California State Prison, Corcoran (CSP-COR)

California State Prison, Corcoran - Mission Statement

The California State Prison (CSP), Corcoran is committed to ensuring and instilling the public and inmates' families with the confidence that CSP-Corcoran is committed to providing the best medical, mental health, education, vocational and self help programs for all inmates confined to Corcoran.

CSP-Corcoran not only meets this commitment by providing it's employees with the proper training, tools and safe working environment, but also by encouraging ideas and collaboration between all departments.

Institution Details

CSP-Corcoran is a complex, multi-mission institution comprised of the following facilities:  Level 1, Level III,  Level IV,  Security Housing Unit,  Protective Housing Unit,  Prison Industry Authority and a fully licensed Acute Care Hospital.

---

Level I - General Population

Total capacity of Level I inmates is 884.  Approximately 95% of these inmates are assigned permanent jobs.  The jobs performed include Community Work Crews, Administration Building Porters, Maintenance, PIA Warehouse, Fire House, Garage, Grounds Yard Crews, PIA Corp Farm and PIA Dairy.

The Minimum Support Facility (MSF) Level I at CSP-Corcoran consists of five buildings; four are dormitories housing up to 192 inmates each, and one E-dormitory housing 100 inmates.  The complex has a culinary and dining hall, its own recreation facilities, library, chapel, and visiting room.  Additionally, in January 2001 the Department activated a Substance Abuse Program (SAP) located within the Level I Facility with a contract to provide treatment to 190 inmates.  The SAP has two classrooms that are currently being utilized for alcohol/drug treatment.

---

Level III - General Population

CSP-Corcoran's Level III consists of one facility designated as III-C which houses inmates with a classification score of 28-51.  The design of the individual housing unit is a 270º design facility.

There are five buildings with a total combined bed capacity of 1,000.  Current programs in this facility include an Orientation Unit, Disability Placement Program (DPP), Developmentally Disabled Program (DDP), and Correctional Clinical Case Management System (CCCMS), Sensitive Needs Yards.

The III-C gymnasium has been converted into dormitory type housing, having a capacity of 122 inmates.  The entire III-C Facility currently houses 1,112 inmates.

---

Level IV - General Population

Facilities III-A and III-B are Level IV General Population placements which house inmates with a classification score of 52 and above.  The design of the individual housing unit is a 270º design facility.

The III-A Facility has five buildings with a total combined bed capacity of 1,000.  As of March 6, 1999, the Level IV Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) was relocated to Facility 3A03.  Current programs in this facility include ASU, Chronic Infectious Disease (CID) Unit, and Correctional Clinical Case Management Services (CCCMS).

The Facility III-B also has five buildings with the bed capacity for 1,000 inmates.  The III-B Gym has a capacity of housing up to 122 inmates.  Current programs in this facility include Orientation Unit, Enhanced Outpatient Program (EOP), Disability Placement Program, Developmentally Disabled Program (DDP), and CCCMS.

---

Facility 4A and 4B Security Housing Units

Housing in Facilities 4A and 4B is maximum security of 180º design facility and provides for a variety of special housing programs.  The majority of inmate population in these facilities is the Security Housing Unit (SHU) inmates.  Inmates who conduct endangers the safety of others or the security of the institution are housed in SHU.  In most cases, these inmates have committed serious rules violations while housed in a general population institution.

CSP-Corcoran also serves as the hub for Level IV Enhanced Out Patient (EOP) inmates.  Within the SHU housing facilities, there are two specially designated units:  the Medical/Handicap SHU unit which meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Also, forty-eight SHU beds are designated for inmates with HIV.  Each offers maximum security housing with necessary adaptations to the showers and cells for accessibility.

The 4A Facility has the bed capacity for 1,014 inmates.  The facility currently houses inmates that require protective housing within the Protective Housing Unit (PHU).  Facility 4A is a debriefing unit for inmates awaiting endorsement.  It also houses inmates participating in the Developmental Disabled Program, Developmental Placement Program, and the Chronic Infectious Disease inmates.

The 4B Facility has the bed capacity for 1,024 inmates.  Facility 4B houses validated prison gang members, i.e.,  Nuestra Familia (NF), Nazi Low Riders (NLR), Aryan Brotherhood (AB), Mexican Mafia (EME), Black Guerrilla Family (BGF), Texas Syndicate (TS), and the Northern Structure (NS).

---

Acute Care Hospital (ACH)

The California Department of Corrections opened the Acute Care Hospital (ACH) at Corcoran in June 1993.  The ACH is a maximum security facility licensed under the Health and Safety Code as a 75-bed hospital, which operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.  ACH provides general acute medical, surgical, medical health crisis, and specialty outpatient services.  The patients served may be described as adult offenders ranging from 18 years of age and older.  The hospital supports the Department of Corrections by providing services to inmates from SHU, Administrative Segregation Units (Ad-Seg), Level IV institutions, and the surrounding institutions.

There presently is a proposal to expand the ACH to include a contracted mental health component for an additional 21 beds.

---

Prison Industry Authority (PIA)

The Prison Industry Authority administers a work program for inmates in California correctional institutions to improve their job skills and reduce idleness.  The program is fully supported by sales of products and services to government agencies.

PIA is composed of the "Century 2000" modular office system manufacturing facilities, an institutional laundry, agribusiness enterprises, a warehouse/freight distribution center, industrial maintenance and repair in addition to providing Administrative functions to the PIA farm and laundry located at the Wasco State Prison/Reception Center.  PIA employs 601 inmates in a private business-like setting throughout CSP-Corcoran.

The "Century 2002" modular office system spans two housing yards (III-B and III-C) and occupies approximately 100,000 square feet of factory floor space.  The institutional laundry is operated seven days a week, ten hours per day by rotating crews of Level III inmates.  The Warehouse and Distribution Center at Corcoran serves as the central hub of a statewide distribution network.  The Agribusiness consists of 400 acres of farmland, a dairy capable of milking 1,800 cows and a milk packaging facility that provides milk for several surrounding institutions.

Institution Statistics

CSP-Corcoran was opened in February 1988, and covers 942 acres. As of Fiscal Year 2002/2003, the following statistics apply:

Special Historical Notes

CSP-Corcoran is built on what was once Tulare Lake, home of the Tachi Indians.  It was the first California prison with a separate facility built exclusively to house Security Housing Unit inmates.

Inmate Programs

Visiting Hours and Directions

For information on visiting days and hours, please contact our automated attendant at  (800) 374-8474.

General Directions:

From Northern California:

Option A

• Take Freeway 99 south, to the city of Selma, to Hwy 43 south
• Take Hwy 43 south for approximately 30 miles to Corcoran; exit on Whitley Avenue
• Drive west on Whitley Avenue to traffic light at Otis Avenue.  Turn south on Otis Avenue; drive for approximately 3 miles to CSP-Corcoran

Option B

• Take Interstate 5 South, to State Route Hwy 198
• Take SR Hwy 198 east for approximately 35 miles to Hwy 43
• Take Hwy 43 south for approximately 15 miles to Corcoran; exit on Whitley Avenue
• Drive west on Whitley Avenue to traffic light at Otis Avenue
• Turn south on Otis Avenue; drive for approximately 3 miles to CSP-Corcoran

From Southern California:

Option A

• Take Interstate 5 north to State Route Hwy 45 at Lost Hills
• Take SR Hwy 46 east to Hwy 43 at Wasco
• Take Hwy 43 north for approximately 40 miles to Corcoran; exit on Whitley Avenue
• Drive west on Whitley Avenue to traffic light at Otis Avenue
• Turn south on Otis Avenue; drive for approx. 3 miles to CSP-Corcoran

Option B

• Take Interstate 5 north to Freeway 99 at Wheeler Ridge
• Take Freeway 99 north to State Route 144 at  Pixley
• Take SR 144 west for approximately 10 miles to Hwy 43
• Take Hwy 43 north for approximately 3 miles to Corcoran; exit on Whitley Avenue
• Drive west on Whitley Avenue to traffic light at Otis Avenue
• Turn south on Otis Avenue; drive for approximately 3 miles to CSP-Corcoran

For further information, visit this link  to customize your driving directions.