CA City Plans To Sue Newsom Administration Over Prison Closure

SUSANVILLE, CA — Leaders of Susanville, a city in Northern California, said they plan to sue Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration over the proposed closure of a state prison, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Officials say the closure would severely impact Susanville's local economy, where hundreds are employed by the facility.

In mid-April, officials announced that the 58-year-old California Correctional Center in Susanville was expected to shutter by June 30, 2022. The prison surves as a training center for incarcerated firefighters who are typically placed into one of 14 fire camps in Northern California, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Newsom's administration proposed that the facility close amid a dwindling population of incarcerated Californians. Thousands of inmates across the state were also released early during the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more from the Sacramento Bee: Northern California city to sue Gavin Newsom administration over plan to close prison

"The significant decrease in the state’s incarcerated population over the past year is allowing CDCR to move forward with these prison closures in a thoughtful manner that does not impact public safety, and that focuses on the successful reentry of people into communities once they release from our custody," said Kathleen Allison, CDCR Secretary, said in an April statement. "While these decisions are never easy, they are opening the door for the department to increase efficiencies as California continues to focus on reentry and rehabilitation efforts."

The prison employs more than 1,000 people in Susanville, the Sacramento Bee reported. State Sen. Brian has said that the closure would "devastate the community," where the prison stands as a large employer, the newspaper reported.

On Thursday, Susanville's city attorney discussed a potential lawsuit.