California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) was created by Chapter 1549, Statutes of 1982 as a semiautonomous state agency to operate California's prison industries in a manner similar to private industry.

CALPIA manages 60 manufacturing, service, and agriculture industries in 22 CDCR institutions. CALPIA provides employment and programming for approximately 7,000 inmates assigned to 5,039 positions in manufacturing, agricultural, service enterprises, and selling and administration. Administrative offices are located in Folsom, California.

Does CALPIA Work?

Over a three year period, beginning in FY 2006-07, CALPIA participants returned to prison on average 24 to 30% less often than inmates released from the CDCR general population, saving the General Fund millions in incarceration cost avoidance. CALPIA provides CDCR over 7,000 alternative inmate programming positions, thereby saving CDCR more than $11 million annually in General Fund costs for rehabilitation positions that CDCR does not have to fund. Additionally, offenders who participate in CALPIA’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program are 89% less likely to return to prison.

CALPIA Reduces Recidivism, Saves Money and Increases Safety:

The recidivism rate of CALPIA participants is an essential measure of the organization’s success. Former inmates who participated in CALPIA programs are less likely to return to prison than general population inmates. They are significantly more likely to become productive citizens that pay taxes instead of costing California taxpayers approximately $49,000 per year.