Sierra Conservation Center is a minimum to medium security facility located in Jamestown California. It is one of two facilities that selects and trains inmates into the conservation camp program. There are 20 of these conservation camps, which are located in the wilderness and have no walls, fences etc.
San Quentin State Prison is one of the oldest and most iconic prisons of California. It serves as the only gas chamber in the state and death row for all male inmates sentenced to death in California. The prison dates back to 1852 and was built by inmates who would eventually inhabit the facility.
Salinas Valley State Prison is located in Soledad California. The facility is responsible for the incarceration and rehabilitation of minimum to maximum security inmates. Currently this correctional facility houses over 4,500 Level I-Level IV inmates, which is double the original constructed capacity.
Richard J. Donovan Correctional facility is located South of San Diego County California. It houses over 3,600 inmates from medium to maximum security.
Pleasant Valley State Prison is located in Coalinga California. It provides the secure treatment and rehabilitation of minimum to maximum security offenders. Inmates at this facility can take classes to learn how to read, obtain an adult basic education, GED, or even learn English.
Pelican Bay State Prison is located in Crescent City California and houses the most dangerous maximum security offenders. Part of the facility is used to house inmates in a general population setting, although they are all maximum security offenders. The other part of the prison, approximately half of it, houses inmates in the SHU or security housing unit.
North Kern State Prison is located in Delano California. The facility acts as both a reception center, and a medium to minimum custody facility, as well as a transportation hub for when inmates are transported over a long distance through California. The reception center portion of this facility is responsible for diagnosing and classifying many inmates from all over the state.
Mule Creek State Prison is located in Ione California. This facility houses long term offenders as well as offenders awaiting re-entry to society. The re-entry program is designed to prepare offenders for life on the outside, which can be much different from what they have been conditioned to while in prison.
Kern Valley State Prison is located in Delano California. It houses 5000 adult inmates, 4600 of which are level IV High security inmates. Kern Valley has two administrative segregation units and 500 beds in the substance abuse treatment facility.
Ironwood State Prison is located in Blythe California. It houses over 3,280 male inmates who are medium to minimum custody. Ironwood is comprised of five facilities, four of which house level III medium security inmates. An outdoor level I facility houses minimum security inmates. One of the four level III buildings is used for inmates who are on administrative segregation.