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🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in California.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages the California state correctional system. CDCR's Offender Data Search allows searches by CDCR number or name. California houses the largest state prison population in the US. CDCR numbers begi
Search a specific facility
30
State facilities
115
County jails
11
Federal facilities
6
ICE detention centers
133K+
State inmates

California State Prisons

30 facilities

Federal Facilities in California

11 facilities

California County Jails

115 facilities

ICE Detention Centers

6 facilities

California Department of Corrections

CDCR's Offender Data Search allows searches by CDCR number or name. California houses the largest state prison population in the US. CDCR numbers begin with a letter followed by five digits (e.g., A12345).

The official inmate search is available at www.cdcr.ca.gov/research/offenderdatasearch. California has several federal facilities including FCI Dublin (women's), USP Lompoc, FCI Terminal Island, and FMC Butner.

Visitation in California Facilities

CDCR visitor approval requires a CDC 106 visitor application. Processing takes 6 - 8 weeks. All adult visitors subject to background checks. Felony convictions within the past 10 years may result in denial. California has expanded family visiting (extended visitation) at many facilities.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our California prison directory.

Sending Mail to California Inmates

California CDCR mail must include the CDCR number. Many California facilities use centralized mail scanning - physical mail is scanned and delivered digitally. Photos must be 4x6 or smaller on photo paper. No Polaroids. California has strict photo content rules.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to California facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.

Sending Money to California Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for California:

  • JPay (for commissary deposits)
  • Western Union (some facilities)
  • Online through CDCR-approved platforms

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in California

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About California Prisons

Are phone calls really free at California state prisons?

Yes - California eliminated all per-minute charges for phone and video calls from CDCR state prison facilities in 2021, following years of advocacy documenting the financial harm high prison phone costs imposed on families. Your inmate can call you from any CDCR state prison at no cost to either party. Video calls are also free at most CDCR facilities through the tablet program. This policy applies exclusively to CDCR state facilities - county jails in California have their own separate phone contracts, and most still charge for calls. Some California counties have also moved toward free calls, but it is not universal across all 58 counties. If your family member is in a county jail awaiting trial or serving a short sentence, the free call policy does not apply to them and you should check with that specific jail.

What is a CDCR number?

The CDCR number is the unique identification number assigned to every person sentenced to California state prison. It follows the format of one letter followed by five digits - for example, A12345 or T98765. The letter indicates the approximate era of entry into the system - older numbers begin with letters earlier in the alphabet. The CDCR number must appear on all mail sent to any CDCR facility - mail without it will be delayed or returned. It appears on all CDCR paperwork, court commitment orders, and in the CDCR Offender Data Search at cdcr.ca.gov. If your inmate has been in the California system for any length of time, they know their number by memory - ask them for it as soon as possible so you have it for mail and money deposits.

Does California scan prison mail?

Many CDCR facilities have transitioned to centralized mail scanning through Smart Communications, which processes mail on behalf of multiple state prison systems. When you mail a physical letter to an affected CDCR facility, it is received at a central scanning location, opened, scanned, and delivered as a digital image to the inmate's tablet - the physical letter never reaches the inmate. This means drawings, photos, and handwritten cards are viewed on a small screen rather than touched and held. Before sending anything, verify whether your specific facility uses centralized mail scanning - check CDCR's mail policy page or call the facility directly. If it does use scanning, you can also submit digital mail directly through Smart Communications at smartjailmail.com, which is faster and often less expensive than mailing a physical letter.

How do I visit someone at Pelican Bay?

Pelican Bay State Prison is in Crescent City, about 350 miles north of San Francisco and roughly 6 hours by car through mountain roads - making it one of the most remote major prisons in the country. For families in Southern California, the drive approaches 10 - 12 hours. Visitor applications go through CDCR - allow 6 - 8 weeks for processing and approval, with background checks required for all adult visitors. Pelican Bay houses California's highest-security inmates and some visiting conditions are more restrictive than at other CDCR facilities - contact visits may be limited or unavailable depending on your inmate's classification level. Given the extraordinary distance and operational complexity, video visitation through CDCR's tablet program is strongly recommended as the primary form of regular contact for most Pelican Bay families.

Can I send a package to a California state inmate?

California does not allow families to mail packages directly to CDCR state inmates. All approved personal property must be ordered through CDCR-approved vendors - a list of which is published on CDCR's website and varies by facility. Most facilities allow quarterly packages through approved vendors, typically around set dates during the year. Approved vendors differ by facility and the items they sell must meet specific CDCR specifications regarding color, material, and origin. Packages that don't comply are rejected and returned at the sender's expense. If you're unsure whether a specific item is eligible, call the facility's property officer before placing any order - it's a five-minute call that can save you significant money and frustration.

What is San Quentin Rehabilitation Center?

San Quentin State Prison opened in 1852 and is the oldest state prison in California, on a peninsula in Marin County overlooking San Francisco Bay. In 2023, California officially renamed and redesignated it as San Quentin Rehabilitation Center - converting its stated mission from traditional maximum-security incarceration to a rehabilitation-focused model drawing on Scandinavian correctional approaches. San Quentin has long been known for unusually robust programming including a nationally recognized newspaper, radio station, and college degree programs alongside its historic death row. The 2023 redesign represents one of the most significant shifts in California correctional philosophy in decades, though implementation of the new model has been gradual and ongoing. Death row operations remain the subject of policy debate as California continues its moratorium on executions.

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