Prisons in Colorado – A Deep Dive Into 24 Local Facilities

The state of Colorado is home to a number of prisons that house thousands of inmates. With a diverse range of facilities, from maximum-security prisons to community re-entry centers, the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) is responsible for the management of the state’s correctional system.

While prisons are designed to provide a secure and controlled environment for incarcerated individuals, there are ongoing debates about the effectiveness of incarceration as a means of punishment and rehabilitation.

In this article, we will explore the prison system in Colorado, including its history, current state, and ongoing challenges.

Colorado Prison Map

Use the Colorado 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
Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility	Ordway	1,089	Level III	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Buena Vista Correctional Complex	Buena Vista	1,309	Mixed (Min-Close)	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Arrowhead Correctional Center	Cañon City	520	Level II, Min Restricted	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Centennial Correctional Facility	Cañon City	1,176	Level V, Max	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Colorado State Penitentiary	Cañon City	725	Level V/Administrative Segregation	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility	Cañon City	985	Medium	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Four Mile Correctional Center	East Canon Complex	521	Level II	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Fremont Correctional Facility	Fremont County	1,621	Level III	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Skyline Correctional Facility	East Canon Complex	126	Level I	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Delta Correctional Center	Delta	477	Minimum	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Denver Women’s Correctional Facility	Denver	984	All custody	Female	Colorado Department of Corrections
Limon Correctional Facility	Limon	930	Level IV	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
La Vista Correctional Facility	Pueblo	560	Level III	Female	Colorado Department of Corrections
San Carlos Correctional Facility	Pueblo	255	Level V	Mixed	Colorado Department of Corrections
Youthful Offender System	Pueblo and La Vista	256	N/A	Mixed	Colorado Department of Corrections
Rifle Correctional Center	Garfield County	192	Level I	Male	Colorado Department of Corrections
Sterling Correctional Facility	Sterling	2,488	Mixed	Mixed	Colorado Department of Corrections
Trinidad Correctional Facility	Trinidad	500	Level II	Mixed	Colorado Department of Corrections

Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility

The Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF) is a Level III prison located near Ordway, Colorado. Opened in 1987, AVCF is designed to house medium-custody inmates and currently manages a diverse population of 1,089 individuals.

The facility has several specialized housing units, including a Protective Custody Unit, a Re-Entry pod, an Incentive Living Unit, and a treatment and maintenance unit for individuals convicted of a sexual offense.

AVCF is situated just off Highway 96, four miles west of Ordway and 40 miles east of Pueblo. While the primary goal of AVCF is to provide secure confinement for inmates, the facility also offers educational and vocational programs to help inmates prepare for life beyond prison.

Buena Vista Correctional Complex

The Buena Vista Correctional Complex in Colorado is a group of three separate facilities: the Buena Vista Correctional Facility (BVCF), the Buena Vista Minimum Center (BVMC), and the Transitional Work Center (TWC).

The BVCF, which was opened in 1892 under the name of Colorado State Reformatory, has a capacity of 934 inmates at the medium and close custody levels. The BVMC, which was opened in 1999, has a capacity of 300 inmates at the minimum restrictive custody level. The TWC, which was opened in 1991 and reopened in 2019, has a capacity of 75 inmates at the minimum and minimum restrictive custody levels.

The TWC previously housed inmates under a boot camp-like program named Colorado Correctional Alternative Program until 2010. The Buena Vista Correctional Complex is a significant part of Colorado’s corrections system and serves to house inmates of various custody levels.

Arrowhead Correctional Center

Arrowhead Correctional Center, located on the East Canon Complex in Colorado, is a Level II, Minimum Restricted Facility that houses 520 inmates. The center is a part of the Canon Minimum Centers, which includes Four Mile Correctional Center and operates under one administration.

Since its opening in 1989, ACC has been committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the protection of the public, DOC employees, contract workers, volunteers, and inmates. The center offers a wide range of programs, including academic and specialized vocational training, and numerous other life-skill opportunities.

Inmates at ACC benefit from work assignments in facility programs, labor crews, and supporting Correctional Industries in areas such as Canteen, Service Station, Transportation, and K9. ACC strives to prepare inmates for re-entry into society by providing skilled, meaningful programs, training, and work assignments.

Centennial Correctional Facility

Centennial Correctional Facility (CCF) in Colorado is a maximum security facility that first opened its doors in 1980. While it was the State of Colorado’s maximum security facility until 1993, CCF was reclassified as a Level V maximum security facility in September of 2010.

The original building houses 336 adult male offenders as a high-security multi-custody level facility. CCF-North has 240 beds designated for the Residential Treatment Program for offenders with serious mental illness from all custody levels, while the remaining 96 beds house Intensive Treatment Community offenders.

CCF-South, which was decommissioned in October 2012, was re-opened in March 2020 and has a current population of 600 offenders in two towers, with 32 beds designated for Restrictive Housing. CCF-South houses 552 close custody offenders and 48 incentive offenders.

Offenders from the ITC program and the incentive living unit are utilized in providing critical job functions for food service, laundry, physical plant, and library.

Colorado State Penitentiary

The Colorado State Penitentiary is a designated level V/Administrative Segregation Facility that was opened in 1993. The construction occurred in two phases, with the first phase completed in 1993 and the second phase in 1995.

The facility has a capacity of 725 inmates, with a variety of custody levels. These include Close Custody levels such as Management Control Unit High Risk (MCUHR), Management Control Unit (MCU), Close Custody Transition Unit (CCTU), and Medium or below levels like Incentive Pod Offenders.

In the summer of 2014, the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) requested funds to construct outdoor exercise yards at CSP for inmates in MCU and CCTU. The construction began on January 4, 2016, and was available for use in December 2016. Beginning in January 2017, outdoor recreation started to be offered to inmates.

Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility

Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility (CTCF) is a medium-security prison that opened in 1871 as a territorial prison and became a state prison in 1876.

Located in Cañon City and spread across 150 acres, 20 of which are within the secure perimeter and staffed with up to six towers, CTCF is the oldest physical plant in the state and serves as an ADA-designated facility. Due to the Ramos vs. Lamm lawsuit in the 1970s and 1980s, CSP was renamed Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility (CTCF) and underwent extensive remodeling.

Currently, CTCF has the capacity to house 985 medium-custody male inmates. General Population inmates are housed in Units 1, 3, and 7, while Unit 5 is being renovated from a 140-bed transitional unit to a more traditional cell house with a targeted population to be determined after renovations are completed.

The infirmary is a 32-bed unit that houses inmates from all other facilities with acute medical and mental health needs.

Four Mile Correctional Center

Located on the East Canon Complex, Four Mile Correctional Center (FMCC) is a Level II, Minimum Restricted Facility that opened its doors in 1983. The facility houses 521 inmates and operates under one administration with Arrowhead Correctional Center.

FMCC’s main goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for everyone within the facility, including inmates, employees, volunteers, and contract workers. The center offers a variety of programs to prepare inmates for re-entry into society, including academic and specialized vocational training, as well as life-skills opportunities.

Some of the vocational programs offered at FMCC include the Gladiator Program, CDL Operating Training program, HVAC, and Electrical Systems. Inmates at FMCC primarily work to support the Canon Warehouse and Correctional Industries operations, such as the Dairy, K9, Heavy Equipment, WHIP, CI Food Service, Grounds, and Housekeeping.

Fremont Correctional Facility

Fremont Correctional Facility (FCF) in Colorado is a Level III, mixed custody prison that first opened its doors in 1958 as a Medium Custody facility. Today, FCF has a total of 1,621 beds and houses Minimum, Minimum Restricted, Medium, and Close Custody inmates.

Inmate programs at Fremont are plentiful, including a Therapeutic Community, JCAP (Juveniles Convicted as Adults Program), Pre-Release Programs, and a Sex Inmate Treatment Program.

Many inmates also have the opportunity to engage in meaningful work, such as through the Correctional Industries Furniture and Metal Products shops. The prison is committed to promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through education and vocational training programs.

Skyline Correctional Facility

Skyline Correctional Facility (SCC) is located on the East Canon Complex in Colorado and began operations in 1957 with 60 beds under the direction of the Department of Parole. In the 1970s, the Department of Parole and SCC became a division of the Department of Corrections.

Through numerous expansion projects and double-bunking, SCC grew to a capacity of 252 Level I offenders. However, due to a bed reduction, SCC was unoccupied from December 2020 to October 2022. SCC is the only Level I, Minimum Facility in the Cañon City area and has been redeveloped into only single cells, changing the capacity to 126.

The Beacon at Skyline Correctional Center is a Level 1 facility that is focused on creating space for self-improvement, an increased level of choice, and a positive community focus. It uses a human-centered, collaborative approach to support healing, growth, and a renewed purpose for incarcerated residents and staff.

The facility can house 126 incarcerated residents and a select group of CDOC staff, with 6-16 residents working as Community Development Managers and Coordinators to help guide the facility alongside CDOC staff.

Delta Correctional Center

Delta Correctional Center, formerly known as Roubideaux Conservation Training Camp, is a Colorado-based prison that was constructed in 1963 and became operational in 1964. It currently houses 480 male inmates and employs 17 full-time staff members.

DCC has undergone three expansions to reach its current capacity and is located approximately nine miles west of Delta, Colorado, occupying an area of about 113.85 acres. The facility has a capacity of 477 inmates at minimum custody levels.

Denver Women’s Correctional Facility

Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF) is a correctional facility for women in Colorado that was built in 1998. It is one of two correctional facilities for women in CDOC and is the largest. DWCF has a capacity of 984 beds and houses female inmates at all custody levels.

The facility has several unique responsibilities and programs for women inmates, including housing all pregnant inmates, inmates with high medical and mental health needs, an intake unit, an incentive unit, a management control unit, a therapeutic community, and a Residential Treatment Program (RTP) for inmates with severe mental health treatment needs.

Additionally, DWCF houses 17 female parolees who are participating in the Alternative Stabilization Assistance Program (ASAP).

Limon Correctional Facility

Limon Correctional Facility (LCF) is located in Limon, Colorado, and sits on 320 acres of land, 36 acres of which are enclosed behind a 4,000-foot, double-perimeter fence. LCF is an all-male, Level IV facility that has a capacity of 930 inmates.

The facility is comprised of 13 buildings that provide housing, educational, and work opportunities for inmates. There are six general population living units that hold between 154 and 160 inmates, and a separate Restrictive Housing Unit with 28 cells.

LCF houses a population comprised of close custody (49%), medium custody (45.2%), and minimum restricted (5.8%). The facility is divided into different living units, with close custody inmates housed in Units 1, 2, and 3, medium custody inmates housed in Units 4, 5, and 6, and minimum restricted inmates housed in Unit 6.

La Vista Correctional Facility

La Vista Correctional Facility is a Level III facility for female inmates in Colorado. It was opened in 2006 and can accommodate a range of custody levels, from minimum to close.

The facility’s capacity was reduced in 2020 to 560 beds, with several living units and therapeutic community units each accommodating up to 78-80 beds. Additionally, there is an Intake Diagnostic Orientation unit with 14 general population beds and a 15-bed classification review unit.

LVCF provides a range of services to inmates, including a Therapeutic Community, Re-entry services, and an Incentive unit.

San Carlos Correctional Facility

San Carlos Correctional Facility (SCCF) is a Level 5 security facility that provides the Colorado Department of Corrections with 255 beds for incarcerated individuals with severe and persistent behavioral health issues.

Opened in July 1995, SCCF houses a mixed custody level of people who are incarcerated and uses a multi-disciplinary approach to manage them. It is a Residential Treatment Program (RTP) designed to assess and treat incarcerated individuals with acute serious mental illness and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SCCF uses a planned incentive-level system and multi-disciplinary team approach to assist incarcerated individuals in reaching treatment goals and preparing them for successful community transition.

As an RTP, SCCF provides incarcerated individuals with mental illness and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities with individual and group therapy, educational programs, recreation therapy, and recreational activities needed to promote their program success and successful transition into the community or into a general population setting.

Youthful Offender System

The Youthful Offender System (YOS) in Colorado is a correctional facility designed to provide habilitation programs and services to prepare young individuals for successful re-entry while ensuring public safety.

The main campus of YOS is located on the grounds of the Mental Health Institute of Pueblo, while the IDO building, including Intake and Diagnostics, is located at the La Vista Correctional Facility.

YOS was established in 1993 by the Colorado Legislature as a comprehensive model that delivers a four-part continuum of services, including an Orientation and Training Phase (OTP), Phase I (institutional), Phase II (pre-release), and Phase III (community supervision).

The facility houses both male and female juveniles and young adults between 14 to 19 years of age, with a limited capacity of 256 beds.

Rifle Correctional Center

Rifle Correctional Center is a Level I minimum security facility situated on a 75-acre site in Garfield County, Colorado. Originally established in the 1960s as a satellite labor camp, the facility now offers a range of programs including secondary education, vocational training, and a reintegration program aimed at reducing recidivism.

With 192 beds, the center is focused on providing community-based labor services and certified firefighting teams that have responded to wildfires across the state.

Additionally, the Take Two Programming offers incarcerated individuals an opportunity to work for employers at a prevailing or marketable wage with the ultimate goal of sustainable reintegration back into society. Overall, Rifle Correctional Center is dedicated to providing inmates with the tools and resources necessary to successfully re-enter society.

Sterling Correctional Facility

Sterling Correctional Facility is a prison located in the northeast corner of Colorado, covering 100 acres of the 765-acre site. The facility officially opened its doors in June of 1999 and has a capacity of 2,488 inmates.

The custody levels include Minimum, Minimum-Restricted, Medium, Close (general population), and Close (Management Control Comprehensive – MCC). The interior perimeter of the facility covers 80 acres.

SCF has a serious and structured approach to inmate rehabilitation, providing educational, vocational, and substance abuse programs to help offenders reintegrate into society. The facility has been recognized for its efforts in reducing inmate violence and improving safety. SCF is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for staff, inmates, and the community.

Trinidad Correctional Facility

Trinidad Correctional Facility (TCF) is a Level 2 Minimum Restricted facility located 15 miles east of Trinidad, Colorado on State Highway 350. TCF opened in December 2001 and has a bed capacity of 500 general population beds with 4 double bunked Restrictive Housing Unit cells.

The Physical Plant consists of five (5) Living units; each unit has a capacity of 100, and 4 ADA accessible rooms/cells. Other buildings within the facility include a Programs Building, a Support Building, a Case Management Modular, a Maintenance Shop/Warehouse Building, a Wastewater Treatment Plant, a Water Storage Tank, and a Pump House Building.

The facility is situated on 544 acres and is designed to house inmates who require a lower level of security.

Private Prisons

Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Level	Gender	Operator/ Manager
Bent County Correctional Facility	85 miles east of Pueblo	1,388	Level III	Male	CoreCivic
Crowley County Correctional Facility	Colorado	1,824	Level III	Male	CoreCivic

Bent County Correctional Facility

The Bent County Correctional Facility (BCCF) is located 85 miles east of Pueblo and was opened in 1993 as the first private correctional facility in the State of Colorado. The facility was built by Bent County and is currently owned and operated by CoreCivic.

BCCF is a level III facility with an operational capacity of 1,388. The facility primarily houses medium custody-level inmates and offers various programs focused on basic education, vocational training, mental health, substance abuse, and reentry programs.

As a private correctional facility, BCCF operates under a contract with the Colorado Department of Corrections and is subject to state regulations and oversight.

Crowley County Correctional Facility

The Crowley County Correctional Facility is a level III facility in Colorado that was opened in 1998 by Crowley County. Since its opening, the facility has been operated by CoreCivic, a private corrections company that purchased the facility in 2003.

With an operational capacity of 1,824, CCCF is primarily a medium custody-level facility that offers various programs focused on basic education, vocational training, mental health, substance abuse, and reentry programs.

The facility is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for both staff and inmates, while also offering opportunities for rehabilitation and successful reentry into society.

Federal Prisons

Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Level	Gender	Operator/ Manager
United States Penitentiary, Florence ADMAX	Fremont County	322	Supermax	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
United States Penitentiary, Florence High	Fremont County	N/A	High	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood	Jefferson County	N/A	Low	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Correctional Institution, Florence	Fremont County	N/A	Medium	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons

United States Penitentiary, Florence ADMAX

The United States Penitentiary, Florence ADMAX, commonly known as ADX Florence, is a federal prison located in Fremont County near Florence, Colorado. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

ADX Florence opened in 1994 and is classified as a supermax or control unit prison, providing a higher level of custody than a maximum security prison. ADX Florence is part of the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, which houses various facilities with varying degrees of security, including the United States Penitentiary, Florence High.

ADX Florence was commissioned to specifically house prisoners capable of extreme violence towards staff or other inmates. As of January 2023, there are a total of 322 inmates housed in single cells made of poured, reinforced concrete to deter self-harm.

Inmates are confined to their cells for 23 hours a day and are under 24-hour supervision, carried out intensively with high staff-inmate ratios.

United States Penitentiary, Florence High

The United States Penitentiary, Florence High is a federal prison in Colorado that houses male inmates. It is a high-security facility that is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is a division of the United States Department of Justice.

The prison is located within the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, which is spread over 49 acres of land and comprises different facilities with varying levels of security.

The prison is named Florence High to distinguish it from the federal supermax prison, the United States Penitentiary, Florence ADMAX, which is also located within the same complex. The FCC Florence is situated in unincorporated Fremont County, Colorado, and is located approximately 90 miles south of Denver.

Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood

The Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood is a low-security federal prison in Colorado that houses male inmates. The facility is run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

Additionally, it has an administrative detention center and a satellite prison camp for minimum-security offenders. The facility is located in unincorporated Jefferson County, off U.S. Route 285 and Kipling Street, 10 miles southwest of Downtown Denver.

Although it is named after the city of Englewood, Colorado, it has a Littleton mailing address and is not located in either city.

Federal Correctional Institution, Florence

The Federal Correctional Institution, Florence is a medium-security federal prison in Colorado that houses male inmates. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

FCI Florence is part of the Florence Federal Correctional Complex and is located in an unincorporated area in Fremont County. The prison is situated outside the city of Florence, Colorado, and is approximately 90 miles south of Denver, 45 miles south of Colorado Springs, and 40 miles west of Pueblo.

As a medium-security facility, FCI Florence has strict security measures in place to ensure the safety of inmates, staff, and visitors.

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