Pelican Bay State Prison - Pelican Bay SHU

Pelican Bay SHU

Prisoners in the Pelican Bay SHU spend an average of eight years in solitary confinement, before being released back into the general prison population, or onto parole. Prisoners have spent as long as 23 years in the Pelican Bay SHU before being released back into the general prison population, or onto parole. While some prisoners have spent decades in the Pelican Bay SHU, most prisoners are eventually released. On average, sixteen prisoners per month are released directly from the Pelican Bay SHU onto parole in California. The majority of inmates housed within the SHU are validated prison gang members/associates. A validated prison gang member/associate will spend an average of six years in the SHU. However, inmates are afforded the opportunity to "debrief" and give a written account of their gang participation. If they are proven to be truthful and forthcoming they will be transferred to a different prison and allowed to "do their time" in protective custody. However, most inmates choose not to participate in the debrief process.

There are 1107 prisoners in the Pelican Bay SHU as of June 15, 2011 and 3,081 total prisoners housed in Pelican Bay as of April 4, 2012. The design capacity of Pelican Bay is 2,380 inmates.