CDOC-Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility (CTCF)

You can support your loved ones at CTCF on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 719-275-4181.

Located at 275 W Hwy 50 in Canon City, CO, CTCF carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. CTCF offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.

When someone you care about ends up in a state prison, it can be tough to navigate the ins and outs of the system. From figuring out how to stay in touch to understanding what you can do to make their time easier, it can feel overwhelming. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get the lowdown on CDOC-Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility (CTCF) so you can stay connected and support your loved one during their time inside.

Communication is important, the prison offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

The CTCF, originally known as Colorado State Prison, opened in 1871 as a territorial prison and transitioned to a state prison in 1876. Located in Cañon City, it covers 150 acres, with 20 acres within a secure perimeter and staffed with up to six towers. Following the Ramos vs. Lamm lawsuit in the 1970s and 1980s, CSP was renamed CTCF, undergoing extensive remodeling. Today, it has a capacity of 985 medium custody male inmates.

CTCF serves as an ADA designated facility and is the oldest physical plant in the state. Units 1, 3, and 7 house General Population inmates, while Unit 5 is undergoing renovation from a 140-bed transitional unit to a traditional cell house. The infirmary, a 32-bed unit, caters to inmates from all facilities with acute medical and mental health needs. Known colloquially as "Territorial," CTCF is a medium security prison and the oldest in the Colorado DOC system.

Historically, from the 1890s until 1993, CTCF housed Colorado's death row and execution chamber, with the last execution occurring in 1967. In 1993, the Colorado State Penitentiary opened, relocating death row inmates. Presently, the Sterling Correctional Facility accommodates Colorado's death row prisoners. Notably, capital punishment was abolished in Colorado in 2020, with Governor Jared Polis commuting the sentences of the remaining three inmates on death row to life imprisonment.