California Rehabilitation Center
Encyclopedia
California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) is a co-ed state prison located in Norco
, Riverside County, California
. There are approx 5000 male inmates at CRC. Although it is entitled a rehab prison due to the overcrowding if the prison system in California there is a mixture of N numbers or narcotic commitments, males who are whatever alphabet the system was on when the individual was committed. The N numbers do a rehabilitation program usually approximately 9 months. It is sometimes referenced as "Norco" or "Norco Prison".
Corona Division. 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. It has Level II ("Open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage") housing.
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." 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."
The center runs an actors studio called the Actors' Gang program. The studio participates in Commedia dell'arte
, overseen by Tim Robbins
and Sabra Williams
.
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." 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." About 800 female CRC inmates were moved to California Institution for Women
, Central California Women's Facility
, and Valley State Prison for Women
.
Norco, California
Norco is a city in Riverside County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,063, up from 24,157 at the 2000 census...
, Riverside County, California
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
. There are approx 5000 male inmates at CRC. Although it is entitled a rehab prison due to the overcrowding if the prison system in California there is a mixture of N numbers or narcotic commitments, males who are whatever alphabet the system was on when the individual was committed. The N numbers do a rehabilitation program usually approximately 9 months. It is sometimes referenced as "Norco" or "Norco Prison".
Facilities
CRC has 98 acres (39.7 ha) and is located next to the Naval Surface Warfare CenterNaval Surface Warfare Center
The Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers are composed of the Naval Surface Warfare Centers and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center . They operate in a seamless, integrated manner, and they collaborate with customers using a common work assignment process to get the right work to the right...
Corona Division. 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. It has Level II ("Open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage") housing.
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." It is the "only [California] prison to house felons along with low-level, drug-addicted inmates."The drug treatment programs are thought to be associated with lower recidivism
Recidivism
Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior...
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." 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."
The center runs an actors studio called the Actors' Gang program. The studio participates in Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
, overseen by Tim Robbins
Tim Robbins
Timothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
and Sabra Williams
Sabra Williams
-Family:Williams was born in London to parents of British, Russian, Romanian, Guyanese and Carib descent.-Early career:Williams started performing at the age of three and became a professional dancer and actress...
.
History
On the site where CRC now stands, the 700 acres (283.3 ha) Lake Norconian Resort opened in 1929 as "the opulent playground of some of Hollywood's biggest names." 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 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." In March 2007 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
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." About 800 female CRC inmates were moved to California Institution for Women
California Institution for Women
California Institution for Women is a female-only state prison located in the city of Chino, San Bernardino County, California.-Facilities:...
, Central California Women's Facility
Central California Women's Facility
Central California Women's Facility is a female-only California Department of Corrections state prison located in Chowchilla, California. It is across the road from Valley State Prison for Women. It is the largest female correctional facility in the United States. It houses the State of...
, and Valley State Prison for Women
Valley State Prison for Women
Valley State Prison for Women is a state prison for women in Chowchilla, California. It is across the road from Central California Women's Facility.-Facilities:...
.