California has announced the closure of its fifth state prison under Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration citing a steady decline in the state’s incarcerated population. The California Rehabilitation Center, located in Norco, Riverside County, is set to shut down in 2026. Interestingly, the city of Norco has long pushed for this outcome, viewing the prison site—once an art deco resort—as a better opportunity for redevelopment than continued incarceration use.
Unlike other cities that resisted prison closures through lawsuits or political lobbying to retain local jobs, Norco welcomed the decision. For years, city leaders have argued the land could serve a more beneficial purpose for the community. The state’s corrections department echoed that sentiment, announcing on Tuesday that the facility is no longer necessary due to the falling number of inmates across California.
The closure is expected to generate approximately $150 million in savings for the state. Since Governor Newsom took office, his administration has made prison reform and downsizing a priority, with this marking the fifth prison to be decommissioned during his tenure. As other communities clung to the economic benefits that prisons provided, Norco took a different stance—viewing the closure as a step toward future growth and transformation.
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