Centinela State Prison (CEN)
Main Phone: (760) 337-7900
Physical Address: 2302 Brown Road, Imperial, CA 92251 (Directions)
- Institution: P.O. Box 731, Imperial, CA 92251-0731
- Inmates (make sure to include Inmate’s Name and CDCR number):
- Facility A, P.O. Box 901, Imperial, CA 92251-0901
- Facility B, P.O. Box 911, Imperial, CA 92251-0911
- Facility C, P.O. Box 921, Imperial, CA 92251-0921
- Facility D & E, P.O. Box 931, Imperial, CA 92251-0931
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.
- Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT)
- Long-Term Offender Program (LTOP)
- Vocational: Electrical, Office Services/Related Technologies (OSRT), Building Maintenance, Small Engine Repair, Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Electronics, Roofing and Welding.
- Academic: Adult Basic Education (ABE I, ABE II, ABE III), GED, Voluntary Education Program (VEP), Independent Study and Literacy Lab.
- Other: Service Crews, Religious programs for all Faiths, Alternatives to Violence Programs, Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, Creative Conflict Resolution Workshops, Life Without a Crutch Workshops, Cage Your Rage Workshops, Kairos Christian Fellowship, Choice Theory/Internal Empowerment Coaching and TUMI Discipleship 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.
Family Liaison Service Specialist
CDCR provides through a contract with a community-based organization an on-site Case Manager as a family reunification liaison for inmates and family members, to assist with an inmates pre-release preparation; and conduct Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes for inmates. Please call the Institution to contact the Family Reunification Liaison.
El Centro is the nearest city to Centinela State Prison, has a desert climate, and is the southernmost desert city below sea level in the continental United States. There are two international border crossings for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. El Centro is just 15 miles from the international industrial complexes in Mexicali, Baja California. The nearby Algodones Dunes, the largest dune field in the U.S. drawing thousands of visitors each year, mainly for off-road driving. The Salton Sea is 30 miles north of El Centro, and for water sport enthusiasts, there the Colorado River an hour to the east. Mexico (the border city of Mexicali, Baja California) is ten miles away and offers big city amenities like museums, a zoo and a sports/convention center.
Details
Centinela State Prison attempts to achieve inmate productivity and self-improvement by providing legally mandated work and study opportunities for all inmates (AB 1403 – Chapter One Statues of 1982). This goal is accomplished through the development of support services, academic education, vocation instruction, spiritual programs, work assignments, substance abuse programs and the availability of self-help programming.
Centinela State Prison provides for the confinement of General Population, Level I, Level III inmates, Level III sensitive needs and maximum security (Level IV) inmates.
History
Centinela State Prison was named for Mount Signal, the mountain located on the US Mexico international line once used to watch over the state’s borders to prevent unauthorized passage into the US. Centinela is the Spanish word for “Sentinel” or signal.
Fidencio N. Guzman has been the acting Warden at Centinela State Prison since February 2023. He began his CDCR career in July of 1999. He has been assigned to several institutions throughout the state. He has experience working with the incarcerated population at every security level.
Mr. Guzmán reported to Calipatria State Prison in August 1999 where he was assigned to numerous classifications, including Correctional Officer and Correctional Counselor I. In 2006, he promoted to Correctional Sergeant at Centinela State Prison. In 2009, he promoted to Correctional Lieutenant at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, where he held numerous classifications, including Correctional Counselor II, Captain and Associate Warden, where he was responsible for Housing, Central Services and Business Services.
He transferred to CEN 2018 as an Associate Warden, where he managed the Business Services department. In December 2020 he was assigned as acting Chief Deputy Warden and was appointed on November 2, 2021.
In addition to Mr. Guzmán’s knowledge and experience at CDCR, he is a veteran of the United States Army (National Guard) from September 2001 through August 2011, and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2004, Mr. Guzmán earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Diego State University and an Associate of Arts in Psychology and General Studies from San Diego Mesa Community College.
Mr. Guzmán’s priorities are to support CDCR’s vision and mission, while exemplifying the core values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
John Munger has been the acting Chief Executive Officer at Centinela State Prison since February 2023.
He began his career with CDCR in July 2006, when he attended the Basic Correctional Officer Academy. He then reported to Calipatria State Prison (CAL) in November 2006. Mr. Munger served in several capacities while at CAL including Correctional Officer, Correctional Sergeant, Procurements and Services Officer II, Correctional Health Services Administrator I, and Chief Support Executive. He reported to CEN in February 2023, where he is the Chief Executive Officer (A).
Prior to his service in CDCR, Mr. Munger served in the United States Navy and was selected to the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Support Team. Mr. Munger also served in the United States Army where he attended Officer Candidate School, became an Army Officer, and served both stateside and overseas. He separated from military service in 2006.
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.