The minimum and medium security facility operates several programs designed to teach skills to inmates.

[6] The process involved protracted battles over two legislative sessions and was settled when Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed a bill into law.

[13] Delayed by three years due to the siting issue, the prison was officially dedicated in April 2002.

[15] DLR Group designed the prison, and Hoffman Construction Company built the facility.

[18] From 2004 to 2006, several corrections officers were removed after accusations of sexual misconduct, with one victim reaching a settlement of $350,000 with the state.

[1][15] Coffee Creek's prisoner intake facility process approximately 450 inmates per month.

[24] Coffee Creek is Oregon's only women's prison,[25] and was originally built with 820 beds for female inmates.

[32] The Oregon Department of Transportation through its DMV division operates a call center inside the prison.