Wasco State Prison

Wasco State Prison is a correctional facility for men in Wasco, California. The complex covers 634 acres and contains four separate main buildings with housing blocks, common areas, and outdoor yards.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation opened the facility in 1991 as the first reception center in Kern County. The site was built to classify newly arrived inmates before they move to other prisons across the state.

The prison offers educational programs through partnerships with local colleges, providing inmates opportunities for rehabilitation and skill development.

The facility sits at 701 Scofield Avenue in Wasco and processes evaluation procedures before inmates transfer elsewhere. The grounds are not open to the public and serve only administrative purposes within the corrections system.

A medium custody section houses 400 inmates who participate in maintenance and repair work. These inmates keep the facility running and gain hands-on skills in the process.

Location: California

Inception: 1991

Official opening: 1991

GPS coordinates: 35.59390,-119.40900

Latest update: December 20, 2025 02:53