CDCR Infrastructure Master Plan
A 20-year roadmap to address aging infrastructure and support safer, more modern correctional environments across California.
Overview
CDCR’s institutions include housing units, health care space, kitchens, classrooms, utilities, fire and life safety systems, visiting areas, and other infrastructure needed to operate secure facilities 24 hours a day. Many of these facilities are more than 50 years old.
Many facilities were built decades ago and have not received the sustained investment needed to meet today’s correctional needs, including rehabilitation, health care, accessibility, cooling, family connection, staff wellness, or reentry preparation.
The Infrastructure Master Plan provides a long-term framework to assess facility conditions, prioritize investments, and guide modernization efforts over the next 20 years.
Why the Plan Is Needed
Aging infrastructure and decades of deferred investments affects daily operations across the system, including:
- Safety and security
- Health care delivery
- Rehabilitation programming
- Accessibility
- Heating and cooling
- Staff work environments
- Utility reliability
- Long-term maintenance costs
Five-Year Planning Focus
The first phase of planning focuses on significant infrastructure assessment and modernization efforts at:
- California Medical Facility
- Central California Women’s Facility
- Sierra Conservation Center
- California State Prison, Corcoran
- California Institution for Men
These institutions were identified based on infrastructure conditions, operational needs, and long-term planning priorities. CDCR will continue to assess other institutions and statewide infrastructure needs as part of future planning cycles.
Documents
Infrastructure Master Plan Report
Full report outlining the Department’s infrastructure assessment, long-term strategy, and five-year planning focus.
Infrastructure Master Plan Brochure
Public overview of CDCR’s infrastructure needs and modernization strategy.
CDCR Timeline
Detailed timeline noting the year each CDCR institution was opened and when major shifts in approach to rehabilitation occurred.
Appendix 1: Institution Profiles
Facility information and institution-level summaries.
Appendix 2: Condition Assessments
Infrastructure condition ratings and system analysis.
Appendix 3: 20 Year Infrastructure Needs
Current infrastructure replacement estimates.
Appendix 4: Construction Schedules
Planning timelines and proposed construction phasing.
Important Note
Projects identified in the Infrastructure Master Plan are subject to the standard budget review and approval process, including review and consideration by the Department of Finance and the Legislature. Inclusion in the Plan does not constitute project approval or funding authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions:
CDCR operates 31 institutions across the state, many of which are more than 50 years old. These facilities were not originally designed for today’s correctional needs, including rehabilitation, health care, accessibility, and staff wellness. Decades of deferred investment have resulted in aging infrastructure that can affect safety, operations, and the Department’s ability to carry out its modern mission. The Infrastructure Master Plan provides a long-term framework to assess conditions, prioritize investments, and guide modernization over the next 20 years.
CDCR conducted a condition assessment of all 31 institutions, evaluating building systems, utilities, and infrastructure. The five institutions identified for the initial five-year focus were selected based on infrastructure condition, operational needs, geographic location, mission, custody level, and long-term planning priorities. The Plan is designed to be revisited approximately every five years to reassess system-wide needs and determine the next phase of investment.
No. Projects identified in the Infrastructure Master Plan are subject to the standard budget review and approval process, including review and consideration by the Department of Finance and the Legislature. Inclusion in the Plan does not constitute project approval or funding authorization. All proposals will be submitted as part of future budget processes for consideration and will only proceed upon approval.
The Infrastructure Master Plan covers all 31 institutions. While the initial five-year focus concentrates on five institutions with the most critical needs, CDCR will continue to assess and address infrastructure needs at all other institutions. The Plan is meant to be a dynamic guide, revisited approximately every five years to assess progress and realign efforts as the Department evolves.
Modern infrastructure is essential to the Department’s mission of rehabilitation, safety, and successful reentry. Aging and outdated facilities limit CDCR’s ability to deliver health care, provide rehabilitative programming, ensure accessibility, and maintain safe environments for both incarcerated individuals and staff. Investing in infrastructure supports the Department’s ongoing transformation toward a correctional environment that fosters rehabilitation, improves safety, and focuses on the well-being of everyone who lives and works in these institutions.