There are many people who want to know what it is like to be in a Level 4 security prison. If you are one of those people, then this blog post is for you! This list will give you information about the level 4 prisons in California and what type of security system they have.
We hope, that this list will help provide some insight into the life behind bars so that if you ever find yourself there, at least you’ll have an idea of what to expect!
California has several Level 4 prisons, which are the highest security level. This list will give you an overview of the different list of Level 4 prisons in California.
1. California Correctional Institution
The California Correctional Institution is a level 4 security prison, meaning it is dangerous and unpleasant. It opened in 1932, was redesigned in 1954, and became one of California’s most secure prisons. Unfortunately, this Prison had to be rebuilt because of the 1952’s earthquake.
Inmates cannot have contact with the outside world and are unable to see their family members as well. The capacity of this Prison’s 2783, but at present, it has 2983 inmates.
These inmates live in cells that offer little privacy or comfort, but what do you expect when you’re away from society? The institution is known for its high levels of violence, which can happen between inmates or guards themselves! California State considers this prison as super-max security prison. It’s one of the largest prisons in California as well because CCI has 1,650 acres of land.
2. California State Prison, Centinela
The California State Prison, Centinela, is located in Inglewood, CA. It’s the state prison of Centinela. It has been the home of many convicted felons who are serving a sentence for various crimes.
CEN was established in October 1993. And it stands with 2000 acres of land. As per the April 2020 report, 3284 inmates live there when it has 2308 prisoners.
The Prison offers level 4 security which means that inmates are kept isolated from society and other prisoners for their safety.
This type of confinement can make it challenging to find good jobs after release, so many inmates choose education programs to prepare themselves for life outside these walls.
3. California State Prison, Corcoran
This Prison is built-in February 1988 only for male inmates. COR is located in the city of Corcoran, in Kings County, California. It’s known as the state prison of Corcoran. More than 1700 staff are working here.
The Prison has a level 4 security system and is one of the largest prisons in California that houses maximum-security inmates. It was initially built to accommodate up to 3116 inmates, but now it has 3719 prisoners. The name of the warden of COR is Ken Clark.
4. California State Prison, Los Angeles County
There are many prisons in California, but one of the most notorious ones is California State Prison, Los Angeles County. The location of this prison is Lancaster, in Los Angeles County, California. It’s considered the state prison of Lancaster. It was founded in February 1993.
LAC is overcrowded like other state prisons. Though its design capacity is 2300 it has 3158 prisoners. This Prison has a level 4 security system, and it is known for high-profile housing criminals such as Charles Manson.
5. California State Prison, Sacramento
The address of this Prison is Folsom, Sacramento County, California. It was established in October 1986. The area of the prison is 1,200 acres, and it has 1585 working staff. The present occupancy rate of this Prison is 129.3%. 2063 inmates are here, but it has 1828 prisoners’ capacity.
It has one of the most level 4 security systems in the state. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is responsible for running this facility.
Inmates at this Prison are mostly convicted on drug-related offenses, theft or burglary charges, fraud crimes, or driving under the influence.
It also provides correction officers with classrooms for training purposes and recreational facilities that are open to all inmates within the facility.
6. California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran
California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran is a level 4 security system prison. This facility was opened in August 1997 to provide treatment for the state’s most serious offenders who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. SATF has a small area compared to other prisons it has only 280 acres.
But the number of inmates of this Prison is 4844, where it was built for 3424 people. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) believes that addiction can be treated just as effectively behind bars as it can on the outside.
7. Calipatria State Prison
Calipatria State Prison is a level 4 security system prison located in Calipatria, California. This facility has been open since 1992 and has housed 2935 inmates.
The area of this Prison is 1,227.5 acres. All the living quarters have their own yard space for recreation. To prevent escaping of inmates, CAL installed an electrified fence that means an electronic security system in November 1993.
This Prison provides educational opportunities for inmates, including GED classes and vocational training programs, while incarcerated at Calipatria State Prison.
8. High Desert State Prison
The High Desert State Prison is a level 4 security system prison. The inmates are housed in 3286, while it has a capacity of 2324 people. It was opened in 1995 (August).
This Prison has a maximum to Super-max security system. HDSP has a previous record of changing 7 wardens in 8 years.
It has different types of housing units: Administrative Segregation, Protective Custody, and General Population Units. All inmates have the opportunity to participate in educational programs, recreational activities, work assignments, religious services, and counseling sessions while incarcerated at HDSP.
9. Kern Valley State Prison
Kern Valley State Prison is another level 4 security system prison located in Delano, California. The facility has an inmate capacity of 2448 inmates, but it has 3534 inmates ( April 2020’s Report).
In 2005 (June), KVSP started its journey. But what does Kern Valley State Prison do to help prisoners? KVSP offers various programs for offenders such as vocational training, substance abuse classes, educational opportunities, and more to prepare them for reentry into society.
10. Pelican Bay State Prison
Pelican Bay State Prison is considered the only Super-max Prison in the state of California. The location of PBSP is Del Norte County, California. It was opened in 1989 and can house 2380 inmates. It’s surrounded by 275 acres of land.
The prisons Pelican Bay State Prison housed at this facility have been deemed “the worst of the worst” by the US Department of Justice due to their history of violence against law enforcement officers, other inmates, and sexual assault on staff members.
Inmates can work as kitchen workers or landscapers during their sentence. They also get three hours a day for educational purposes, including taking courses such as parenting skills or anger management.
Conclusion
With the highest level of security, these prisons are reserved for inmates who have proved they need to be strictly controlled. They include death row and those with a history of escape attempts or violence against guards.
The list consists of correctional facilities that house only male inmates as well as some female-only institutions. The level 4 security prisons typically hold around 1,000 prisoners each but can exceed 2,500 in extreme cases.
For more information on what it’s like inside this kind of facility, check out our blog post on Level 3 security prisons in California.
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