Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) is a CDCR Level IV men's institution in Delano, Kern County, in California's Central Valley. Opened in 2005, it runs four general population facilities and two Administrative Segregation Units behind a lethal electrified perimeter fence, plus a Level I Minimum Support Facility. This guide covers CDCR's statewide inmate locator, how to schedule a visit through the VSA system, sending money, free phone calls, and Kern Valley's yard-specific mail rules. All data is verified from cdcr.ca.gov.
City
Delano
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
Level IV general population across four 180-design facilities, two Administrative Segregation Units, and a Level I Minimum Support Facility
Operator
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Address
3000 West Cecil Avenue, Delano, CA 93216-6000
Phone
(661) 721-6300
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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 KVSP and not the nearby North Kern.
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 yard box.
View ArticleAll outgoing calls from KVSP are free. Here's how the tablet transition to Securus affects families.
View ArticleKern Valley uses a different P.O. Box for each yard, so the address depends on the person's housing.
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 Kern Valley and not the separate North Kern State Prison, also in Delano.
See the full breakdownYou need CDCR Form 106 signed by the incarcerated person and approved by KVSP's Visiting Department before you can schedule anything. Once approved, book through CDCR's statewide VSA system. Non-contact visits must be scheduled; walk-ins are contact-only.
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 yard 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 breakdownKern Valley routes inmate mail through a separate P.O. Box for each facility (yard), so you need the person's current housing to address a letter correctly.
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 Kern Valley State Prison and not North Kern State Prison, which is a separate prison in the same city of Delano.
Inmate SearchVisiting runs three days a week: Friday 11:30am to 6:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8:00am to 2:30pm. Walk-in contact visits run at separate, shorter hours, and non-contact visits must be scheduled ahead. Call (661) 721-6300 to confirm before you travel.
VisitationYes. CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, must be signed by the incarcerated person and mailed to Kern Valley's Visiting Department at P.O. Box 3130, Delano, CA 93216, for a background check. Once approved, you schedule visits yourself through CDCR's VSA system.
VisitationNo. They're two separate CDCR prisons, both in Delano. Kern Valley State Prison is a Level IV (high-security) general population institution, while North Kern State Prison is a reception center. Confirm which one holds the person on CIRIS before you visit or send anything.
AboutKern Valley routes inmate mail through a separate P.O. Box for each facility (yard) instead of one shared box. You need to know the person's current housing, Facility A, B, C, D, or M, to use the right box. Confirm their housing on CIRIS 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 yard 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) 721-6300 to confirm the current provider before you create an account.
Phone CallsKern Valley State Prison (KVSP) is a CDCR Level IV men's institution in Delano, Kern County, that opened in 2005. It runs four 180-design general population facilities and two Administrative Segregation Units behind a lethal electrified perimeter fence, plus a Level I Minimum Support Facility.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 18, 2026. Official source: cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator/kvsp ›