Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and Level 5 Prisons In California

With over 39.5 million residents who are stretched all across the state with approximately 163,696 miles, California being the most populous and the third largest US state by area, has one of the most complex and the highest number of inmates than any other state in the US.

According to a consensus, California's population grew to 5.8% between 2010 and 2020 - something that has been quite evident in the number of people incarcerated, which also has been on the rise.

As of 2022, 85,083 citizens are incarcerated in the US state of California in 35 adult prisons. This is the highest number of citizens incarcerated in any US state along with in any democracy. On top of it, California prisons are also the most congested in the US. However, state authorities have oftentimes agreed upon the imminent need to increase the prison size, but little has been done on the ground.

Prison authority in the state of California:

To manage such a massive amount of inmates, the state of California, similar to other states, has designated an entire department for this job. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation CDCR is a civilian force tasked, trained, and equipped to manage all 35 adult prisons in California.

The force was founded 137 years ago and since then little has changed regarding its rules and regulations. It employs over 66,800 trained officers and wardens and has a budget of $11.3 billion, making it the third biggest law enforcement force in the United States of America, and only falls behind the US Customs and Border Protection.

The majority of the CDCR-employed officers are peace officers who are sworn law enforcement officers having peace officer power. A small percentage of them are parole agents, and even a small percentage include criminal investigators.

Level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 Prison Distinction in the state of California:

The CDCR and other prison forces in the United States of America use the Level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and Level 5 prison security distinction. The following is how CDCR divides these prison security distinctions:

• Level 1 prisons in the state of California: as per CDCR guidelines, level 1 prisons are minimum-level security prisons that usually house inmates going through a trial or serving a short sentence.
• Level 2: as per CDCR guidelines, level 2 prisons are minimum-level security prisons that house inmates convicted of minor offenses and are no threat to the prison guards.
• Level 3: as per CDCR guidelines, level 3 prisons are medium-level security prisons housing inmates with minor to major offenses and are to be placed within a cell.
• Level 4: as per CDCR guidelines, level 4 prisons are high-level security prisons housing criminals who have committed a serious offense and need to be confined in an independent cell.
• Level 5: as per CDCR guidelines, level 5 prisons are the highest level security prisons giving maximum security to convicted criminals.

List of Level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 prisons in the state of California:

The following are the 35 adult prisons under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. As per CDCR guidelines, each facility is given its own abbreviation for better administrational management. These include:

• Avenal State Prison (ASP): The ASP is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• California City Correctional Facility (CAC): Located on 22844 Virginia Boulevard, California City, California. The prison was opened in 2006 and houses over 2,304. The CAC is a level 2 prison security class.
• California Correctional Center (CCC): Located in Susanville, it was opened in 1963, and houses over 4,468 prisoners which is a 115% overpopulation from its capacity of 3,883 inmates. The CCC is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• California Correctional Institution (CCI): The CCI is a level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• California Health Care Facility (CHCF): The prison is located in Stockton, California. It particularly houses patients that have long-term medical and mental health needs. The prison has a capacity of 2,951 inmates and was opened in 2013. It is a level 3 prison security class.
• California Institution for Men (CIM): The prison is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 security prison in the State of California.

California Institution for Women (CIW):

Located in Chino Riverside County, California, east of Los Angeles. The prison is female only and was opened in 1952. It has a capacity of 1,398 but is overpopulated and houses a population of 1,553 inmates.

It is a level 1, level 2, and level 3 prison security class.

California Medical Facility (CMF):

Located in Vacaville Solano County, California. It is a male-only state prison medical facility. It was opened in 1955 and has a population of 2,361.

The CMF is a level 1, level 2, and level 3 prison security class.

California Men’s Colony (CMC):

Located in San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California. It is a male-only prison that was opened in 1954 and has a population of 3,838.

The CMC is a level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

California State Prison Centinela (CEN):

Located in Imperial County, California. It is an only male prison with a capacity of 2,308 but is overpopulated to a population of 3,284.

The CEN is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

California State Prison, Corcoran (COR):

It is a male-only prison located in Kings County, California.  The prison was opened in 1988 and has a capacity of 3,116 which is overstretched to 3,719 making the prison overpopulated.

The COR is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

California State Prison Los Angeles County (LAC):

Located in the city of Lancaster, Los Angeles County, California. The prison was opened in 1993 and has a capacity of 2,300 inmates which is overstretched to 3,158 inmates making the prison overpopulated.

The LAC is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC):

The SAC is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

California State Prison, Solano (SOL):
The SOL is a level 3 prison security class.

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran (SATF):

Located in Corcoran, the SATF is a male-only state prison for substance abuse disorder. The facility was opened in 1997 with a capacity of 3,424. However, the prison is stretched and overpopulated by housing 4,844 inmates.

The SATF is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

Calipatria State Prison (CAL):

The CAL is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF):

The CCWF is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.

Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP):

The CVSP is a level 3 prison security class.

Correctional Training Facility (CTF):

The CTF is a level 1, level 2, and level 3 prison security class.

Folsom State Prison (FSP):

The FSP is a level 1, level 2, and level 3 prison security class.

High Desert State Prison (HDSP):

Located in Susanville, California. The male-only prison was opened in 1955 with a capacity of 2,324. However, the population of the prison is stretched to 3,286 making it overpopulated.

The HDSP is a level 5 prison security class.

• Ironwood State Prison (ISP): The ISP is a level 1, level 2, and level 3 prison security class.
• Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP): The KVSP is a level 5 prison security class.
• Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP): The MCSP is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• North Kern State Prison (NKSP): The NKSP is a level 3 prison security class.
• Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP): The PBSP is a level 5 prison security class.
• Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP): The PVSP is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJDCF): The RJDCF is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP): The SVSP is a level 5 prison security class.
• San Quentin State Prison (SQ): The SQ is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• Sierra Conservation Center (SCC): The SCC is a level 3, level 4, and level 5 prison security class.
• Valley State Prison (VSP): The VSP is a level 3 prison security class.
• Wasco State Prison (WSP): The WSP is a level 3 prison security class.

You can read more articles about Prisons:

• Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 Prisons in Ohio
• Byrd Unit Texas: Everything You Need To Know About This Facility
• List of Maximum security prisons in the New York State
• Segovia Unit Brief Overview Visiting Hours, Inmate Phones, And Location
• 7 Worst Prisons In the State of Ohio
• Minimum, Medium, and Maximum Security Levels in Prisons of Illinois
• Minimum, Medium, and Maximum Level Prisons In Pennsylvania