← Back to California State Prison, Sacramento, CA

Mail and Photos to California State Prison, Sacramento

CSP-Sacramento uses one general P.O. Box for personal mail. CDCR's own facility page doesn't break mail down by housing unit here.

Stay Connected

Connect with inmates in California State Prison, Sacramento, CA

Send letters and photos in minutes

Overview

Mail at California State Prison, Sacramento is simpler than at some other CDCR prisons. CDCR’s official facility page for CSP-Sacramento publishes one general P.O. Box for personal mail instead of splitting it by housing unit, the way facilities like California State Prison, Los Angeles County do. Address a letter to the person’s full legal name, their CDCR number, and P.O. Box 290001, Represa, CA 95671, and it should reach them regardless of which housing unit they’re currently in.

Quick Facts

Personal mail goes to one general address: P.O. Box 290001, Represa, CA 95671.
P.O. Box 290002 is the Warden's Office administrative address for staff business, not where families send personal letters.
Always write the person's full name and CDCR number on the envelope.
Photos are generally allowed, but no Polaroids and nothing larger than 8x10. Avoid nudity, gang references, or anything that could be seen as contraband.
Legal mail from an attorney, court, or public official is opened only in front of the incarcerated person to check for contraband, not read.
Personal packages aren't accepted directly. Approved packages come through CDCR's contracted package vendor.
Confirm the person is still housed at CSP-Sacramento on CIRIS before mailing, since transfers happen.

CSP-Sacramento’s Mailing Address

Unlike some CDCR prisons that split personal mail across several P.O. Boxes by housing unit, CSP-Sacramento’s official CDCR facility page lists one general address for personal mail:

[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
California State Prison, Sacramento
P.O. Box 290001
Represa, CA 95671

Always include the person’s full legal name and CDCR number. CDCR sorts mail internally once it reaches this address, so you don’t need to know the person’s specific housing unit to address a letter correctly here.

Don’t Confuse This With the Warden’s Office Box

CDCR also lists a second P.O. Box, 290002, for the Warden’s Office at Represa, CA 95671. That address is for staff and administrative business, not personal letters to an incarcerated person. Sending a personal letter there instead of the general P.O. Box 290001 can delay it reaching the person you’re writing to.

Confirm Before You Mail

People do get transferred between CDCR institutions. Check CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, or ask the person directly, to confirm they’re still at CSP-Sacramento before you send a letter, especially if some time has passed since you last heard from them.

What You Can Send

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 items get mail rejected.

Photo Rules

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 CSP-Sacramento for you.

Legal Mail

Legal mail from an attorney, court, or public official should be clearly marked as legal mail on the outside of the envelope. It’s opened only in the presence of the incarcerated person to check for contraband, not read. If you’re an attorney or a legal representative, confirm CSP-Sacramento’s exact legal-mail handling by calling (916) 985-8610, since the facility’s public page doesn’t publish a separate legal-mail box distinct from the general address.

Mail Inspection and Rejected Mail

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.

Packages

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 at (916) 985-8610 or check CDCR’s approved vendors page for the current process.

Sending Money

Don’t mail cash. Use an electronic deposit through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, or send a check or money order following the process on the CDCR send-money guide.

Families Also Ask

6 of 10 questions

What's the mailing address for someone at CSP-Sacramento?

P.O. Box 290001, Represa, CA 95671. Include the person's full legal name and CDCR number on the envelope.

Mail

Does CSP-Sacramento split mail by housing unit like other CDCR prisons?

No. CDCR's official facility page for CSP-Sacramento publishes one general P.O. Box for personal mail, unlike facilities such as California State Prison, Los Angeles County, which use several boxes depending on housing.

Mail

What is P.O. Box 290002 for?

That's the Warden's Office administrative address, used for staff and facility business, not for personal letters to an incarcerated person. Use P.O. Box 290001 for personal mail instead.

Mail

How do I know if someone is still at CSP-Sacramento before I mail something?

Check CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, or ask the person directly, especially if it's been a while since your last letter, since transfers between CDCR institutions do happen.

Mail

Can I send photos?

Yes, 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.

Mail

Can I send books or magazines?

New 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.

Mail

Can I send a package directly?

No. Personal packages aren't accepted directly. Approved packages come through CDCR's contracted package vendor, ordered by the person or an approved family member.

Mail

How does legal mail work?

Legal 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. CSP-Sacramento's public page doesn't list a legal-mail box separate from the general address, so call (916) 985-8610 to confirm the current process if you're sending official legal correspondence.

Mail

What gets mail rejected?

Stickers, 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.

Mail

How do I send money instead of cash?

Never send cash. Use an electronic deposit through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, or mail a check or money order following the process on the CDCR send-money guide.

Mail