LaMalfa issues statement on decision to close Susanville prison

Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced it would be closing the California Correctional Center in Susanville by June 30, 2022.

“I am extremely disappointed and concerned that the state will be closing the California Correctional Center in Susanville,” LaMalfa said. “This decision comes as California is seeing a significant increase in crime due to poor policy decisions that have resulted in early release of felons and high recidivism. The reduced capacity resulting from this closure would require a troubling escalation in the housing of state prisoners within our county jails, further increasing costs on our overburdened local counties’ law enforcement.

“It’s already a crushing burden on the budgets of our county jails, which are ill-equipped to safely hold hardened criminals, as well as on our district attorneys and courts. As the California Correctional Center is a major feeder for fire camp trainees, our ability to train and make ready the crews to respond to future wildfire seasons is even more incapacitated. This closure would also hit Lassen County with a devastating blow by eliminating 1,080 high-paying jobs from the region.

“The California Correctional Center in Susanville and the trainees it sends to convict fire camps are an integral part of our public safety infrastructure, and I urge state decision makers to reconsider this devastatingly poor decision.”