Letters and photos go to Salinas Valley's inmate mailing address with the person's full name, CDCR number, and housing.
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Salinas Valley State Prison uses a dedicated inmate mailing address, separate from its institution and money-order addresses. Send letters and photos to the person at P.O. Box 1050, including their full legal name, CDCR number, and last known housing. Follow CDCR’s content rules, keep to plain paper, and use JPay or a check payable to CDCR for money instead of cash.
Use this format:
[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
Salinas Valley State Prison
P.O. Box 1050
Soledad, CA 93960-1050
Include the person’s last known housing on the envelope when you have it, since it helps the mailroom route your letter, and confirm the name and CDCR number on CIRIS before you 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 get mail rejected. Don’t send cash; use JPay or a check or money order payable to CDCR for money.
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 SVSP for you.
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.
Legal mail, clearly marked from an attorney, court, or public official, is handled separately. It’s opened only in the presence of the incarcerated person to check for contraband and is not read. Mark legal mail clearly on the outside so it’s routed correctly.
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 or check CDCR’s approved vendors page for the current process.
Never put cash in an envelope. To add money to the person’s account, use JPay for electronic deposits, or mail a check or money order payable to CDCR to the institution box, P.O. Box 1020. See the send-money guide for the full process, fees, and the 30-day hold on mailed deposits.
6 of 8 questions
Address it to the person's full legal name and CDCR number, Salinas Valley State Prison, P.O. Box 1050, Soledad, CA 93960-1050. Include their last known housing when you have it.
MailSalinas Valley uses separate P.O. Boxes: 1050 for inmate letters and photos, and 1020 for the institution and mailed money orders payable to CDCR. Use 1050 for mail and 1020 for a check or money order.
MailYes, 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.
MailStickers, 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.
MailNo. Personal packages aren't accepted directly. Approved packages come through CDCR's contracted package vendor, ordered by the person or an approved family member.
MailLegal 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. Mark it clearly on the outside.
MailYes, include their last known housing along with their full name and CDCR number. It helps the mailroom route your letter. Confirm their current location on CIRIS first.
MailNever send cash. Use JPay for electronic deposits, or mail a check or money order payable to CDCR to Salinas Valley State Prison, P.O. Box 1020, Soledad, CA 93960-1020.
MailConfirm the person's name and CDCR number before you mail.
View ArticleGet approved with CDCR Form 106, then schedule through VSA.
View ArticleUse JPay or a check payable to CDCR instead of cash.
View ArticleStay in touch between letters with free calls.
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
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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.