All Prisons in California

Types Of Correctional Facilities In California

There are a few different types of correctional facilities in California. The most obvious type of facility is a state prison. The state prisons in California house criminals who have generally been convicted of a felony and sentenced to over one year in prison. These prisons usually house medium to high-security inmates. Many of these facilities are government-run facilities, but there are also some private prisons in the state as well.

There are also many county and city jails located throughout California. These more local facilities usually house inmates convicted of misdemeanors and sentenced to less than one year in jail. City jails usually only hold inmates for a few days, and those inmates will be transferred to a county facility while they await trial if they are not released on bond.

Find A California Prison/Jail By County

If you know the county in which a jail facility is located, it will help narrow down your search more quickly. While not all counties will have a state prison facility located there, most counties have both a county jail and perhaps multiple city jails. Simply click on the county name below to see all the jail facilities in that county.

Frequently Asked Questions For California Prisons/Jails

What do inmates do all day in California correctional facilities?

Inmates in California correctional facilities usually follow a pretty strict schedule. Inmates usually wake up quite early, around 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM. Inmates are usually given time for showers first thing in the morning, and then breakfast is served. After breakfast, inmates may have free time in their cell for reading or whatever activity they wish to do.

There is usually some required recreation time during the day, which may consist of going outside to the prison yard or exercising. Most correctional facilities in California offer many different rehabilitation programs that an inmate may choose to participate in during the day. They may choose from a variety of programs, such as substance abuse programs, educational programs, vocational or job-training programs, and religious programs. Participation in most of these programs is voluntary. At the end of the day, inmates must all return to their cells after dinner. Quiet time usually starts around 9:00 PM, and the lights are turned off at that time. On weekends, visitation hours are usually included during the daytime activities.

How is prison food in California?

The prison food in California is not great. Prisons usually operate on a tight budget, so the prison administration must carefully budget for all meals. Breakfast usually consists of cereal, a breakfast danish, and milk. Lunch often consists of sandwiches, hamburgers, or hot dogs. Dinner often includes a cheap cut of meat, a basic vegetable, and beans or rice. Do not expect to receive any expensive food items, such as organic ingredients or premium cuts of meat. Some inmates choose to spend some of their money on snacks at the commissary because they often do not enjoy the meals provided by the prison.

How do California inmates make collect calls?

Phones are often available during the daytime hours for California inmates to make calls. The calls must be paid for by the inmates or by the recipient of the call. If the recipient of the call will pay for it, then the call must be placed as a collect call. To place a collect call, the inmate will simply need to call the operator and ask to place a collect call. The operator will dial the number of the call recipient and ask if they are willing to accept the charges for the call. If the recipient agrees, then the call will be connected. The inmate may also dial ‘0’ plus the area code and phone number. They can then follow the prompts to place the collect call.

How do I send a letter to a California DOC inmate?

Sending mail to inmates is encouraged so they can remain in contact with friends and family. However, there are strict rules about the type of mail that is allowed into most California prison facilities. The California DOC requires that mail not contain any inserts except for the letter itself. You should also be mindful of the content of your letter. All mail entering a prison facility is subject to inspection and being read. You should address your letters as follows:

Inmate Full Name
Inmate ID Number
Facility Name
Facility Address

How do I serve a California DOC inmate with legal documents?

The service of process for legal documents must almost always be attempted in person initially. If you need to serve a California DOC inmate with legal documents, you will need to contact the prison facility first. Most facilities allow a process server to come into the facility for that purpose. However, process servers must undergo the same background checks and adhere to the same rules as all other visitors in the facility. In addition, you should contact the prison administration and discuss your plans with them. Some facilities have special rules that apply to process servers, so you should never arrive at the facility and attempt to serve an inmate with legal documents without first discussing it with the facility.

If the inmate refuses to see visitors, then you may be able to serve documents by certified mail. The rules for service of process through the mail vary from state to state, so the in-person method of service is always preferred. Again, you should contact the prison administration prior to attempting service through the mail. They can advise you of the best way to make sure that the documents get delivered to the inmate.

How do I stop an inmate from sending me letters?

If you have already asked the inmate to stop sending letters and they refuse, you should contact the prison facility. Speak to the prison administration or warden and advise them of the situation. Since all outgoing mail must be inspected and handled by prison staff, the letters from the inmate can be confiscated by the prison staff. Inmates are unable to go to the local post office to mail their own letters, so the prison staff can simply “intercept” those letters before they make it to the post office.

If the method above is unsuccessful for some reason, you can always take legal action. You might have to get a judge to issue an injunction against the inmate that legally forces them to stop sending you letters. Any letters they send after the injunction is issued may be considered contempt of a court order, and that conduct may be punishable by fines or additional jail time.

Am I able to send money to an inmate in California?

Yes, you may send money to an inmate in California. The easiest way to send money to an inmate is electronically through Western Union or MoneyGram. Each facility in California has different details that must be provided to these services to get the money to the right spot. So, you should contact the facility in which the inmate is housed and ask for details about sending money. Most facilities also allow you to deposit money in person, so you can bring a money order with you when you arrive for visitation. The prison staff can accept the money order and place that money into the inmate’s account.