California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC)
LocationLancaster, California
Coordinates34°41′38″N 118°13′41″W / 34.694°N 118.228°W / 34.694; -118.228
StatusOperational
Security classMinimum–maximum
Capacity2,300
Population2,503 (108.8% capacity) (as of January 31, 2023[1])
OpenedFebruary 1993
Managed byCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
WardenRaybon C. Johnson Jr.

California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) is a male-only state prison located in the city of Lancaster, in Los Angeles County, California. The only state prison located in the county, it is also referenced as Los Angeles County State Prison, CSP-Los Angeles County, and CSP-LAC.[2][3][4] Only occasionally is the prison referred to as Lancaster State Prison, which was particularly avoided in 1992 partly to ease the stigma for Lancaster.[5]

Facilities

As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, LAC had a total of 1,519 staff and an annual operating budget of $100 million.[2] As of September 2007, it had a design capacity of 2,300 but a total institution population of 4,976, for an occupancy rate of 216.3 percent.[6]

As of April 30, 2020, LAC was incarcerating people at 137.3% of its design capacity, with 3,158 occupants.[7]

LAC's 262 acres (106 ha) include the following facilities:[2][8]

  • Level I housing: Open dormitories without a secure perimeter
  • Level IV housing: Cells, fenced or walled perimeters, electronic security, more staff and armed officers both inside and outside the installation
  • Reception Center (RC): provides short term housing to process, classify and evaluate incoming inmates

History

Before the prison opened in 1993, Los Angeles County hosted no prisons but accounted for forty percent of California's state-prison inmates.[9] "Most of Lancaster's civic leaders and residents" opposed the building of the prison, and four inmates escaped from LAC in its first year of operation.[10] Nevertheless, by 2000 city residents' opinions of the prison had improved so much that a proposal to increase the proportion of maximum-security inmates received little criticism.[10]

A 2006–2007 conversion "of roughly half of" LAC's facilities decreased the number of maximum-security inmates and increased the number of reception center inmates.[11] Since reception center inmates are at the prison for shorter times than maximum-security inmates, the conversion may "reduce the number of families that will relocate to the region to be near a family member who is in the prison" and "reduce the number of prisoners who will want to relocate to the area after serving their sentences or after being released on parole".[11]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an inmate at California State Prison in Lancaster, was placed in isolation. On March 19, 2020, he reported that he was not feeling well. The agency said the patient was tested the following day and the results were received Sunday.

In March 2021, Canadian singer Justin Bieber visited the prison with his wife Hailey and pastor Judah Smith at the invitation of Scott Budnick.[12] Justin Bieber spoke to inmates about their faith and listened to their stories. In a statement on April 1, 2021, Bieber recounted his visit, saying "It was such an honor listening to their stories and seeing how strong their faith is."[12][13]

Notable inmates

Current

Former

See also

References

  1. ↑ "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Monthly Report of Population As of Midnight January 31, 2023" (PDF). California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Internal Oversight and Research. January 31, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) (2009). "Mission Statement". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  3. ↑ Thomas Russell, Wendy. "7-year case against city finally ends". Long Beach Press-Telegram, June 2, 2007.
  4. ↑ Stoltze, Frank "Lancaster State Prison Offers Glimpse into Overcrowding Problem". KPCC Radio, April 26, 2007.
  5. ↑ Wolcott, Denis. "County Wants Valley's Name Dropped From New Prison". The Daily News of Los Angeles, December 30, 1992.
  6. ↑ California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.Monthly Report of Population as of Midnight September 30, 2007. Archived October 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Monthly Report of Population As of Midnight April 30, 2020" (PDF). California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Internal Oversight and Research. April 30, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  8. ↑ California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. California's Correctional Facilities Archived 2007-12-14 at the Wayback Machine. 15 Oct 2007.
  9. ↑ Wolcott, Denis. First Inmates Arrive at New Prison - Lancaster's 252 acre State Facility to Hold 2,200. Daily News of Los Angeles, February 2, 1993.
  10. 1 2 Fox, Sue. "Prison, Lancaster Mend Fences and Build Tranquil Relationship". Los Angeles Times, May 14, 2000.
  11. 1 2 Skeen, Jim. Conversion of A.V. "Prison Gets Support - Civic Leaders Say Change Will Lessen Crime in Area". Daily News of Los Angeles, December 23, 2006.
  12. 1 2 Atkinson, Katie (1 April 2021). "Bieber visited the LA County prison to meet with a group of inmates & learn about the maximum-security institution's faith-based programs". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "Justin Bieber says mission trip to California state prison was a "life-changing experience"". ABC News Radio. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  14. ↑ Inmate Locator, inmate BM7920
  15. ↑ "Man, wrongly convicted of 1978 killings in Simi Valley, recommended for release from prison".
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