CDCR – High Desert State Prison (HDSP)

CDCR – High Desert State Prison (HDSP) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 530-251-5100

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at High Desert State Prison located at 475-750 Rice Canyon Rd in Susanville, CA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

High Desert State Prison (HDSP) is a high-security state prison within the CDCR that houses level IV inmates located in Susanville, Lassen County, CA. Also located in Susanville is the state California Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison and a third prison facility, the Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong, is also located nearby in the same county. Half the adult population of Susanville works at these prisons.

HDSP's inmate population consists of three (3) Level IV yards, two (2) of which are 180 design buildings (Facility C and Facility D), and one (1) 270 design building (Facility B). The 270 design yard, Facility B, was converted to a Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) which houses Level IV SNY inmates. On the 270 design medium Level III, Facility A houses Level III inmates. Facility A is also the home of our Reentry Hub Facility, which provides relevant training and services to eligible and interested inmates in order to facilitate the successful transition back to their communities and reduce their likelihood of reoffending. HDSP’s Reentry programs are comprised of Academics, the California Identification Card Program, Pre-Employment Transition, and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, which includes Substance Abuse Treatment, Anger Management, Family Relationships, and Criminal Thinking. The Minimum Support Facility (MSF) houses non-camp eligible Level I inmates who perform job duties in various areas of the institution outside the secure perimeter, such as the warehouse, garage, out grounds, staff snack bar, etc. Our Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) is located on our Facility D, 180 design housing and consists of two buildings, D7 and D8. Within the first three years of HDSP’s activation, it became apparent that the building originally designed and designated as the ASU was not adequate to meet the demands of the inmate population who require segregated housing. Construction on a new stand-alone ASU began in October 2001. The unit was named Facility Z and activated in September 2004. HDSP houses inmates with the lowest level custody, Minimum B, all the way up to Maximum custody (ASU inmates). Design capacity for the entire institution is approximately 3,660 inmates.

The majority of the prison's population is comprised of younger inmates who are serving long sentences and/or those who have proven to be management problems while in prison. Provided by HDSP are vocational programs, educational programs, and work assignments for those inmates who are willing to participate. HDSP has a 35-bed Correctional Treatment Center (CTC) to provide for the health care needs of the inmates. Additionally, HDSP is designed to house inmates with disabilities who require a specialized placement to accommodate accessibility issues under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Vocational, now referred to as Career Technical Education (CTE):

• All Four Yards, CTE Computer Literacy
• B Yard, CTE Building Maintenance, Auto Body/Paint, Electronics
• C yard, CTE Building Maintenance

Academics:

Adult Basic Education (ABE)1, ABE2, ABE3/GED. ABE2/3/GED, VEP High School, Face to Face College (A yard only), VEP college all yards, Transitions (Financial Literacy, Life and workplace behavior skills, community resources)

Other Education Programs:

Law and reading Libraries, Recreation activities, Media Center, Developmental Placement Program (DPP)

Inmate Programs:

Faith-Based Programs, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Criminals and Gangs Anonymous, Getting Out By Going In, Juvenile Diversion Program, Veterans Group, House of Healing, Positive Parenting, Victims Impact, Actors Gangs, Arts in Corrections, Lifers Group, Alternatives to Violence, Cage you Rage, Fatherless Fathers.

Reentry Hub: HDSP is involved with the Department’s new Reentry Hub program. Reentry Hub programming is geared to ensure that, upon release, offenders are ready for the transition back into society. The core of Reentry Hub programming is Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) programming, an evidence-based program designed for inmates who have a moderate-to-high risk to re-offend, as assessed by the California Static Risk Assessment (CSRA), and who have an assessed criminogenic need, as identified by the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) and/or other assessment(s) identified by CDCR. CBT programs address the following major areas:

• Substance Abuse
• Criminal Thinking
• Anger Management
• California ID Program

Currently, every Facility is receiving a Reentry program for all eligible inmates. This will enable CDCR to bring the program to the inmates rather than moving inmates around the state to go to the program.

Family Liaison Service Specialist

CDCR provides through a contract with a community-based organization an on-site Case Manager as a family reunification liaison for inmates and family members, to assist with an inmates pre-release preparation; and conduct Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes for inmates. Please call the Institution to contact the Family Reunification Liaison.

CDCR – High Desert State Prison (HDSP) – Visitation Guide
CDCR – High Desert State Prison (HDSP) – Inmate Packages
CDCR – High Desert State Prison (HDSP) – Parole Information

visitation Info

CDCR – High Desert State Prison (HDSP) – Visitation

Visiting a CDCR facility must be conducted in a manner that maintains order, safety, and security of the people and facility. Failure to comply with the established regulations and policies may result in a warning or termination, suspension, or revocation of your visiting privileges.

Recommended Steps Before Visiting:

1. Read Visitation Guidelines to understand what you can expect and what is expected of you
2. Find out in which facility your inmate is housed
3. Schedule a visit online using the VPASS system
4. The day of your scheduled visit, check the Visiting Status to ensure the institution is accepting visitors

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 Visitation Guidelines

• Guidelines for Visiting Adult Prisons 
• Guidelines for Visiting Juvenile Facilities

Refer to the Department's current policies and regulations in Title 15and the Department Operations Manual if you want to know more.

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 Locate Inmate

Use the Inmate Locator to find an inmate and what facility they are housed in.

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 Schedule Visit

Sign-up or log into VPASS to schedule an inmate visit. VPASS stands for Visitor Processing Appointment Scheduling System. Note: this requires creating an online account.

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 Check Visiting Status

You can find out the visiting status of a CDCR facility in one of two ways:

• Call the Visiting Status Hotline at 1-800-374-8474
• Check the VPASS Visiting Status; locate the facility you plan to visit.

You should always do this the day you plan to visit, because visitation can sometimes be unexpectedly cancelled.