California Center for Population Research

The California Department of Corrections (CDC) currently houses more inmates than any state corrections department in the country (Harrison and Karlberg, 2003). There are approximately 160,000 inmates in 33 institutions, 16 community corrections facilities, 41 camps, and 8 prisoner mother facilities. A key issue for correction officials and a range of stakeholders is how best to maintain order and safety in a cost-effective manner. Every year, approximately 15% of the inmates engage in some form of "misconduct" that can range from failing to report for a work assignment to insubordination to possession of narcotics to an assault on a guard or fellow prisoner.