Connecticut State Department of Correction

Cheshire Correctional Institution

Address:	900 Highland Avenue Cheshire , CT 06410 Directions.
Phone:	(203) 651-6100
Fax:	(203) 651-6069
Security:	Level 4

Visiting Information:

Visiting Schedule (PDF, 10 KB)

Cancellations: 

Ongoing cancellations: No social visits on Wednesdays (7 AM - 3 PM) and Friday (4 PM - 11 PM)  until further notice.

Population Information:

See data available regarding Connecticut Department of Correction's supervised population.

General Information:

The Cheshire Correctional Institution confines long-term, adult sentenced offenders. It also operates several specialized housing units, including protective custody and restrictive housing.

The facility emphasizes rewards for deserving inmates via opportunities for bettering themselves by: learning a trade through prison industries, educational programming, addiction service programming and religious programming.

The vocational education programs conducts dozens of projects assisting non-profit and community organizations, which include refurbishment and donation of bicycles to local elementary schools. 

Present staffing: 428.

Listing of the inmate programs available at this facility (PDF, 409 KB).

PREA Auditor's Summary Report (PDF, 498 KB).

History:

The Cheshire Reformatory was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1909 and opened in 1913 after three years of construction carried out by inmates from the State Prison in Wethersfield.   It was designed as a reformatory for male offenders ages 16-24, with the intention of seperating these offenders from the adult prison population. 

The physical plant consists of four inmate housing units and is situated on 25 acres.  The cells of the north block galleys were reportedly purchased from Sing Sing prison in New York and brought to Connecticut by barge.

In 1956 an addition was built.

In 1968 the facility was merged administratively with the newly created Department of Correction.

In 1982 the facility was designated for adult males.

In 1993, the galleys closed and the new North and South Blocks were opened.

In 1998 the commissary housing unit opened.

List of past wardens: