The original California Institution for Women , the first women 's facility in California , opened on the site of what is now CCI in 1932 . It was sometimes referred to as " Tehachapi " , as in the 1940s films '' Maltese Falcon '' and '' Double Indemnity '' . The institution was " run for many years independently from the correctional system for men " but beginning in 1944 was gradually brought under the control of the California Department of Corrections . After the 1952 Kern County earthquake on July 21 , " made the brick dormitories unsafe " , the institution was closed and the 417 prisoners were sent to the new California Institution for Women in Corona
1952 Kern County earthquake
1952 Kern County earthquake
California Correctional Institution