Valley State Prison, Chowchilla, CA

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 Valley State Prison.

No. It opened in 1995 as Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) and housed female felons at multiple custody levels, including the state's only Security Housing Unit for women at the time. After California passed AB 109 in 2011, the female population dropped enough that CDCR converted the institution to house men instead. The conversion ran from October 2012 to January 2013, when the name changed to Valley State Prison. It has operated as an all-male Level II Sensitive Needs Yard institution since then.

Friday 11:30am to 6:00pm, Saturday 8:30am to 3:00pm, and Sunday 8:30am to 3:00pm. Scheduling opens on a different rolling window for each day, so check the visitation guide for the exact times.

Yes. CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, must be signed by the incarcerated person and mailed in for a background check. We didn't find a VSP-specific handbook or a VSP-specific visitor form beyond the standard statewide process.

It depends on the type of mail. General letters, cards, and photos go to P.O. Box 92, MoneyGram deposits go to P.O. Box 94, legal mail goes to P.O. Box 96, and staff correspondence goes to P.O. Box 99, all in Chowchilla, CA 93610. See the mail guide for the exact format.

CDCR uses one statewide money process. Send electronically through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections. See the full CDCR send-money guide for details.

All outgoing voice calls are free statewide, limited to 15 minutes. We couldn't confirm which company currently runs VSP's tablet and video system. Call (559) 665-6100 to ask before you set up an account.

O'Brian Bailey has served as acting Warden since July 2024, after serving as Chief Deputy Warden at VSP in an out-of-class assignment starting March 2024. He began his CDCR career in 2001 at the Basic Correctional Officer Academy in Galt, then worked at California State Prison-Corcoran before moving through Correctional Counselor and Captain roles at Avenal State Prison, and later worked in CDCR's Department of Rehabilitative Programs before his VSP assignment. Raul Recarey serves as Health Care CEO.

VSP runs Prison Industry Authority programs in farming, eyewear manufacturing, and laundry, along with vocational training in trades like welding, HVAC, and cosmetology. Academic programs run from Adult Basic Education through GED and high school, with associate degree options through 3 community colleges and a bachelor's degree program through CSU Fresno. VSP is designated a CDCR Re-Entry hub, with substance use treatment through ISUDT and a mentor certification program for long-term inmates.

Yes. VSP runs an In-Person Picnic program that rewards positive programming and helps incarcerated people build a supportive family connection ahead of reintegration. The incarcerated person starts the process by submitting a request to VSP's visiting center.