VSP splits mail across 4 separate boxes by type. Use the wrong one and your letter could be delayed.
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Mailing someone at Valley State Prison (VSP) takes an extra step: VSP publishes 4 separate P.O. boxes, each set up for a different purpose, instead of one shared address for everything. Letters and photos go to a different box than MoneyGram deposits, legal mail goes to its own box, and staff or administrative mail goes to yet another. Send something to the wrong box and it can sit unprocessed or come back to you. This page covers all 4 addresses, the correct format, and what VSP accepts.
VSP doesn’t use one shared address for all mail. Each type of mail has its own box, and using the wrong one can delay delivery.
General inmate mail (letters, cards, photos):
[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
Valley State Prison
P.O. Box 92
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0092
Inmate MoneyGram deposits:
[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
Valley State Prison
P.O. Box 94
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0094
Inmate legal mail:
[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
Valley State Prison
P.O. Box 96
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0096
Institution and staff mail (not for inmate letters):
Valley State Prison
P.O. Box 99
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0099
Always include the person’s full legal name, their CDCR number, and their last known housing unit on the envelope. That last detail helps staff route mail internally, especially if the person has moved within the institution since your last letter.
Splitting mail by purpose, general correspondence, MoneyGram, legal mail, and staff business, lets VSP route each type to the right department without mixing inmate personal mail in with financial transactions or legal correspondence. If you’re not sure which box applies to what you’re sending, use the general inmate mail box, P.O. Box 92, for letters, cards, and photos, and use the specific box only for MoneyGram or legal mail.
Transfers between CDCR institutions happen. Check CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, or ask the person directly, to confirm they’re still at VSP before you send a letter, especially if some time has passed since you last heard from them.
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 items get mail rejected.
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 VSP for you.
VSP publishes a dedicated legal mail box, P.O. Box 96, Chowchilla, CA 93610-0096. If you’re an attorney or legal representative, mark your envelope clearly as legal mail and use this box. Legal mail is opened only in the presence of the incarcerated person to check for contraband, not read.
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.
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 at (559) 665-6100 or check CDCR’s approved vendors page for the current process.
Don’t mail cash. Send a MoneyGram deposit to P.O. Box 94, or a check or money order payable to CDCR to the general inmate mail box. You can also send an electronic deposit through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections. See the CDCR send-money guide for the full process, fees, and how restitution affects deposits.
6 of 11 questions
It depends on what you're sending. General letters, cards, and photos go to P.O. Box 92, MoneyGram deposits go to P.O. Box 94, and legal mail goes to P.O. Box 96, all in Chowchilla, CA 93610.
MailVSP splits mail by purpose instead of using one shared box: general correspondence, MoneyGram deposits, legal mail, and staff business each have their own P.O. Box. Sending to the wrong one can delay processing.
MailP.O. Box 92, Chowchilla, CA 93610-0092. That's the general inmate mail box for letters, cards, and photos.
MailP.O. Box 94, Chowchilla, CA 93610-0094, the box VSP publishes specifically for inmate MoneyGram deposits.
MailCheck CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov, or ask the person directly, especially if it's been a while since your last letter, since transfers between CDCR institutions do happen.
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.
MailNew books and magazines generally must come directly from an approved publisher or vendor, not mailed by you personally. Check CDCR's approved vendors and disapproved-publications rules before ordering.
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.
MailVSP publishes a dedicated legal mail box, P.O. Box 96, Chowchilla, CA 93610-0096. Mark your envelope clearly as legal mail and send it there. Legal mail is opened in the presence of the incarcerated person to check for contraband, not read.
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.
MailNever send cash. Mail a MoneyGram deposit to P.O. Box 94, or a check or money order payable to CDCR to the general inmate mail box, or use an electronic deposit through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections. See the CDCR send-money guide for details.
MailConfirm the person is still housed here before you mail.
View ArticleGet approved with CDCR Form 106, then schedule through VSA.
View ArticleUse a mailed MoneyGram, check, or an EFT vendor.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 20, 2026.