Find Someone at Pelican Bay State Prison

Use CIRIS, CDCR's statewide inmate search tool, at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists Pelican Bay State Prison.

They may be a recent booking that hasn't updated in CIRIS yet, they may have been released or paroled, they may have transferred to a different institution, or the name entered doesn't exactly match CDCR's records. Try name variations, or call CDCR's ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 with a date of birth.

Pelican Bay sits on California's far north coast, more than 350 miles from most Bay Area and Southern California families. Because it holds custody levels up through a Restricted Housing Unit and people do get moved, run one more CIRIS check a day or two before you leave, since an older result may already be out of date.

No, a name is enough to start, but the CDCR number is more reliable and you'll need it for the visitor questionnaire, mail, and JPay deposits regardless.

CIRIS updates to show his current institution, though it can lag a few days behind the actual move. Recheck it before you send money, mail anything, or travel for a visit, since JPay deposits and mail are both tied to whichever institution he's currently at.