Chuckawalla Valley State Prison to close in March 2025
As outlined in the 2022-23 budget, CDCR is moving forward with one prison closure and ceasing operation of another leased facility. The department will also deactivate some facilities within six prisons.
A press release is available, as are Frequently Asked Questions. Resources for employees are available on the CDCR Intranet and online.
CDCR and the Administration are working to minimize impact to staff and the communities. CDCR will work to limit the impact to employees affected by these closures and deactivations. This will include options to transfer both within and outside of impacted counties, and identification of employees for redirection to neighboring prisons where there are existing identified vacancies.
CDCR will begin the process to close Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) in Blythe. The anticipated closure date is March 2025.
Similar to the recent announcement by the Administration for workers impacted by the pending closure of the California Correctional Center in Lassen County, the Administration plans to work directly with community stakeholders in Riverside County to help support workers. The includes fostering a bottom-up economic resilience plan for the community impacted by the closure of CVSP.
Additional deactivations
Additionally, the department will exit the $32 million annual lease with CoreCivic for California City Correctional Facility (CAC). It will terminate the contract in March 2024, effectively ending the use of that facility as a state prison.
The department is also planning the deactivation of certain facilities in six prisons:
- Folsom Women’s Facility (expected deactivation January 2023)
- West Facility in California Men’s Colony (expected deactivation winter 2023)
- Facility C in Pelican Bay State Prison (expected deactivation winter 2023)
- Facility A in California Rehabilitation Center (expected deactivation spring 2023)
- Facility D in California Institution for Men (expected deactivation spring 2023)
- Facility D in California Correctional Institution (expected deactivation summer 2023)
Should a significant need for capacity arise in the future due to a natural disaster or other serious need, this option gives the State the possibility to re-activate these facilities at a later date.
Transfers of the incarcerated population will be made to other institutions that meet the housing needs of the population. CDCR will work on a case-by-case basis to place each person in an appropriate prison to meet their rehabilitative and custody needs. All credits earned for self-help, educational, and vocational programs will transfer with the individual. Individuals will have the opportunity to finish courses in progress.
The two prisons were chosen pursuant to criteria set forth by the Legislature in Penal Code Section 2067. CDCR’s leadership carefully evaluated the options for prison closures, pursuant to the 2022-23 budget and Penal Code requirements, and took into account several factors including cost to operate; impact of closure on the surrounding communities and the workforce; housing needs for all populations; long-term investments in state-owned and operated correctional facilities; public safety and rehabilitation; and durability of the state’s solution to prison overcrowding.