California Correctional Institution (CCI) is a CDCR men's prison in Tehachapi, Kern County. Originally built in 1932 and opened in 1933 to house women, it closed after a 1952 earthquake and reopened as a men's facility in 1954. Two maximum-security facilities were added in 1985-1986, and a high-medium custody facility followed in 1987, though the original minimum-security facility was deactivated in September 2021. This guide covers CDCR's statewide inmate locator, how to schedule a visit through the VSA system, sending money, free phone calls, and CCI's facility-specific mail rules, including why you need to recheck the person's current facility before every mailing. All data is verified from cdcr.ca.gov.
City
Tehachapi
County
Kern County
State
CA
Facility Type
state prison
Gender
Male
Capacity
Not published by CDCR as a fixed number; check the current Weekly Population Report
Custody Levels
General population across Facilities A through E; specific security-level breakdown not published by CDCR
Operator
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Address
24900 Highway 202, Tehachapi, CA 93561
Phone
(661) 822-4402
Inmate Locator
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CDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, not a separate tool per prison. Here's how to confirm someone is at CCI and which facility they're currently in.
View ArticleYou need CDCR Form 106 approval first, then you book your visit through the statewide VSA system.
View ArticleCDCR's statewide money process: three vendors, a no-fee lock box, or a check to the person's facility box.
View ArticleAll outgoing calls from CCI are free. Here's how the tablet transition to Securus affects families.
View ArticleCCI uses a different P.O. Box for each facility, and reassigns people between facilities, so always confirm before mailing.
View ArticleCDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, CIRIS, not a separate tool per facility. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists California Correctional Institution and which facility the person is currently in.
See the full breakdownYou need CDCR Form 106 signed by the incarcerated person and approved by CCI's Visiting Sergeant before you can schedule anything. Once approved, book through CDCR's statewide VSA system. CCI limits visits to once per day per incarcerated person.
See the full breakdownCDCR uses one statewide money process: EFT through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, a no-fee money order to JPay's lock box, or a no-fee check payable to CDCR to the person's facility box. See the full CDCR send-money guide.
See the full breakdownAll outgoing voice calls are free statewide, limited to 15 minutes. CDCR is switching tablets and messaging from ViaPath to Securus through 2026, so confirm the current provider with the institution.
See the full breakdownCCI routes inmate mail through a separate P.O. Box for each facility, and reassigns people between facilities more often than some CDCR prisons, so recheck the person's current facility on CIRIS before mailing.
See the full breakdown6 of 7 questions
Use CIRIS, the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search, at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists California Correctional Institution and check which facility (A through E) the person is currently in, since CCI reassigns people between facilities and the mailing address depends on it.
Inmate SearchFriday 12:15pm to 6:45pm, and Saturday, Sunday, and designated holidays 8:15am to 2:45pm. Walk-in visiting runs Friday 3:30-6:45pm and weekends/holidays 11:30am-2:45pm. Call (661) 822-4402 to confirm before you travel.
VisitationYes. CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, must be signed by the incarcerated person and mailed to CCI's Visiting Sergeant for a background check. Once approved, you schedule visits yourself through CDCR's VSA system.
VisitationCCI routes inmate mail through a separate P.O. Box for each of its five facilities, A through E, instead of one shared box. CCI also reassigns people between facilities more than some other CDCR prisons, so a mailing address that was correct last month may be wrong today. Always check CIRIS for the person's current facility right before you send anything.
MailCDCR uses one statewide money process. Send electronically through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, mail a no-fee money order payable to JPay to the lock box, or mail a no-fee check payable to CDCR to the person's facility box. See the full CDCR send-money guide for details.
Send MoneyAll outgoing voice calls are free statewide, limited to 15 minutes. For tablets, video, and e-messages, CDCR is moving from ViaPath to Securus one institution at a time through 2026. Call (661) 822-4402 to confirm the current provider before you create an account.
Phone CallsCalifornia Correctional Institution (CCI) is a CDCR men's prison in Tehachapi, Kern County. It was originally built in 1932 and opened in 1933 housing women, closed after a 1952 earthquake, and reopened as a men's facility in 1954. Two maximum-security facilities were added in 1985-1986, and a high-medium custody facility followed in 1987. Its original minimum-security facility was deactivated in September 2021 due to a statewide decline in the minimum-custody population.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 19, 2026. Official source: cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator/cci ›