Wasco State Prison History

Wasco State Prison is a maximum-security prison located in Wasco, California, United States. It was opened in 1991 and has a capacity of approximately 5,000 inmates. The prison is operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and has a history of housing some of the most dangerous and notorious criminals in the state. In this article, we will explore the history of Wasco State Prison and take a look at some of its most famous inmates.

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History

Wasco State Prison was built in response to the overcrowding of California's prison system in the 1980s. The prison was designed to house maximum-security inmates, particularly those with a history of violence and gang involvement. It was officially opened in 1991, and since then, it has undergone several expansions to accommodate the growing inmate population.

The prison is divided into four main facilities: A, B, C, and D. Each facility has its own set of housing units, dining facilities, and recreation areas. The prison also has a Special Housing Unit (SHU), where inmates who pose a threat to other inmates or staff members are housed.

Over the years, Wasco State Prison has been the site of several riots and incidents of violence. One of the most significant riots in the prison's history occurred in 2009, when over 1,000 inmates were involved in a brawl that lasted for nearly an hour. The riot was reportedly sparked by a dispute between African-American and Hispanic inmates, and resulted in several injuries and millions of dollars in damages.

In response to the riot, the prison implemented a number of changes aimed at reducing tensions among inmates, including more frequent searches for contraband and a stricter enforcement of rules regarding inmate behavior.

Despite these efforts, however, riots and incidents of violence have continued to occur at the prison, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by prisons in maintaining order and safety in a high-stress environment. Nonetheless, the prison has remained committed to improving conditions for its inmates and reducing the risk of violence, and continues to work towards these goals through a range of initiatives and programs.

Famous Inmates

Wasco State Prison has housed several notorious criminals throughout its history. Here are a few of the most famous:

• Charles Manson - Manson was a cult leader who orchestrated a series of murders in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. He was convicted of nine counts of murder and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison when California abolished the death penalty.
• Juan Corona - Corona was a serial killer who murdered 25 farmworkers in California in the early 1970s. He was sentenced to 25 consecutive life sentences and is still serving his sentence at Wasco State Prison.
• The Aryan Brotherhood - The Aryan Brotherhood is a white supremacist prison gang that has a strong presence in California's prison system. Several members of the gang are housed at Wasco State Prison, including Barry Mills, the gang's former leader.
• Black Guerrilla Family - The Black Guerrilla Family is a prison gang that was formed in California's San Quentin State Prison in the 1960s. Several members of the gang are housed at Wasco State Prison, including Tookie Williams, one of the gang's co-founders who was executed in 2005.

While the history of Wasco State Prison is marked by riots, incidents of violence, and a number of infamous inmates, it's important to note that the prison has also made efforts to address some of the systemic issues that contribute to the high rate of incarceration in the United States.