Frequently Asked Questions – March 2023
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is committed to providing a safe, secure environment for the individuals in our care.
As with prisons nationwide, Security Threat Groups (STGs), often referred to as “prison gangs,” have long created significant challenges in this mission. While many STG members choose to positively program, others are committed to disrupting prison operations, creating discord and animosity among rival groups.
For many years, CDCR housed certain STG populations separate from one another. While this practice reduced disruptive incidents, it also led to territorial wars and strongholds amongst certain STGs, a safety and security danger to people who live and work in the state’s correctional institutions.
In 2022, CDCR announced it would begin to house all incarcerated people the same way, based on their case factors and programming needs, not on their STG affiliation.
This is consistent with CDCR’s move toward a behavior-based system and will provide all incarcerated people the opportunity to participate in rehabilitative programs, promote pro-social behaviors, and better prepare them for release.
CDCR is charged with providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits its institutions. Furthermore, the rehabilitation of individuals entrusted to the department’s care is also a priority. CDCR will continue to move toward a behavior-based model that focuses on providing the most programming opportunities for incarcerated people in the least restrictive setting. This carries greater significance as people in California prisons now have more opportunities to earn credits and return to the community.
CDCR cannot and will not allow gangs to dictate the operations of its prisons. CDCR maintains a duty to provide opportunities for robust rehabilitative programming and to prepare people for success after prison, including the ability to peacefully co-exist among different races, backgrounds, and cultures.
Most gang members have successfully integrated into prisons throughout the state. They are positively programming, participating in productive work assignments, and preparing for successful returns home. Unfortunately, a small percentage of gang members have been unsuccessful in integration efforts. While CDCR strongly believes a person’s behavior should determine where they are housed, leadership also recognized the integration was not working. A multidisciplinary workgroup has developed a plan to integrate these persons back into the prisons at which they were housed prior to the reintegration. Others will be endorsed to Non-Designated Programming Facilities (NDPF) statewide. Wardens and prison leadership will work to ensure the least disruption to schedules and encourage these gang members to positively program, as many others have already done.
The gang members who have not successfully integrated will return to designated institutions based on their security level, as follows:
- Those with security Level IV (high security) who require a “180 housing design” will be endorsed to Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP)
- 180 design allows a 180-degree view of all cells and dayrooms
- Level IV who require a “270 housing design” will be endorsed to California State Prison, Corcoran (COR)
- 270 design places cells in a 270-degree circumference with the control room in the center of the circle
- Level III will be endorsed to Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP)
- Level II will be endorsed to Non-Designated Programming Facilities (NDPF) throughout the state.
The institutions were selected based on their ability to provide the best opportunities for programming, education, vocation, rehabilitation, safety, etc. commensurate to their case factors. SVSP, COR, and PVSP previously housed this population before the integration. They are experienced and will develop plans to integrate the members back into the prison. Wardens and prison leadership will work to ensure the least disruption to schedules.
These individuals will be afforded ample access to rehabilitative programs, in line with their lower security level where there is often less gang-related activity. In addition to building knowledge and vocational skills, successful participation in programs allows incarcerated persons the ability to earn credits toward their release date.
CDCR expects all incarcerated people to engage in positive programming and behavior. Any individual or group who does not follow the rules and who inflicts violence on inmates and/or staff, will be subject to the disciplinary process and potential placement into higher custody level housing where they can be appropriately managed.
CDCR expects all incarcerated people to engage in positive programming and behavior. Any individual or group who does not follow the rules and who inflicts violence on inmates and/or staff, will be subject to the disciplinary process and potential placement into higher custody level housing where they can be appropriately managed.