North Kern State Prison
Encyclopedia
North Kern State Prison (NKSP) is a medium-security prison located in Delano
, Kern County, California
. Opened in April 1993, this state prison houses over 5,000 inmates. North Kern serves as a reception center for incoming inmates. Inmates usually serve two to three months at North Kern while staff processes their criminal and health records and assesses their physiological and social needs before assigning them to another prison. While at North Kern, inmates can engage in educational programs. With North Kern State Prison and Kern Valley Prison, which is located one mile away and houses close to 4,800 inmates, Kern County has one of the largest prison populations of any county in America.
The mainline inmates are considered not as dangerous as RC inmates so certain privileges are granted to them, such as working outside the prison walls. Out of the 1,400 mainline inmates, 800 stay behind an electrical fence and the other 400 inmates (honor inmates or best behaved) are enclosed by a regular fence. Mainline inmates run the support services throughout the prison, for example, kitchen, laundry, education, and library, and occasionally clean highways or work in a warehouse nearby. All mainline inmates live in dorms and have their own yard separate from the RC. In addition to holding a job at the prison, mainline inmates are eligible for education and reentry programs.
Inmates housed in the Reception Center (RC) typically spend two to three months at North Kern before being transferred to another prison. They stay behind the electrical fence and, if approved, may help run support services. North Kern has four cellblocks with each cellblock having its own yard. All cells are doubled bunked. Most RC inmates are custody level four inmates and reside in cells. A few lower custody RC inmates that stay in dorms.
North Kern was originally designed for 2,892 inmates, but now houses over 5,000. Overcrowding is a day-to-day reality, hence the double bunked cells. The sewage system was also not built for such a large population, leading to periodic toxic spills. A grinder and a backup sewage system were installed a few years after the prison opened to crush the excess trash and help the sewage system run more efficiently.
Three fences surround North Kern i.e. two razor wire
fences with an electric fence
in the middle. Several towers are stationed around the prison to reinforce the fence line.
classes are offered. North Kern also offers vocational courses for those inmates who prefer hands-on work and college classes.
and the Paisas (Mexican nationals).
On October 1st, 2007, an inmate escaped from the institution. The inmate, 29-year-old Abelardo Morales, was reported missing from the Level I yard of the prison at 9:17 p.m. Morales was serving a one-year, six-month term for manufacture and sales of narcotics, and possession of a weapon.
Delano, California
Delano's climate is characteristic of the San Joaquin Valley. The weather is hot and dry during the summer and cool and damp in winter. Frequent ground fog known regionally as "tule fog" can obscure vision. Record temperatures range between 115°F and 14°F...
, Kern County, California
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
. Opened in April 1993, this state prison houses over 5,000 inmates. North Kern serves as a reception center for incoming inmates. Inmates usually serve two to three months at North Kern while staff processes their criminal and health records and assesses their physiological and social needs before assigning them to another prison. While at North Kern, inmates can engage in educational programs. With North Kern State Prison and Kern Valley Prison, which is located one mile away and houses close to 4,800 inmates, Kern County has one of the largest prison populations of any county in America.
History
In the early 1990s, California experienced a significant growth in the number of inmates. Many rural counties lobbied to house a prison because of the health care and job opportunities that a prison provides for its employees. Delano was one of the cities in the counties. Since North Kern State Penitentiary opened in 1993, the city has grown immensely. Before the two prisons were built, Delano was a rural city with a large migrant farmworker population. The construction of the two prisons helped the small city develop into a more urban society. Delano benefited from the new sewage system being built as well as new electrical infrastructure, and spurred retail and housing development.Facilities
North Kern is an all-male facility, housing approximately 5,400 inmates. Of these, a majority are housed in the Reception Center (RC) waiting to be transferred to another state prison and approximately 1,400 inmates live in the mainline part of the prison. Inmates are separated by security and custody levels upon arriving at North Kern.The mainline inmates are considered not as dangerous as RC inmates so certain privileges are granted to them, such as working outside the prison walls. Out of the 1,400 mainline inmates, 800 stay behind an electrical fence and the other 400 inmates (honor inmates or best behaved) are enclosed by a regular fence. Mainline inmates run the support services throughout the prison, for example, kitchen, laundry, education, and library, and occasionally clean highways or work in a warehouse nearby. All mainline inmates live in dorms and have their own yard separate from the RC. In addition to holding a job at the prison, mainline inmates are eligible for education and reentry programs.
Inmates housed in the Reception Center (RC) typically spend two to three months at North Kern before being transferred to another prison. They stay behind the electrical fence and, if approved, may help run support services. North Kern has four cellblocks with each cellblock having its own yard. All cells are doubled bunked. Most RC inmates are custody level four inmates and reside in cells. A few lower custody RC inmates that stay in dorms.
North Kern was originally designed for 2,892 inmates, but now houses over 5,000. Overcrowding is a day-to-day reality, hence the double bunked cells. The sewage system was also not built for such a large population, leading to periodic toxic spills. A grinder and a backup sewage system were installed a few years after the prison opened to crush the excess trash and help the sewage system run more efficiently.
Three fences surround North Kern i.e. two razor wire
Razor wire
Barbed tape or razor wire is a mesh of metal strips with sharp edges whose purpose is to prevent passage by humans. The term "razor wire", through long usage, has generally been used to describe barbed tape products...
fences with an electric fence
Electric fence
An electric fence is a barrier that uses electric shocks to deter animals or people from crossing a boundary. The voltage of the shock may have effects ranging from uncomfortable, to painful or even lethal...
in the middle. Several towers are stationed around the prison to reinforce the fence line.
Programs
North Kern offers a variety of programs to the inmates. Since most inmates coming into prison do not have a high school education, GEDGED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
classes are offered. North Kern also offers vocational courses for those inmates who prefer hands-on work and college classes.
Incidents
North Kern has experienced frequent racial tension. The two preeminent gangs are the SureñosSureños
Sureños are a group of Mexican American street gangs with origins in the oldest barrios of Southern California. Although they are based in California, the influence of the Sureños has spread to many parts of the US and other countries as well such as Germany and Japan...
and the Paisas (Mexican nationals).
On October 1st, 2007, an inmate escaped from the institution. The inmate, 29-year-old Abelardo Morales, was reported missing from the Level I yard of the prison at 9:17 p.m. Morales was serving a one-year, six-month term for manufacture and sales of narcotics, and possession of a weapon.