San Diego County. It is the only state prison in San Diego County and covers an area of 780 acres.

The prison is situated on a mesa about 1.5 miles from the Mexico-United States border in the foothills of Otay Mesa overlooking the border. The facility is part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and houses medium to maximum-security male inmates.

The prison also has a reception center for new inmates entering the California prison system. The Otay Mesa site is shared with six other properties related to law enforcement, including a privately operated federal correctional facility, two detention facilities, a reentry facility, a juvenile detention facility, and a firearms training complex used by various law enforcement agencies.

Salinas Valley State Prison

Salinas Valley State Prison, located in Monterey County, California, covers an area of 300 acres and is situated 5 miles north of Soledad. The prison is adjacent to the Correctional Training Facility, also known as Soledad State Prison.

It consists of five facilities – A, B, C, D, and M. Facilities A, D, and M are reserved for Sensitive Needs Yard inmates. The surrounding units hold level-4 and level-3 inmates, which are the highest security rankings.

The prison has a level-1 yard that houses approximately 200 inmates. The prison had a gymnasium which was converted into a dormitory due to overcrowding, but it was closed around 2008 due to inmate population reductions.

Salinas Valley State Prison also houses an inpatient mental health program, formerly operated by the California Department of State Hospitals, to accommodate the psychological needs of inmates.

San Quentin State Prison

San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men, located in Marin County, north of San Francisco. As the oldest prison in California, it was opened in July 1852.

San Quentin is known for housing the state’s only death row for male inmates, which is also the largest in the United States. The prison has a gas chamber, but since 1996, executions have been carried out by lethal injection.

Despite this, the prison has not performed an execution since 2006. San Quentin has been featured in various forms of media and has been the subject of many books. It has also hosted concerts and housed many infamous inmates over the years.

Sierra Conservation Center

Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) is a state prison situated on 420 acres of land in Tuolumne County, California. It is located near the unincorporated community of Jamestown.

The facility offers a range of programs to prisoners, including education, firefighting training, and sewing. SCC plays a crucial role in the California state prison system, housing a significant number of inmates.

The facility is known for its focus on rehabilitation and providing prisoners with opportunities to learn new skills and prepare for their eventual release. SCC is an important part of the state’s efforts to reduce recidivism rates and promote successful reintegration into society.

Valley State Prison

Valley State Prison (VSP) is a medium security facility located in Chowchilla, California. It was previously known as the Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) before being converted into a prison for Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) inmates.

The facility is located across the road from the Central California Women’s Facility and is situated 250 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles. Housing at VSP consists of open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage.

VSP is a Level II facility, which means that it houses inmates who have been deemed to pose a moderate risk to public safety.

Wasco State Prison

Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP) is a state prison located in Wasco, Kern County, California. Covering 634 acres, the facility serves as one of two reception centers in Kern County.

Its primary mission is to provide short-term housing for new inmates and to determine their security level, program requirements, and appropriate institutional placement.

The prison also includes a 400-bed medium custody facility for general population inmates and a minimum custody facility for institutional maintenance and landscaping services. As with all state prisons, the facility is managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Federal State Prisons

Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Level	Gender	Operator/ Manager
USP Atwater	Merced County	N/A	High Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
USP Lompoc	Lompoc	N/A	Medium Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
USP Victorville	Victorville	N/A	High Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Dublin	Dublin	N/A	Low Security	Female	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Herlong	Lassen County	N/A	Medium Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Lompoc	Lompoc	N/A	Low Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Mendota	Central California	N/A	Medium Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Terminal Island	Los Angeles	N/A	Low Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Victorville Medium I	Victorville	N/A	Medium Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Victorville Medium II	Victorville	N/A	Medium Security	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons

United States Penitentiary, Atwater

The United States Penitentiary, Atwater is a high-security federal prison for male inmates located in Merced County, California.

Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the institution includes a minimum-security satellite camp and offers various educational programs, including mandatory GED classes, occupational and vocational training, adult continuing education, parenting classes, and leisure programs.

The facility is located on land formerly part of Castle Air Force Base and is situated near the city of Atwater, 130 miles from San Francisco. As a high-security prison, USP Atwater houses some of the most dangerous and violent criminals in the federal prison system.

Despite its strict security measures, the prison has experienced incidents of violence and inmate unrest in the past.

United States Penitentiary, Lompoc

The United States Penitentiary, Lompoc is a medium-security federal prison located in Lompoc, California. It is part of the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The facility was originally a military disciplinary barracks on Camp Cooke before it was converted into a prison. It includes a satellite prison camp for minimum-security male inmates and a high-security wing constructed in 2006 known as the SHU or Special Housing Unit.

Inmates may be placed in the SHU as a disciplinary measure or for administrative reasons. The facility also has a low-security prison camp with a Residential Drug Abuse Program. The complex is located within the city of Lompoc, adjacent to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

United States Penitentiary, Victorville

The United States Penitentiary, Victorville is a high-security federal prison that houses male inmates in California. It is located within the Federal Correctional Complex, Victorville, and is managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The complex is situated on land that was previously a part of George Air Force Base and is located approximately 8 miles northwest of central Victorville. The prison is approximately 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles, making it a convenient location for transporting inmates to and from court appearances.

The facility is designed to provide a secure and safe environment for inmates, staff, and the public, and offers a range of programs and services to help inmates successfully re-enter society.

Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin

The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin is a low-security federal prison in Dublin, California, that is exclusively for female inmates.

The facility is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Oakland, and it is adjacent to a satellite prison camp that houses minimum-security female offenders. The prison is situated in the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, and it is in close proximity to Santa Rita Jail, which is operated by Alameda County.

Recently, the facility has been embroiled in a scandal due to allegations of sexual abuse by staff members. This has led to an investigation into the permissive and toxic culture at FCI Dublin.

Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong

The Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong is a medium-security federal prison for male inmates located in Lassen County, California. It is managed and operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons under the United States Department of Justice.

The facility also includes a satellite prison camp that houses minimum-security male offenders. Opened in 2007, FCI Herlong is situated in northeastern California near the Nevada border, about 60 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada, and 190 miles northeast of Sacramento, California.

The county has two other state prisons in its county seat of Susanville, making prisons the primary employers in the area since the decline of the timber industry. Together, the three prisons hold around 11,000 inmates, with half of the adult population in Susanville working in one of the three facilities.

Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc

The Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc is a low-security federal prison for male inmates located in Lompoc, California. It is part of the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The complex also includes a U.S. Penitentiary and a minimum-security prison camp. The average offender at FCI Lompoc is serving between one and fifteen years for federal drug and or other non-violent offenses.

The facility has four general housing units, two of which offer dormitory and room-type housing. Inmates have access to a full range of educational, vocational, and self-improvement opportunities, as well as medical and mental health counseling.

FCI Lompoc is located within the city of Lompoc, 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles, adjacent to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota

The Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota is a medium-security federal prison located in central California, 36 miles west of Fresno. Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, it houses male inmates and has an adjacent satellite prison camp for minimum-security offenders.

The facility provides a variety of programs and services to help inmates prepare for reentry into society, including educational and vocational training, drug and alcohol counseling, and religious services. FCI Mendota also offers medical and mental health care, as well as recreational activities such as sports and arts and crafts.

As with all federal prisons, safety and security are top priorities, and the facility is staffed by trained professionals who work to maintain a safe and secure environment for both inmates and staff.

Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island

Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island is a low-security federal prison for male inmates in Los Angeles, California. The facility is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

Located at the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor, between San Pedro and Long Beach, FCI Terminal Island is designed to house up to 1,050 male inmates. The facility provides a range of programs and services to inmates, including education and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.

FCI Terminal Island also has a satellite camp that houses minimum-security inmates. The facility is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for inmates while also helping them to prepare for successful reentry into society.

Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium I

The Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium I in California is one of two medium-security federal prisons for male inmates located in Victorville. The facility is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is part of the United States Department of Justice.

Additionally, there is a satellite prison camp for low-security female inmates adjacent to the facility. The prison complex is situated on land that used to be a part of the George Air Force Base, and it was built on a Superfund site that has contaminated the region’s water supply with various chemicals.

These contaminants include industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, pesticides like dieldrin and aldrin, and chemicals from jet fuel.

Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium II

The Federal Correctional Institution, Victorville Medium II is a medium-security prison for male inmates located in Victorville, California.

It is part of the Victorville Federal Prison Complex and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. The complex also has an adjacent satellite prison camp for low-security female inmates.

The facility is situated on land that was formerly part of George Air Force Base and was built on a Superfund site. Unfortunately, this has led to the contamination of the region’s water supply with industrial solvents and pesticides, as well as chemicals from jet fuel.

Juvenile Detention Centers

Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Levels	Gender	Operator/ Manager
California Division of Juvenile Justice	California Division of Juvenile Justice	Varies by facility	High	Male and Female	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

California Division of Juvenile Justice

The California Division of Juvenile Justice is a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that offers education, training, and treatment services for California’s most serious youth offenders.

These offenders, ranging in age from twelve to 25, are committed by the juvenile and criminal courts to DJJ’s eleven correctional facilities, four conservation camps, and two residential drug treatment programs.

DJJ works in close collaboration with law enforcement, the courts, district attorneys, public defenders, probation offices, and other public and private agencies involved with the problems of youth.

In light of widespread criticisms of conditions at its youth prisons, DJJ is undergoing reorganization as required by a court agreement and the California State Legislature. The agency’s headquarters are in Sacramento, California.

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