California Rehabilitation Center

Facilities

CRC has 98 acre and is located next to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division. As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, CRC had a total of 1,169 staff and an annual operating budget of $118 million. It has Level II ("Open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage") housing.

As of July 31, 2022, CRC was incarcerating people at 107.2% of its design capacity, with 2,322 occupants.

CRC is currently run as a "non-designated" facility, meaning inmates are neither SNY (Special Needs Yard) or GP (General Population).

Programs

The best-known of CRC's programs are the "six structured Substance Abuse Programs." It is the "only [California] prison to house felons along with low-level, drug-addicted inmates."

The drug treatment programs are thought to be associated with lower recidivism rates.

However, the report specifically mentioned the "Quest male civil addict program" at CRC, for which "12-month recidivism rates... were lower for non-participants than for participants."

The center runs an actors studio called the Actors' Gang program. The studio participates in Commedia dell'arte, overseen by Tim Robbins and Sabra Williams.

History

On the site where CRC now stands, the 700 acre Lake Norconian Resort opened in 1929 as "the opulent playground of some of Hollywood's biggest names." The Norconian hotel closed in 1940, then served as a Navy hospital between 1941 and 1957. however, in 2002 "CRC vacated the building after learning it had to be seismically retrofitted." Efforts are underway to preserve the hotel.

There are persistent stories among CRC inmates and some staff that the abandoned Norconian hotel was used for the cover artwork for the Eagles' album Hotel California. These stories claim that the front cover shot, and/or the rear cover interior shot were taken at the hotel. This has contributed to the prison's nickname of "Hotel California" among inmates throughout the California prison system.

As of 2006, although CRC was considered "one of California's best prisons," it was overcrowded, was "under nearly constant lockdown to prevent fights," had buildings "so antiquated that the electricity is shut off during rainstorms so the prisoners aren't electrocuted," had a "three-month-long waiting list" for its drug rehabilitation program, and was "short 75 guards." In March 2007 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the prison, citing its "huge overcrowding problem" in a speech on his "prison and county jail-building program."

Although CRC had been "the only California prison to house both men and women," in April 2007 the women's wing of CRC was closed "to make room for more men" and because "the aging facility did not have the space needed to properly care for female inmates." About 800 female CRC inmates were moved to California Institution for Women, Central California Women's Facility, and Valley State Prison for Women. In August 2025, it was announced that the California Rehabilitation Center would be closed by Fall 2026. The complete shutdown of the CRC is expected to reduce the state's annual General Fund expenditures by roughly $150 million.

Notable inmates

• Archie Bryant – Currently serving a 16 year sentence for his part in the conspiracy to commit murder case of Sunny Han.
• Tim Lambesis – Pled guilty to soliciting the murder of his wife, released on parole after serving two years of his six year sentence.
• Kellen Winslow II- Former NFL player and a first round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns. On February 19, 2021, Winslow agreed and accepted a 14-year prison sentence for one count of rape and two counts of assault.

References

References

1. (January 31, 2023). "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Monthly Report of Population As of Midnight January 31, 2023".
2. Humpal, Emily. (2025-08-04). "California Rehabilitation Center to Close by Fall 2026".
3. California Rehabilitation Center (CRC). (2009). "Mission Statement". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
4. Bennett, Andrea. [http://www.dailybulletin.com/riversidecounty/ci_4139130 Norconian Club faces rotting death. Lake Resort set to collapse without community support.] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-11-09 ''Inland Valley Daily Bulletin'', 6 Aug 2006.)
5. Austin, Paige. [http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_coedjail26.1b3cc45.html Women to be removed from coed prison.] ''Press-Enterprise'' (Riverside, CA), February 26, 2007.
6. Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division. [http://www.corona.navy.mil/visit/facilities.htm Base Facilities.] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-03-18 Accessed 10 Dec 2007.)
7. link. (October 26, 2008)
8. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. [http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/docs/20071015-WEBmapbooklet.pdf California's Correctional Facilities.] {{webarchive. link. (2007-12-14 15 Oct 2007.)
9. (July 31, 2022). "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Monthly Report of Population As of Midnight July 31, 2022".
10. Austin, Paige. State's Crowded Prisons: Schwarzenegger Tours Norco Lockup. ''Press-Enterprise'' (Riverside, CA), March 7, 2007.
11. link. (2007-09-13 February 2007.)
12. The efficacy of in-prison substance abuse treatment is based on voluntary participation, segregation from the general population and participation in aftercare. When these three aspects were in place at another California prison, three year recidivism was dropped from 75% to 27%.[http://www.oig.ca.gov/reports/pdf/substanceabuseprograms.pdf Special Review Into In-Prison Substance Abuse Programs Managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-09-13 .)
13. Lee, Chris. (2010-09-18). "Theater behind bars helps prisoners know themselves better". [[Los Angeles Times]].
14. Rasmussen, Cecilia. [http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-fans-seek-to-preserve-riverside-county-norconian-resort14oct07 Fans seek to preserve Riverside County's Norconian Resort.] ''Los Angeles Times'', October 14, 2007.
15. "The old Norconian and several of the newer outlying buildings were turned over to the state" to create CRC, and the first inmates arrived in January 1963;First Dope Addicts to Arrive at Norco. ''Los Angeles Times'', January 6, 1963.
16. Pomfret, John. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061000719_pf.html California's Crisis In Prison Systems A Threat to Public. Longer Sentences and Less Emphasis On Rehabilitation Create Problems.] ''Washington Post'', June 11, 2006.
17. State of California, Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. [http://gov.ca.gov/speech/5568/ Gov. Schwarzenegger Tours Overcrowded State Prison in Norco.] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-10-26 06 Mar 2007.)
18. Alhajal, Khalil, and Dan Lee. Remodel: Facility Will Hold 700 Male Prisoners. Norco prison relocates all female inmates. State hopes transfer will ease crowding. ''Press-Enterprise'' (Riverside, CA), June 30, 2007.
19. Schultz, E.J. [http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/262850.html Female inmates: Jammed behind bars? Chowchilla lockups are at more than double their capacity, provoking health concerns.] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-05-28 ''The Sacramento Bee'', July 9, 2007.)
20. (April 22, 2019). "Fatal Plane Crash in Southern California Prison Yard". US News.
21. (2025-08-04). "California Rehabilitation Center to Close by Fall 2026". CDCR.