Level II (medium); closing fall 2026 · State Prison · CDCR

California Rehabilitation Center

Norco, Riverside County, California

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (951) 737-2683 Info last verified: June 2026

Riverside County CDCR prison in Norco, a Level II facility on a historic former resort site that CDCR has scheduled to close by fall 2026.

Statewide rules that apply at every CDCR institution

These rules are set by CDCR and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in California.

Dress code

Avoid blue denim, orange, bright yellow, khaki, tan, beige, forest or olive green, and camouflage — these match what incarcerated people or staff wear.
No tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, sheer fabric, or low-cut necklines; shoulders should stay mostly covered.
Skirts and shorts must be within two inches of the knee. Leggings on their own usually do not pass.
Closed-toe shoes only — no sandals, flip-flops, or backless shoes.
Underwire bras set off the metal detector; a wireless or sports bra avoids the issue.

ID: A current government-issued photo ID matching the name on the approved application is required.
What to bring: No cell phones, wallets, other electronics, food, or drinks inside. A small clear bag may hold a car key and vending money in coins and $1 bills, up to the limit the institution posts on its visiting page.
Scheduling: Visitors must be approved on CDCR Form 106 before a first visit, then schedule through the VSA online system. Walk-ins are generally not allowed.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in California

Overview

The California Rehabilitation Center, in Norco, is a medium-security (Level II) men’s facility with dormitory housing and a long-standing rehabilitation and substance-use treatment mission. In August 2025, CDCR announced the facility will close by fall 2026, citing projected declines in the prison population and cost savings; its population is being transferred to other prisons and was down to about 1,150 men by March 2026 from roughly 2,800 at the announcement.

Because the closure is underway, the most important step for a family is to confirm where the person is currently held — they may already have been transferred — using CIRIS before planning a visit.

What Makes the California Rehabilitation Center Different

It is scheduled to close by fall 2026, with its population transferring out and no early releases tied to the closure.
It occupies one of the most historic sites in the prison system: the buildings began as the Lake Norconian Club, a 1929 luxury resort.
The site served as a U.S. Navy hospital during and after World War II (1941-1957) before becoming a state correctional and narcotics-treatment institution, with the first incarcerated population arriving in 1963.
It has a rehabilitation and substance-use treatment focus and uses dormitory (Level II) housing.

Visiting Hours and Procedures

With the facility closing, visiting arrangements are best confirmed directly before any trip.

General statewide rules, dress code, and the approval process are covered in Visiting in California.

Getting There and Parking

The facility is in Norco, in the Inland Empire, more accessible than most California prisons.

There is no public transit directly to the facility; a private vehicle is the practical way to reach it. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Corona Regional Medical Center in Corona, a short drive away.

Nearby Services

Norco, Corona, and Riverside have ample gas, food, and lodging throughout the Inland Empire, so services are not a constraint here as they are at California’s remote desert prisons.

For broader family support beyond the institution itself, Friends Outside is a California nonprofit, operating since 1955, that assists families of incarcerated people and operates visitor centers at state prisons.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at a California state prison:

Visiting in California — CDCR approval process, dress code, scheduling
Mail & Packages — What you can send and what gets rejected
Phone & Video Calls — Call costs, tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — How to add funds to a CDCR trust account
Medical & Mental Health — Healthcare in CDCR facilities
Transfers — What happens during transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.