Q
How do I find someone at Centinela State Prison?
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 Centinela State Prison.
Inmate Search
Updated July 20, 2026
Verified from official government sources
Centinela State Prison, CA
Physical Address
2302 Brown Road, Imperial, CA 92251
Centinela State Prison (CEN) is a CDCR institution in Imperial County, housing General Population, Level I, Level III, and Level IV men. It's named for nearby Mount Signal, once used to watch the US-Mexico border, and Centinela is Spanish for sentinel. Andre Green has served as Acting Warden since January 2026. This guide covers CDCR's statewide inmate locator, Centinela's visiting process, sending money, free phone calls, and mail rules. All data is verified from cdcr.ca.gov.
Centinela State Prison
City
Imperial
County
Imperial 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, Level I, Level III (including Level III sensitive needs), and Level IV
Operator
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Address
2302 Brown Road, Imperial, CA 92251
Phone
(760) 337-7900
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Quick Facts
Visitation
- ✓ You need CDCR Form 106 (Visitor Questionnaire) signed by the person you want to visit, then mailed in for approval.
- ✓ Once approved, book your visit through the statewide Visitation Scheduling Application (VSA) at cdcr.gtlvisitme.com/app, 8 days to 5 days before the visit.
- ✓ Visiting hours: Friday 11:45am-6:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 8:15am-3:00pm.
- ✓ Scheduled appointments get a generous 1-hour grace period to arrive, longer than at some other CDCR prisons.
- ✓ Non-contact visit requests for the Restrictive Housing Unit and other non-contact status go by email only, and only during a narrow Saturday 8:00am to Monday 8:00am window.
Send Money
- ✓ CDCR uses the same money process at every state prison. Send electronically through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections (paid, posts in 1-3 days).
- ✓ See the full CDCR send-money guide for vendors, fees, and how restitution affects deposits.
Phone & Messaging
- ✓ All outgoing voice calls have been free statewide since January 1, 2023. Calls are limited to 15 minutes.
- ✓ We don't have a confirmed current tablet or video provider for Centinela. Call (760) 337-7900 to confirm before you set up an account.
Mail & Photos
- ✓ Centinela splits mail into 5 P.O. Boxes: one for general institution mail and one for each housing area, with Facilities D and E sharing a single box.
- ✓ Always include the person's full name and CDCR number on the envelope.
- ✓ If you don't know the housing facility, use the general institution box instead of guessing.
Articles for This Facility
Inmate Search
Find Someone at Centinela with the CIRIS Locator
CDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, not a separate tool per prison. Here's how to confirm someone is at Centinela.
View Article Visitation
Centinela Visiting Hours and Scheduling
You need CDCR Form 106 approval first, then you book your visit through the statewide VSA system, plus a walk-in process at the gray brick wall.
View Article Send Money
Send Money to Centinela
CDCR's statewide money process, covering EFT vendors and mailed checks or money orders.
View Article Phone Calls
Phone Calls Are Free Statewide
All outgoing calls from Centinela are free. Here's what we do and don't know about the tablet and video provider.
View Article Mail & Photos
Mail & Photos to Centinela
Centinela splits mail into 5 boxes by housing area, with Facilities D and E sharing one box. Get the right box before you send anything.
View ArticleWhat You Need to Know
Verified from CIRIS
See our sources ›
CDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, CIRIS, not a separate tool per facility. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists Centinela State Prison.
See the full breakdown Verified from CDCR visiting status
See our sources ›
You need CDCR Form 106 signed by the incarcerated person and mailed in for approval before you can schedule anything. Once approved, book through the statewide VSA system, or line up for a limited walk-in window.
See the full breakdown Verified from CDCR sending money policy
See our sources ›
CDCR uses one statewide money process: EFT through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, or a check or money order payable to CDCR. See the full CDCR send-money guide.
See the full breakdown Verified from CDCR family resources
See our sources ›
All outgoing voice calls are free statewide, limited to 15 minutes. We could not confirm which tablet and video provider Centinela currently uses, so confirm with the institution directly.
See the full breakdown Verified from CDCR facility locator
See our sources ›
Centinela publishes 5 separate P.O. Boxes: general institution mail plus one for each of Facilities A, B, and C, with Facilities D and E sharing a box. Sending to the wrong box can delay delivery.
See the full breakdownFamilies Also Ask
6 of 9 questions
Q
What are Centinela's visiting hours?
Friday 11:45am to 6:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8:15am to 3:00pm. Overcrowding terminations can start earlier, at 3:30pm Friday and noon on weekends, and no one is processed after 5:30pm Friday or 2:00pm on weekends.
Visitation
Q
Do I need a visitor application form?
Yes. CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, must be signed by the incarcerated person and mailed in for a background check before you can be approved to visit. We didn't find a Centinela-specific handbook or a separate visitor form beyond this standard CDCR process.
Visitation
Q
What's the mailing address for Centinela?
It depends on the housing facility. General personal mail goes to P.O. Box 731, Imperial, CA 92251-0731. Facility A, B, and C each have their own box, and Facilities D and E share one box. See the mail and photos guide for the full breakdown.
Mail
Q
How do I send money to someone at Centinela?
CDCR uses one statewide money process. Send electronically through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections. See the full CDCR send-money guide for details.
Send Money
Q
What phone and tablet provider does Centinela use?
All outgoing voice calls are free statewide, limited to 15 minutes. We couldn't confirm which company currently runs Centinela's tablet and video system. Call (760) 337-7900 to ask before you set up an account.
Phone Calls
Q
Where does the name Centinela come from?
The prison is named for Mount Signal, a mountain on the US-Mexico border once used to watch for unauthorized border crossings. Centinela is the Spanish word for sentinel, or lookout.
About
Q
What programs does Centinela offer people preparing for release?
A contracted Family Liaison Service Specialist helps with pre-release preparation and runs Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes. Centinela also runs vocational programs in Electrical, Office Services, Building Maintenance, Small Engine Repair, Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Electronics, Roofing, and Welding, plus Adult Basic Education, GED, and independent study.
About
Q
What is Centinela State Prison?
Centinela State Prison (CEN) is a CDCR institution in Imperial County that houses General Population, Level I, Level III, and Level IV men. Under state law (AB 1403), the prison provides work, academic, vocational, and self-help programming to everyone in its custody. Andre Green has served as Acting Warden since January 2026.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 20, 2026. Official source: cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator/cen ›