North Kern State Prison (NKSP)

• Institution: P.O. Box 567, Delano, CA 93216-0567
• Inmates (include Inmate’s name and CDCR number as well as last known housing):
  
  • Facility A and M, P.O. Box 5000, Delano, CA 93216-0567
  • Facility B, P.O. Box 4999, Delano, CA 93216-0567
  • Facility C, P.O. Box 5004, Delano, CA 93216-0567
  • Facility D, P.O. Box 5005, Delano, CA 93216-0567

Visiting an incarcerated person: learn how to visit an incarcerated person at our institutions.

Other Resources: explore family & friends resources, including how to contact or send packages to those incarcerated in our institutions.

• PIA: Health Care Facility Maintenance
• Vocational:  Small Engine Repair, Electrical Work
• Academic: Adult Basic Education, High School/GED, English as a Second Language Bridging Education
• Other:  Religious Services, Self Help Groups, Substance Abuse Program

DRP Programs
Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT)–Overview
On January 21, 2020, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) implemented ISUDT.  ISUDT is a comprehensive and evidence-based cross-divisional program with pathways to treatment through DRP Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) programs referred to as:

CBI-Intensive Outpatient (Medical Classification T1, SOMS assignment code ISI) 2-hours/day, 5-days/week, 52-weeks completion

CBI-Outpatient  (Medical Classification T2, SOMS assignment code ISO) 2-hours/day, 3-days/week, 14-weeks completion

CBI-Life Skills (Medical Classification T3, SOMS assignment code CB2) 2-hours/day, 3-days/week, 29-weeks completion

All participants will be assessed by medical and referred to one of the CBI classes.

North Kern State Prison is located in the city of Delano. Also known as the Diamond of the Golden Empire, Delano is located in the Kern County-Bakersfield metropolitan area, and has grown to become the second largest city in Kern County. Strategically situated along Freeway 99 and well connected to surrounding communities, the city has experienced unprecedented growth. The area is particularly well known as a center for the growing of table grapes.

Details

NKSP has a general population medium custody facility and a minimum support facility with a ten-bed Level I firehouse. The general population portion of the institution focuses on providing educational/vocational opportunities to inmates equipping them with skills which will aid them in finding gainful employment upon their release from prison.

The Reception Center currently processes incoming inmates usually within a 90 day period. After compiling the inmate’s criminal records, life histories, medical and psychological histories, and social relationships, NKSP staff determines the inmate’s classification score and institutional placement.

NKSP is also the site where the Central / Southern California Transportation Hub for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is located and operates from.

History

On October 7, 1994, the adult education facility was dedicated in the memory of Marie Keroack Romero, a prison teacher who was murdered at a California Youth Authority facility in 1975.

Three hundred and sixty acres of NKSP property has been designated as protected wildlife habitat for the Blunt-Nosed Leopard lizard, San Joaquin kit fox, and the Tipton kangaroo Rat.  The facility is an exact replica of its closest neighbor, Wasco State Prison-Reception Center.

On October 22, 2012 a 5.7 megawatt Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant was activated. An estimated 13.3 million dollars savings over the next 20 year is projected. The solar deployment will offset nearly 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide over 20 years. The system and panels produce no noise and zero greenhouse emissions.

Institution Statistics (SB601), Operational Performance Measures (COMPSTAT) and Inmate Population Reports

Kevin Hixon has been Warden at North Kern State Prison in Delano since December 2023. 

Mr. Hixon began his career with CDCR in July 2000 at Deuel Vocational Institution. He transferred to Corcoran State Prison in 2002.  He promoted to Sergeant in 2005 at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and California State Prison, Corcoran, where he eventually served as a Lieutenant and acting Captain. He promoted to Captain at Kern Valley State Prison in 2013. In 2016, he promoted to Correctional Administrator at North Kern State Prison, where he remained until his appointment to Chief Deputy Warden in 2020.

Celia Bell began her career with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 1997 and has served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) January 2022 – May 2024, and California State Prison-Corcoran (COR) August 2016 – December 2023 . Celia began her position as CEO at North Kern State Prison (NKSP) in May 2024.

Celia was assigned as the Chief Support Executive (CSE) at several prisons, which include California Correctional Institution (CCI), California City Correctional Facility (CAC), and Wasco State Prison – Reception Center (WSP) from 2014 to 2016.

Prior to 2014, Celia held numerous positions at CCI, WSP, CAC, KVSP, and Regional Accounting Office – Bakersfield. The positions include Health Program Manager III, Health Program Specialist I, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Personnel Specialist, and Accountant I. Celia also served in the United States Army as an active duty and reserve member from 1990 to 2004. Celia holds a master’s degree in business administration (Management).

Local Inmate Family Councils (IFC’s) are a gathering of family and friends of the incarcerated who meet regularly with Wardens to support visiting since keeping strong family connections with loved ones is a powerful rehabilitative tool. These IFC’s promote visiting by clarifying rules and regulations as well as discussing health, education, vocational training, packages, books, and related issues. For more information on connecting with a local IFC, please visit the Statewide IFC website.