California Rehabilitation Center

Infobox Prison
prison_name = California Rehabilitation Center (CRC)

http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/images/aerialShots/CRC_8x10.jpgAerial View]
location = Norco, California, United States
coordinates = coord|33.930|-117.575
status = Operational
classification = medium
capacity = 2,314 (but houses 4,271 as of September 2007)
opened = 1963
closed =
managed_by = California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
director = Matthew Martel, Warden

California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) is a male-only California state prison located in the United States city of Norco, Riverside County. It is sometimes referred to as "Norco prison" [Vitucci, Claire. Norco prison escapee sought in kidnapping. "Press-Enterprise" (Riverside, CA), March 24, 2000.] or simply "Norco"State of California, Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. [http://gov.ca.gov/speech/5568/ Gov. Schwarzenegger Tours Overcrowded State Prison in Norco.] 06 Mar 2007.] .

Current facility

CRC has 98 acres and is located next to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division.California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. [http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/Facilities/CRC.html California Rehabilitation Center (CRC).] Accessed 09 Dec 2007.] Bennett, Andrea. [http://www.dailybulletin.com/riversidecounty/ci_4139130 Norconian Club faces rotting death. Lake Resort set to collapse without community support.] "Inland Valley Daily Bulletin", 6 Aug 2006.] Austin, Paige. [http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_coedjail26.1b3cc45.html Women to be removed from coed prison.] "Press-Enterprise" (Riverside, CA), February 26, 2007.] [Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division. [http://www.corona.navy.mil/visit/facilities.htm Base Facilities.] Accessed 10 Dec 2007.] As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, CRC had a total of 1,169 staff and an annual operating budget of $118 million. As of September 2007, it had a design capacity of 2,314 but a total institution population of 4,271, for an occupancy rate of 184.6 percent.California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. [http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Offender_Information_Services_Branch/Monthly/TPOP1A/TPOP1Ad0709.pdf Monthly Report of Population as of Midnight September 30, 2007.] ] It has Level II ("Open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage") housing.California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. [http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/docs/20071015-WEBmapbooklet.pdf California's Correctional Facilities.] 15 Oct 2007.]

Programs

The best-known of CRC's programs are the "six structured Substance Abuse Programs." CRC "offers the world's largest in-custody substance abuse program and is the only institution in the state to offer recovered inmates the chance to erase their felony convictions."Frith, Stefanie. Norco prison may close by 2005. "Press-Enterprise" (Riverside, CA), November 5, 2003.] It is the "only [California] prison to house felons along with low-level, drug-addicted inmates."Austin, Paige. State's Crowded Prisons: Schwarzenegger Tours Norco Lockup. "Press-Enterprise" (Riverside, CA), March 7, 2007.]

The drug treatment programs are thought to be associated with lower recidivism rates. However, in February 2007 the California Office of the Inspector General concluded "Numerous studies show that despite an annual cost of $36 million, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s in-prison substance abuse treatment programs have little or no impact on recidivism."Office of the Inspector General, State of California. [http://www.oig.ca.gov/reports/pdf/substanceabuseprograms.pdf Special Review Into In-Prison Substance Abuse Programs Managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.] February 2007.] The report specifically mentioned the "Quest male civil addict program" at CRC, for which "12-month recidivism rates... were lower for non-participants than for participants."

History

On the site where CRC now stands, the convert|700|acre|km2|sing=on Lake Norconian Resort opened in 1929 as "the opulent playground of some of Hollywood's biggest names."Rasmussen, Cecilia. [http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fans-seek-to-preserve-riverside-county-norconian-resort14oct07 Fans seek to preserve Riverside County's Norconian Resort.] "Los Angeles Times", October 14, 2007.] The Norconian hotel closed in 1940, then served as a Navy hospital between 1941 and 1957. "The old Norconian and several of the newer outlying buildings were turned over to the state" to create CRC, and the first inmates arrived in January of 1963 [First Dope Addicts to Arrive at Norco. "Los Angeles Times", January 6, 1963.] ; however, in 2002 "CRC vacated the building after learning it had to be seismically retrofitted." Efforts are underway to preserve the hotel.

As of 2006, although CRC was considered "one of California's best prisons," it was overcrowded, was "under nearly constant lockdown to prevent fights," had buildings "so antiquated that the electricity is shut off during rainstorms so the prisoners aren't electrocuted," had a "three-month-long waiting list" for its drug rehabilitation program, and was "short 75 guards." [Pomfret, John. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061000719_pf.html California's Crisis In Prison Systems A Threat to Public. Longer Sentences and Less Emphasis On Rehabilitation Create Problems.] "Washington Post", June 11, 2006.] In March 2007 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the prison, citing its "huge overcrowding problem" in a speech on his "prison and county jail-building program."

Although CRC had been "the only California prison to house both men and women," in April 2007 the women's wing of CRC was closed "to make room for more men" and because "the aging facility did not have the space needed to properly care for female inmates."Alhajal, Khalil, and Dan Lee. Remodel: Facility Will Hold 700 Male Prisoners. Norco prison relocates all female inmates. State hopes transfer will ease crowding. "Press-Enterprise" (Riverside, CA), June 30, 2007.] [Schultz, E.J. [http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/262850.html Female inmates: Jammed behind bars? Chowchilla lockups are at more than double their capacity, provoking health concerns.] "Sacramento Bee", July 9, 2007.] About 800 female CRC inmates were moved to California Institution for Women, Central California Women's Facility, and Valley State Prison for Women.

References