North Kern State Prison

North Kern State Prison (NKSP)
Map
LocationDelano, California
Coordinates35°46′55″N 119°18′34″W / 35.7819°N 119.3095°W / 35.7819; -119.3095
StatusOperational
Security classMedium
Capacity2,694
Population4,380 (162.6% capacity) (as of January 31, 2023[1])
OpenedApril 1993
Managed byCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
WardenKelly Santoro

North Kern State Prison (NKSP) is a medium-security prison located in Delano, Kern County, California. Opened in April 1993, this state prison has a design capacity of 2,694 incarcerated people. North Kern serves as a reception center for incoming inmates. Inmates usually serve two to three months at North Kern while staff processes their criminal and health records and assesses their physiological and social needs before assigning them to another prison.[2] While at North Kern, inmates have opportunities to engage in educational programs. With North Kern State Prison and Kern Valley State Prison, which is located one mile away and houses approximately 3,500 inmates, Kern County has one of the largest prison populations of any county in America.

  1. ^ "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Monthly Report of Population As of Midnight January 31, 2023" (PDF). California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Internal Oversight and Research. January 31, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. ^ North Kern State Prison (NKSP) (2012). "Mission Statement". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Retrieved 16 May 2012.