With a decrease in incarcerated individuals, it's been announced that the Norco prison will shut down. Speculations are rising as to whether it may return to its former status as a luxury hotel.
Norco Prison Closure Paves Way for Historic Site's Rebirth
The city of Norco is looking forward to a new chapter as the Norco correctional facility, a Level II medium-security prison, is set to close by fall 2026. The closure is part of a broader state strategy to address fiscal challenges and manage resources responsibly, following California's falling incarcerated population.
The Norco prison, originally the luxurious Lake Norconian Club that opened in 1928, was repurposed into a correctional facility during the 1980s. Its closure is expected to save approximately $150 million annually, contributing to the state's efforts to serve Californians more effectively amid a $12 billion deficit.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) will implement a "warm shutdown" process to maintain the property in a state of readiness for reuse or sale. The city of Norco has long advocated for the closure and expressed hopes for an "adaptive reuse" of the facility, aiming to restore the historic site back to a resort or use that can become a regional economic driver.
The CDCR has deactivated 11 facilities and portions of two others, along with 42 housing units across 11 prisons, including the California Rehabilitation Center, a Level 2 medium-security correctional facility scheduled to close in fall 2026. The California Rehabilitation Center houses nearly 3,000 inmates who have committed felonies. No inmates will be released early due to the closure; they will instead be transferred to existing facilities.
Approximately 1,200 staff work at the California Rehabilitation Center. Although the facility will close, many staff may be transferred to other prisons during the deactivation process. The state has pledged economic support and resiliency plans to assist the local community and workforce affected by the closure.
The closure of the California Rehabilitation Center is part of a recent trend of shuttering correctional institutions. Facilities closed in Tracy in 2021, Susanville in 2023, and Blythe this year. Statewide crimes including arson, burglary, assaults, and auto thefts have seen drops from 2023 to 2024, and homicides in the city of Los Angeles are projected to hit their lowest levels in nearly 60 years.
The falling crime rates have led to smaller prison populations. As of now, the inmate population across California's 30 prisons is roughly 91,000, which is nearly half of the 173,000 people incarcerated in 2006. The CDCR will continue to work towards finding suitable solutions for the repurposing of closed facilities, aiming to create opportunities for economic growth and community revitalisation.
- The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) aims to create opportunities for economic growth and community revitalization by finding suitable solutions for the repurposing of closed facilities, such as the Norco correctional facility in Los Angeles, California.
- In addition to the Norco prison, other facilities, like the California Rehabilitation Center, have also been earmarked for closure as part of a statewide effort to manage resources responsibly and serve Californians effectively amid a $12 billion deficit.
- The closure of correctional facilities in Norco and other cities, like Tracy, Susanville, and Blythe, has contributed to falling crime rates in California, with projected homicides in the city of Los Angeles expected to hit their lowest levels in nearly 60 years.
- A portion of the savings from closing prisons, such as the $150 million expected from the Norco prison's closure, will be used to support the local community and workforce impacted by the closure, demonstrating the government's commitment to education-and-self-development and ensuring a brighter future for all Californians.
