SACRAMENTO—In response to projected declines in prison populations and the need for cost-saving measures, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced plans recently to close the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Riverside County by Fall 2026.
CDCR stated that it remains committed to responsibly managing its resources to enhance public safety and serve Californians effectively. The 2025–26 California state budget includes the closure of one prison, part of a broader strategy to address fiscal challenges. Shutting down CRC is expected to save the state approximately $150 million annually from the General Fund.
To minimize the impact of the closure, CDCR said it is taking steps to support staff, volunteers, and incarcerated individuals throughout the transition. The state will also implement an economic resiliency plan to assist the local community and workforce.
The adult prison population in California has steadily declined in recent years, enabling CDCR to end its use of both in-state and out-of-state contract facilities, including the lease of the California City Correctional Facility.
Today, the incarcerated population stands at roughly 91,000—the lowest since the late 1980s. For comparison, the population peaked at over 173,000 in 2006.
CDCR has previously closed three institutions: Deuel Vocational Institution (Tracy), California Correctional Center (Susanville), and Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (Blythe). In addition, the department has deactivated 11 entire facilities, parts of 2 others, and 42 housing units across 11 prisons.
These closures and deactivations, combined with administrative efficiencies, have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings.
CRC is a Level II medium-security facility housing individuals convicted of felonies. It currently employs 1,191 staff and houses approximately 2,766 incarcerated people.
The building that now serves as CRC has an eclectic history. Originally opened in 1928 as the Lake Norconian Club, a luxury resort, it was converted into a Naval hospital in December 1941 by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1962, the federal government donated the facility to the state for use as a narcotics center, and by the 1980s, it began housing incarcerated individuals.
CDCR, along with California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), oversees one of the largest and most diverse correctional systems in the world. With CRC’s closure, CDCR will operate 30 prisons across California.
