Preston School of Industry - Definition

This article is about The Preston School of Industry, the reform school in the United States of America. There is an article on the rock band Preston School of Industry

The Preston School of Industry is one of the oldest and best-known reform schools in the United States. It is located in Ione, California, in Amador County.

The institution was opened in June of 1894 when seven "wards," or juvenile offenders, were transferred there from San Quentin Prison. The original building, known coloquially as Preston Castle (or simply "The Castle"), was vacated in 1960, shortly after new buildings had been constructed to replace it. The abandoned building has since been named a state historical monument by the state government of California.

The facility's name has often been used in movies and also television programs, such as Dragnet. In 1999, the institution's official name was changed to the Preston Youth Correctional Facility, but most people in the state - especially those who reside in the immediate area - continue to refer to it by its original name.