Chuckawalla Valley State Prison

Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP)

Aerial View
Location	Riverside County, California
Coordinates	33°33′48″N 114°54′33″W / 33.5634°N 114.9091°W / 33.5634; -114.9091Coordinates: 33°33′48″N 114°54′33″W / 33.5634°N 114.9091°W / 33.5634; -114.9091
Status	Operational
Security class	Medium
Capacity	1,738
Population	3,545 (204%) (as of fy 2008/09[1])
Opened	December 1988
Managed by	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Director	John F. Salazar, Warden

Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) is located south of Interstate 10, west of Blythe in unincorporated Riverside County, California. The prison opened in December 1988 and covers 1,720 acres (700 ha). Although the prison was designed to hold 1,738 inmates, in 2008-2009 it had 3,545 prisoners, with a staff of 873. The annual budget of the prison is around US$85 million^[2]

Facilities

Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, opened in 1988, is a Level II, Medium Security Facility, designed to house approximately 2300 convicted felons. Primary housing consists of 11 open dormitory style building on four main yards. Each housing unit contains 340 beds. There is also a Level I yard which consists of two buildings with 200 beds each. The Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) serves as a temporary home for those who are found guilty of severe rule violations while incarcerated. ASU is composed of 100 cells, each containing two beds.

General population inmates are allowed to enter and leave their living quarters as they wish, except at night, during count times, or during lockdown procedures. Two yards have been designated as SNY, or Special Needs Yards. These are reserved for sex offenders, gang drop-outs, former law enforcement, and others whose program needs cannot be met in general population.

The prison is staffed by approximately 450 sworn officers and 450 ancillary staff. Although the officers are trained in the use of firearms, most are armed with only pepper spray and a baton while on duty.

References

1. ^ Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) (2009). "Institution Statistics". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/Facilities/CVSP-Institution_Stats.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
2. ^ Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) (2009). "Mission Statement". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/Facilities/CVSP.html. Retrieved 2009-08-20. ^{[dead link]}

External links

Inland Empire portal

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Official website