Jail guard Amara Brown admits to DoorDash delivery for inmate
Guard Amara Brown at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center is charged with using DoorDash to deliver a meal to an inmate.
Valley State Prison is a medium-security California state prison for male inmates located in Chowchilla, California. It used to house female inmates and was known as the Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW). In October 2012, VSPW began a historic conversion from an all-female institution to an all-male institution. In January 2013, the conversion was successfully completed and the name changed to Valley State Prison or VSP.
Jail Name
Valley State Prison (VSP)
Jail Type
Address
21633 Avenue 24, Chowchilla, CA, 93610
Contact Number
City
Chowchilla
Zip/Postal Code
93610
State
County
Madera County
Inmate Search
VSP functions as a Level II, General Population institution housing inmates requiring Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) placement. VSP also houses inmates who are assigned to the Enhanced Outpatient Program (EOP).
The EOP provides a higher level of mental health treatment for inmates requiring a more enhanced treatment plan with mental health staff. VSP has also been identified as a Re-Entry hub for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR). As a Re-Entry hub, VSP focuses on needs-based rehabilitative services to include substance abuse and cognitive behavioral training.
VSP offers educational and vocational training, along with work skills training through the Prison Industry Authority Optical and Laundry programs.
To visit an inmate at Valley State Prison you must first get on the approved visiting list. Ask the prisoner you want to visit to mail you a signed visitor questionnaire, and then fill it out completely.
Once you fill it out, mail the completed questionnaire to:
Valley State Prison
Visiting Sergeant
PO Box 99 Chowchilla,
CA 93610-0099
The prison will notify the inmate when you are approved, and then the inmate will notify you. When you are approved you will be listed in the CDCR computer as being an approved visitor for that specific prisoner.
If you are denied, the prison will send you a letter explaining the reason for disapproval.
Visiting hours at Valley State Prison are on Saturdays and Sundays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. You must arrive at the prison no later than 2:00 p.m. if you wish to visit with an inmate.
Inmates who are in ADSEG or reception are only allowed visits between 10:00 a.m. and noon. The online VPASS system allows you to schedule visits at VSP, and this is required if you’re visiting anyone who is in segregated housing or reception.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has an 800 Visitors’ Information number (800-374-8474) that you can call for up-to-date information about visits at VSP. This number will let you know if the prison is on lockdown, under quarantine, or if something else has occurred that has cancelled visiting for the day.
We highly recommend that you read the CDCR’s Visitation Guidebook before visiting an inmate because those 28 pages are full of information, and it will answer any questions you might have about visiting an inmate at VSP.
General Visiting Rules
Most Valley State Prison inmates are allowed contact visits, which are restricted to five visitors at a time.
When visiting an inmate, you must dress modestly and avoid wearing any clothing that resembles what the inmates wear. A detailed dress code is available here.
When you arrive at VSP for a visit, be sure to bring a current photo ID, and be prepared to be searched and to go through a metal detector.
Leave all electronic devices in your vehicle, as well as outerwear, hats, and sunglasses. Don’t bring anything but the following items into a visit:
Visiting rooms have vending machines, so you can buy food and beverages to share with the inmate you are visiting. You are not allowed to bring any food or beverage from the outside into the prison.
Valley State Prison
21633 Avenue 24
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/1sqsWoEMhvtvZcEN6
Phone: (559) 665-6100
Inmate Name, CDCR Number
Valley State Prison
PO Box 92
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0092
You must include the inmate’s name and CDCR number on everything you mail to a prisoner at SCC.
You are allowed to send only the following:
If you want to send books to an inmate, you must send them through approved vendors, like Amazon. To send an inmate magazines and newspapers, you have to set up a subscription for the inmate so they can be mailed directly from the publisher.
You can’t send care packages directly. Instead, you must go through the Inmate Quarterly Package program. Packages are available through these authorized private vendors:
You can’t call an inmate at Valley State Prison, but they do have access to phones and can call you collect. For complete details on how to call an inmate in California, please click here.
There are three ways to send money to an inmate at Valley State Prison:
To get complete details about sending money to an inmate at VSP, click here.
Education
The VSP Education Department currently offers educational services to the inmate population via two service delivery streams; the Academic Program, the Vocational Program. At any one time, the Education Department offers educational services to approximately 2,400 inmates.
Education is currently operating under a six-year accreditation without a review issued by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (approximately 3% of all schools in the Western United States receive this high a level of accreditation).
Academic Education Programs:
Six classes for Adult Basic Education I, II, III, and General Education Development (GED) level.
Vocational Programs
Automotive Mechanics, Cosmetology, Electronics, Office Services, Small Engine Repair, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Welding, Electrical Works, Carpentry and Masonry.
Prison Industry Authority
PIA employs approximately 215 inmates in three separate operations: Farm Operation, Eyewear Manufacturing, and Laundry.
Substance Abuse Program (SAP):
SAP currently provides substance abuse services/counseling to 125 inmates in the Walden House program. Inmates follow a curriculum that includes education and counseling for substance abuse, domestic violence, anger management, conflict resolution, codependency, etc. This program also includes re-entry planning.
Other Programs
Religious, Law and Recreational Library, Physical Education, and Centerforce.
Health Care Services
The Division of Correctional Health Care Services (DCHCS) at VSP consists of three departments: Medical, Mental Health and Dental Departments. VSP provides a range of treatment and rehabilitative services to assist men with emergent issues, alcohol and drug recovery, chronic care issues, preventative services, patient education, health care support, mental health services, and dental services.
If you are interested in a career at Valley State Prison, you can find available positions on the CalCareers website.
We provide detailed visiting and contact information for Valley State Prison (VSP). If you are have completed a Valley State Prison (VSP) inmate search and have located an inmate, the information on this page will help you to stay in contact. We help you send money to jail, send & receive text messages, and provide the address for in-person visits.
Inmates who are currently imprisoned in Valley State Prison (VSP) can receive money into their commissary account via money order, check or cash. Inmate visitors can also deposit money directly into the inmate's account at prison administrative office. Note: When sending the money via money order or check, mention the inmate id and full name on the back of the slip.
You can send any mail to the inmates who are imprisoned in Valley State Prison (VSP). Please send the mail or package to the address mentioned below.
Inmate Name,
Inmate ID,
21633 Avenue 24, Chowchilla, CA, 93610
Please make sure the mail or package that you are sending comes under the list of approved items. For further clarification on the allowed items, contact the prison administration directly on 559-665-6100 .
Note: In case you want to send packages, you need to get prior approval from the prison administration. Contact the prison / jail staff for more information.
Inmates can call to any person outside who are on the approved members list between 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The cost of the call is beared by the receiver and the call can be of maximum 30 minutes. During rush hours, the calling time is reduced drastically to 10 minutes.
You need to get yourself registered in the visitors list before visiting any inmate in the prison. If you are visiting someone in Valley State Prison (VSP), make sure you are in approved visitors list. Confirm with the prison authorities before coming to visit the inmate.
Listed below are the basic visitation rules which one must adhere to:
Fill out the form below and receive a detailed report on an inmate. This includes current and previous arrest records, social media handles, current and previous addresses & phone numbers.
Step 2
Enter the inmate personal informations in the required fields
Step 3
Click on the 'Submit' button
You can use the map plotted on the righ to find the driving directions to Valley State Prison (VSP).
176,449
California Total No. of Inmates
183,334
Number of people under Probation Supervision
259
Prison population rate: 100,000 residents
110,349
Parole Population
40,878
Incarcerated individuals with sentences of 50 years or longer
Sex
%
Total
Male
96.14
97,474
Female
3.86
3,915
Type
%
Total
Committed
49.75
2,055
Detained
48.58
2,007
Diverted
0.29
12
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