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California to Close State Prison Housing More Than 2,000 Inmates in 2026

The Riverside County facility will close as the state’s prison population falls its lowest point since the late 1980s.
California to Close State Prison Housing More Than 2,000 Inmates in 2026
A guard patrols an entrance to Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, Calif., on June 14, 2005. Ric Francis/AP Photo
Jill McLaughlin
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California’s move to reduce criminal punishments and mandate rehabilitation instead of prison sentences has led to prison populations shrinking enough to allow the state to close one of its facilities in Southern California, state officials said Aug. 4.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced plans to shutter the California Rehabilitation Center in Riverside County by the fall of 2026.

Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
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Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.