California Men's Colony (CMC)

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 separate facilities, designed as East and West facilities.  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 East Facility, which houses medium security inmates, is divided into four quadrangles. Each quadrangle has its own dining room, classrooms, athletic fields, and two three-story housing units. The East Facility 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 Case Management System, as well as a Mental Health Crisis Bed Unit.

The Level I and II West Facility houses minimum security inmates in dormitory settings.  In addition to the three general population housing units, the West Facility contains a Level I camp program for fire suppression, conservation and other community service work.  The West Facility 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.

Institution Statistics

California Men's Colony's West Facility was opened in 1954, and it's East Facility was opened in 1961.  CMC covers  356 acres.  As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, the following statistics apply:

Inmate Programs

Special Note

The CMC is the second institution in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to offer a hospice program to the inmate population. There are currently 26 volunteer inmates who completed the training program and are available to visit terminally ill inmates who are housed in the institution hospital. The training was developed and presented by local hospice staff, to closely match training offered to volunteers within the community. According to volunteer inmates and inmate recipients of hospice care, the program is of great value on both sides of this very critical issue.

Visiting Hours, Information and Directions

For the purposes of visiting, the following items of clothing will not be permitted:

• white t-shirts as outer wear
• under wire garments
• strapless garments, halter, midriff, tank tops (male or female), sheer or transparent, wrap around tops, skirts, or dresses
• leg warmers
• shower shoes
• clothing that exposes the breast/chest area, genitalia or buttocks
• dresses, skirts, pants and shorts exposing more than two inches above the knee, including slits
• clothing or accessories displaying obscure or offensive language or drawings
• warm-up, sweat suits, jogging suits, lycra, or spandex clothing
• black, gray, or blue denim pants, jackets, skirts or shirts
• forest green or tan shirts, or blue chambray clothing
• clothing that resembles officers' clothing or inmate clothing
• camouflage type clothing or Army fatigues
• readily removable wigs, hairpeices, weaves, extensions, or any other headpiece of artificial or human hair worn as personal adornment (except for medical reasons, with prior approval)
• skin-tight or form fitting clothing
• clothing items with hoods
• scarves, gloves, hats, or excess clothing

Children 40" tall or under are exempt from the following restrictions:

• denim wear
• tights
• head gear (hats or hoods)

Visitors not properly attired will be denied visiting.  Children of all ages, except where exempted, are also to be dressed in accordance with the above restrictions.

Please contact our visiting number for further information at (800) 374-8474.

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General Directions:

From the North or South:

• Hwy 101 to San Luis Obispo; exit Hwy 1
• North on Hwy 1 (for approx. 3 miles)
• West Facility visitors: turn left on Santa Cruz (first left), and follow signs to Visiting
• East Facility visitors: stay on Colony Drive and park in parking lot on left side

Visit this link  to customize your driving directions.

San Luis Obispo offers a wide variety of lodging choices, from campgrounds to luxury hotels.  For more information, call the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce at (805) 781-2777 or visit our website www.visitslo.com.

Recruitment

The California Men's Colony is home to an acute care hospital, and is in need of nurses (RN/LVN) and and Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPT’s).  If you are interested in a nursing career at the California Men's Colony, please call:.