BLYTHE – (INT) – The Inland Empire has one less state prison.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced Tuesday that Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP), located near Blythe in Riverside County was officially closed as of November 1st.

The closure is the third state-owned facility to shut its doors in the past four years.

The closure of CVSP marks a milestone in one of California’s strongest approaches to resolving the rampant issues with the state’s prison system. In 2020, CVSP was the site of a deadly outbreak of coronavirus that infected almost 1,000 people due to poor management of the facility.

Closing CVSP keeps the state on track to address the nearly 15,000 empty prison beds across the state’s correctional facilities.

“The closure of Chuckawalla Valley State Prison is an important step in the process of shifting away from punitive measures and toward reinvestment in the communities most affected by incarceration,” said Amber-Rose Howard, Executive Director of Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB). “By closing prisons like Chuckawalla, we can reinvest in safety solutions centered in care, including mental health treatment, substance abuse programs, and job training outside of prison,” Howard continued.

Closing CVSP is expected to free up over $100 million in ongoing funds annually.

Story Date: December 5, 2024