Mail and Photos to Pleasant Valley State Prison

The Correct Mailing Address

Address letters, cards, and money orders to:

[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number] Pleasant Valley State Prison P.O. Box 8500 Coalinga, CA 93210

Always include the recipient’s full legal name and CDCR number. Without the CDCR number, mailroom staff may not be able to match the letter to the right person, especially if the name is common.

One Address for Mail and Money

Unlike some CDCR institutions that split general mail and money orders into separate P.O. Boxes, PVSP uses P.O. Box 8500 for both. See the Send Money guide for the full deposit process and options.

How Mail Gets Processed

Incoming letters are opened and visually inspected for contraband before being forwarded to the recipient. PVSP handles this directly at the institution.

Getting Someone’s CDCR Number

If you don’t already have the recipient’s CDCR number, search for them on CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, or call the institution’s Public Information Officer for help confirming their housing and number.

Sending Digital Photos and E-Messages

CDCR’s published rollout schedule listed PVSP’s transition from ViaPath Technologies to Securus Technologies for July 6, 2026, a date that has already passed as of this guide’s last verification. Call (559) 935-4900 to confirm PVSP’s current tablet provider before setting up an account, since fees for photos and e-messages differ slightly between the two platforms.

Sending Packages

CDCR only allows packages through its approved outside vendors, not items purchased and mailed from home. Check CDCR’s current list of approved package vendors before ordering anything, since unapproved packages will be rejected and returned or destroyed instead of delivered.

What’s Not Allowed

CDCR inspects all incoming mail for contraband, including drugs, weapons, and unauthorized electronics. Sexually explicit material, material depicting or encouraging violence, and anything that could help someone escape are also prohibited. If a letter or package is rejected, the mailroom typically returns it to the sender or notifies the recipient of the rejection, depending on what it contains.

If Something Gets Rejected

If your letter or package doesn’t make it through, you can contact PVSP’s mailroom directly to ask why. Confirm you addressed it correctly and included the CDCR number, since incomplete or incorrect addressing is one of the most common reasons mail gets delayed or returned.