Officials have confirmed that the Preston Youth Correctional Facility in Ione, the oldest operating facility for juvenile offenders in the state, will close.

A statement issued today by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said the move is in response to a declining ward population at youth correctional facilities statewide. CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate said that the 224 youths currently housed at Preston would be moved to one of the five remaining Division of Juvenile Justice facilities in the state by June 2011.

CDCR spokesman Bill Sessa said the 445 employees who will be affected by the closure will be offered positions at other facilities…

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