California Men's Colony (CMC)

Institution Physical and Mailing Addresses: Physical Address Inmate Mailing Addr. Staff Mailing Address Highway 1 San Luis Obispo, CA 93409 (805) 547-7900 P.O. Box 8103 San Luis Obispo, CA 93409-8103 P.O. Box 8101 San Luis Obispo, CA 93409-8101

Elvin Valenzuela, Warden

California Men's Colony - Mission Statement

The primary mission of the California Men's Colony is to provide secure housing for minimum and medium security inmates. 

Institution Details

CMC has two physically separated housing complexes, commonly referred to as “East” and “West”. An emphasis is placed on providing all inmates with programs for self-improvement. These programs include academic and vocational education, work skills in prison industries and inmate self-help group activities.

The Level III housing complex (East), which houses medium security general population inmates, is divided into four Facilities. Each Facility has its own dining room, classrooms, athletic fields, and two three-story housing units. The East housing complex has a fully licensed hospital and provides a full range of medical services for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The facility also provides a Mental Health Delivery System in the form of an Enhanced Outpatient Program and Outpatient treatment for inmates assigned to the Correctional Clinical Case Management System, as well as a Mental Health Crisis Bed Unit.

The Level I and II housing complex (West) houses minimum security general population inmates in dormitory settings within three separate facilities. In addition, the West housing complex contains a Level I camp program for fire suppression, conservation and other community service work. CMC works extensively within San Luis Obispo County, in conjunction with other governmental entities, through Community Service Crews which perform many valuable services to the various communities within the county. CMC’s West Facilities has been designated as a re-entry hub. As a re-entry hub inmates will be given opportunities to take advantage of increased academic education and increased career technical education. CMC West inmates will have access to cognitive behavior therapy programs such as substance abuse, criminal thinking, anger management and family relationships. Additionally, CMC West inmates will be able to take advantage to transition programs that help them get jobs, plan out a career, plan for their financial future and obtain a California ID card before their release.