CHCF uses one P.O. Box for every inmate-patient, regardless of housing unit.
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California Health Care Facility is simpler to mail than some CDCR prisons: instead of a different P.O. Box for each yard or housing facility, CHCF uses one address, P.O. Box 213040, Stockton, CA 95213, for every inmate-patient regardless of which unit they’re in. Include the person’s full name and CDCR number on the envelope. There’s no need to track a facility or yard change before you mail, which is a meaningful difference from prisons like California Correctional Institution or Kern Valley State Prison, where the box depends on housing.
Use this format for anyone at CHCF, no matter their housing unit:
[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
California Health Care Facility
P.O. Box 213040
Stockton, CA 95213
Many CDCR prisons split inmate mail into a separate P.O. Box for each yard or facility, which means families have to recheck the person’s current housing before every mailing. CHCF doesn’t work that way. It uses a single P.O. Box, 213040, for every inmate-patient regardless of which unit they’re housed in, including general population, medical, and the Psychiatric Inpatient Program. That means once you have the person’s CDCR number, the mailing address itself won’t change if they’re moved to a different unit inside CHCF.
Standard letters, greeting cards, and photos are generally accepted. Keep to plain paper and cards without stickers, glitter, tape, or anything glued on, since those get mail rejected. Don’t send cash; use an electronic deposit or a check or money order payable to CDCR for money.
Photos are generally allowed within CDCR’s limits: no Polaroids, since the backing can conceal contraband, and nothing larger than 8x10. Avoid nude or sexually explicit images, gang-related content, and anything depicting drugs or weapons, which will be rejected. There’s usually a limit on how many photos per envelope, so send a reasonable number and confirm current limits with the institution if you plan to send many. You can also send photos through Pigeonly without printing anything yourself. Upload the photos online and Pigeonly prints and mails them to CHCF for you.
Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband before delivery. If a piece is rejected, the person is typically notified and told why, and the item may be returned to sender or held. Following the plain-paper, no-attachments rules is the best way to avoid a rejection.
Legal mail, clearly marked from an attorney, court, or public official, is handled separately. It’s opened only in the presence of the incarcerated person to check for contraband and is not read. Mark legal mail clearly on the outside so it’s routed correctly.
You can’t mail a personal package straight to the person. Approved packages, including quarterly packages, come through CDCR’s contracted package vendor, which the person or an approved family member orders from. Contact the institution or check CDCR’s approved vendors page for the current process.
CHCF’s P.O. Box 213040 is also where you mail CDCR Form 106 for visiting approval and where you send a check or money order payable to CDCR if you’re not using an electronic deposit vendor. Keep that in mind if you’re mailing more than one type of document at the same time.
6 of 10 questions
California Health Care Facility, [Full Legal Name, CDCR Number], P.O. Box 213040, Stockton, CA 95213. This one address works for every inmate-patient, no matter their housing unit.
MailNo. Unlike some CDCR prisons that split mail by yard or facility, CHCF uses one P.O. Box for every inmate-patient. You only need the person's correct name and CDCR number.
MailYes. CHCF uses P.O. Box 213040, Stockton, CA 95213 for CDCR Form 106 visiting approval, personal mail, and mailed checks or money orders. Address each item clearly so it's routed correctly.
MailYes, within CDCR's limits: no Polaroids and nothing larger than 8x10. Avoid nudity, gang references, and images of drugs or weapons, which get rejected. There's usually a per-envelope limit, so send a reasonable number. You can also send photos through Pigeonly, which prints and mails them for you.
MailNew books and magazines generally must come directly from an approved publisher or vendor, not mailed by you personally. Check CDCR's approved vendors and disapproved-publications rules before ordering.
MailNo. Personal packages aren't accepted directly. Approved packages come through CDCR's contracted package vendor, ordered by the person or an approved family member.
MailLegal mail marked from an attorney, court, or public official is opened only in front of the incarcerated person to check for contraband, and is not read. Mark it clearly on the outside.
MailIncoming mail is opened and inspected before delivery, so allow extra time beyond normal postal delivery. There's no guaranteed delivery window.
MailStickers, glitter, tape, glued-on items, cash, Polaroids, oversized photos, and any content seen as contraband, gang-related, or explicit. Stick to plain paper and cards.
MailNever send cash. Use an electronic deposit through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, or mail a check or money order payable to CDCR to CHCF's P.O. Box 213040. See the CDCR send-money guide for details.
MailConfirm their CDCR number before you mail.
View ArticleGet approved with CDCR Form 106, then schedule your visit.
View ArticleUse an EFT vendor or a check payable to CDCR instead of cash.
View ArticleStay in touch between letters with free calls.
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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.