Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
Encyclopedia
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP) is located south of Interstate 10
, west of Blythe
in unincorporated Riverside County, California
. The prison opened in December 1988 and covers 1720 acres (696.1 ha). Although the prison was designed to hold 1,738 inmates, in 2008-2009 it had 3,545 prisoners, with a staff of 873. The annual budget of the prison is around
General population inmates are allowed to enter and leave their living quarters as they wish, except at night, during count times, or during lockdown procedures. Two yards have been designated as SNY, or Special Needs Yards. These are reserved for sex offenders, gang drop-outs, former law enforcement, and others whose program needs cannot be met in general population.
The prison is staffed by approximately 450 sworn officers and 450 ancillary staff. Although the officers are trained in the use of firearms, most are armed with only pepper spray and a baton while on duty.
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
, west of Blythe
Blythe, California
Blythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the "Palo Verde Valley" of the Lower Colorado River Valley region, an agricultural area and part of the Colorado Desert along the Colorado River. Blythe was named after Thomas Blythe, a gold prospector who established primary...
in unincorporated 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,...
. The prison opened in December 1988 and covers 1720 acres (696.1 ha). Although the prison was designed to hold 1,738 inmates, in 2008-2009 it had 3,545 prisoners, with a staff of 873. The annual budget of the prison is around
Facilities
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, opened in 1988, is a Level II, Medium Security Facility, designed to house approximately 2300 convicted felons. Primary housing consists of 11 open dormitory style building on four main yards. Each housing unit contains 340 beds. There is also a Level I yard which consists of two buildings with 200 beds each. The Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) serves as a temporary home for those who are found guilty of severe rule violations while incarcerated. ASU is composed of 100 cells, each containing two beds.General population inmates are allowed to enter and leave their living quarters as they wish, except at night, during count times, or during lockdown procedures. Two yards have been designated as SNY, or Special Needs Yards. These are reserved for sex offenders, gang drop-outs, former law enforcement, and others whose program needs cannot be met in general population.
The prison is staffed by approximately 450 sworn officers and 450 ancillary staff. Although the officers are trained in the use of firearms, most are armed with only pepper spray and a baton while on duty.