Riverside prison to be closed

State officials will close a Riverside prison next year.

The California Rehabilitation Center will be shut down in the fall of 2026 in an attempt to reduce the amount of money spent on prisons statewide, according to multiple reports.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced that move Monday.  California’s prison population is estimated at 91,000, a reduction of more than 80,000 inmates since 2006.
This will be California’s fifth prison closure since 2020.

“[The department] is committed to managing its resources responsibly to enhance public safety and best serve the people of California,” the department said in a statement. “California’s 2025-26 budget called for a prison closure, one of many challenging actions required to address the state’s fiscal position.”

The Riverside prison is used by approximately 2,765 people, including nearly 1,200 paid staff. It has not been announced whether staff members will be assigned to other facilities, according to reports.