Central California Women's Facility (CCWF) is CDCR's largest institution for women, located in Chowchilla, Madera County. It houses women across all custody levels and provides academic, vocational, and specialized reentry programs. This guide covers CDCR's statewide inmate locator, how to schedule a visit through the VSA system, sending money with JPay, phone calls, and mail rules. All data is verified from cdcr.ca.gov.
City
Chowchilla
County
Madera County
State
CA
Facility Type
state prison
Gender
Female
Capacity
Not published by CDCR as a fixed number; check the current Weekly Population Report
Custody Levels
All custody levels; CDCR's largest women's institution
Operator
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Address
23370 Road 22, Chowchilla, CA 93610
Phone
(559) 665-5531
Inmate Locator
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CDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, not a separate tool per prison. Here's how to use it to confirm someone is at CCWF.
View ArticleYou need CDCR Form 106 approval first, then you book your visit through the statewide VSA system.
View ArticleDeposits go through JPay statewide, or by mail directly to the institution's inmate mail box.
View ArticleAll outgoing calls from CCWF are free. Here's how the tablet and video call transition to Securus works.
View ArticleCCWF uses a separate P.O. Box for inmate mail versus institution business.
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 Central California Women's Facility.
See the full breakdownYou need CDCR Form 106 signed by the incarcerated person and approved by CCWF's Visiting Sergeant/Lieutenant before you can schedule anything. Once approved, book through CDCR's statewide VSA system.
See the full breakdownJPay processes deposits statewide: online, by phone, or by mailing a money order to JPay's lockbox. You can also mail a check or money order payable to CDCR directly to CCWF's inmate mail box, with a 30-day hold.
See the full breakdownAll outgoing voice calls are free statewide. CCWF has already transitioned its tablet, video call, and e-message provider from ViaPath Technologies to Securus Technologies.
See the full breakdownCCWF splits its mailing addresses: P.O. Box 1501 for institution business, and a separate P.O. Box 1508 specifically for inmate mail and money orders.
See the full breakdown6 of 8 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 Central California Women's Facility.
Inmate SearchFriday 11:30am to 6:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8:30am to 3:00pm. Call the Visiting Sergeant at (559) 665-5531, ext. 7600, to confirm before you travel, especially around holidays.
VisitationYes. CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, must be signed by the incarcerated person and mailed to CCWF's Visiting Sergeant/Lieutenant for a background check before you're added to the approved visitor list. Once approved, you schedule visits yourself through CDCR's VSA system.
VisitationCDCR doesn't publish a single downloadable family handbook PDF. Instead, its Prepare to Visit section on cdcr.ca.gov walks through ID requirements, attire rules, what you can bring, and what happens during processing, as a set of live webpages instead of one document.
AboutUse JPay statewide: online, by phone, or by mailing a money order or check payable to JPay to their lockbox address in Los Angeles, capped at $999.99 per form. You can also mail a check or money order payable to CDCR directly to CCWF's inmate mail address, P.O. Box 1508, which has no fee but takes a 30-day hold.
Send MoneyInmate mail goes to P.O. Box 1508, Chowchilla, CA 93610. This is a separate box from the institution's general business address, P.O. Box 1501, so make sure you use 1508 for anything addressed to an incarcerated person.
MailCCWF is CDCR's largest institution for women, located in Chowchilla, Madera County. It houses women across all custody levels and offers academic, vocational, and specialized programs including a public-private Joint Venture Electronics program that pays prevailing wages.
AboutYes. CCWF contracts with a community-based organization for an on-site Family Liaison Service Specialist who helps with pre-release planning and runs parenting and conflict resolution classes. Call the institution to get connected.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 15, 2026. Official source: cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator/ccwf ›