Top 10 List Of Maximum Security Prisons In California

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has a total of 35 adult prisons that are located throughout the state.

The maximum-security prison is where inmates are housed and convicted for crimes such as murder, oppression, kidnapping, robbery, arson, or burglary.

Therefore, California prisons provide strict supervision to keep offenders from escaping and protect the public from these dangerous criminals.

Here’s the list of prisons in California that provide max security. These prisons are highly secure and impossible to break. 

01. Pelican Bay State Prison

Pelican Bay State Prison is the only supermax secure prison in California. It’s located in Del Norte County, California. The total area of this prison is 275 acres.

All the Pelican Bay State Prison prisoners have a previous record of violence in California’s other prisons. Therefore, they transfer to this prison. 

This prison was established in 1989, and its design capacity 2380. But currently, it has 1654 prisoners which means it is 69.4 percent of capacity.

Every cell of this prison has no windows, and the call door is strong enough to protect from escaping. The name of the warden of this prison is Stephen Smith.

Main Phone: (707) 465-1000

Physical Address: 5905 Lake Earl Drive, Crescent City, CA 95531

02. Kern Valley State Prison

Kern Valley State Prison is located in Bakersfield, and it’s Level IV Maximum Security prison in California. It was established in June 2005.

This prison is also one of the most overcrowded state prisons in California. The percentage occupied is 118.7%.

Two thousand nine hundred seven (2907) prisoners stay in this prison when the design capacity is only 2448. This prison is only for male prisoners. The budget for the operating cost of Kern Valley State Prison is 123M USD annually. 

Main Phone: (661) 721-6300

Physical Address: 3000 West Cecil Avenue, Delano, CA 93216-6000

03. Avenal State Prison

Avenal State Prison was opened in January 1987, and it’s located in Avenal, California. Avenal State Prison has 640 acres of land, including 17 buildings. It’s also another overcrowded prison in California. In 2005 the percentage of occupied was 259.7.

But at present the percentage has decreased to 139.1%. The design capacity is 2920, while 4,062 people live here. The annual budget of this prison is 136m USD. Rosemary Ndoh is the warden of Avenal State Prison. 

Main Phone: (559) 386-0587

Physical Address: #1 Kings Way, Avenal, CA 93204

04. High Desert State Prison

High Desert State Prison is located in Leavitt, Lassen County, California, and opened in August 1995. The Level 4 security makes this one of the max secure prisons in California.

As of July 31, 2022, this prison consists of 1,823 prisoners. But it has a design capacity of 2324, 78.4% capacity. Fred Foulk is the warden of High Desert State Prison. 

Main Phone: (530) 251-5100

Physical Address: 475-750 Rice Canyon Rd., Susanville, CA 9612

05. California Institution for Men

Another maximum-security prison in California is known as the California Institution for Men. It’s one of the oldest prisons, which started its journey on June 21, 1941.

This prison is famous by the name “Chino Men’s” to the local people. California Institution for Men has 2,500-acre land; therefore, the cost of maintaining this prison is much higher than any other.

Per year CIM spends $232.2M. As per the report of 2020, the design capacity of this prison is 2976. But with 105.3% occupied, this prison has 3,135 offenders. James Hill is working as a warden in CIM.

Main Phone: (909) 597-1821

Physical Address: 14901 Central Avenue, Chino, CA 91710

06. California Rehabilitation Center

The California Rehabilitation Center is one of the most secure prisons in the state of California. It opened in 1962 as a facility that houses those convicted of serious and violent crimes against people or property.

The institution provides housing for 2322 imprisoned people. When they have a capacity of 2491, they take 93.2% population than their capacity.

The annual budget is $118m when CRC has only 98 acres of land to look after. Glen E. Pratt is doing well as a warden of CRC.

Main Phone: (951) 737-2683

Physical Address: 5th Street & Western, Norco, CA 92860

07. Calipatria State Prison

Calipatria State Prison is situated in Calipatria in Imperial County, California. This prison isn’t too far from the city of Calipatria.

The security level of CAL is much higher (Level 4). In the year of 1992, this prison was established. Since then, only male inmates are here.

The present occupancy rate of this prison is 110.1. 2,543 inmates are living when the capacity is 2308. The annual budget is $123m for 1143 staff and other expenses. CAL has an efficient warden named Warren Montgomery. 

Physical Address: 7018 Blair Road, Calipatria, CA 92233

• Institution Phone Number 1-760-348-7000 Ext. 5716
• Visitor Information Line 1-800-374-8474

08. Folsom State Prison

The Folsom State Prison in California is one of the most well-known maximum security prisons. It was built in 1880, which means it’s 141 years old.

The prison was originally designed for adult males but started housing women and prisoners as they became overcrowded.

There are currently over 2066 men and 403 women people incarcerated at Folsom. The present occupants are 128.9%. In the past, several violent attempts happened at Folsom.

With time the security increased in this prison. Moreover, many cultural things happen based on FSP. Tracy Johnson(A) is working as a warden at FSP. 

Main Phone: (916) 985-2561

Physical Address: 300 Prison Road, Represa, CA 95671

09. Wasco State Prison

Wasco State Prison is located in Wasco, Kern County, California. And sits on 634 acres. It has a max-level security system. WSP was opened in 1991.

The prison houses up to 3,667 prisoners when it has only 2984 inmates capacity. Therefore, the occupant percentage’s 122.8. Heather Shirley is the warden of this Wasco State Prison. 

Main Phone: (661) 758-8400

Physical Address: 701 Scofield Avenue, Wasco, CA 93280

10. California State Prison, Corcoran 

The COR is standing in the city of Corcoran, in Kings County, California. It was established in 1988 and has a capacity to house about 3719 inmates.

The facility’s programs are designed to provide training, education, treatment, work assignments, and other valuable skills for inmate rehabilitation while preparing them for release back into society as law-abiding citizens.

COR’s annual budget is $115m. They have 1703 staff and 110.3% of the occupant. Ken Clark working as a warden at COR. 

Main Phone: (559) 992-8800

Physical Address: 4001 King Avenue, Corcoran, CA 93212

Conclusion

It’s no secret that the state of California is facing a severe overcrowding crisis. Inmates are being packed into prisons at an alarming rate, and there is little hope for relief in sight.

The problem has become so dire, 25% of inmates are housed in out-of-state facilities while their cells sit empty, waiting to be filled with new prisoners! With nowhere left to turn, lawmakers have proposed building more maximum security prisons as one possible solution.