Calipatria State Prison

By Chris Smith, 27 February, 2024
Name of Warden:
Roberto Arias
Description of Facility

Calipatria State Prison is located on 300 acres in Imperial County California. This institution consists of four facilities, A, B, C, and D. Each one of these facilities contains five buildings, each in turn have 100 cells, which can house up to 190 inmates.

Vocational opportunities in HVAC, computers, electronics, electrical, and carpentry are available at Calipatria State Prison. Inmates can take adult basic education classes and earn a GED while incarcerated here.

This facility has the distinction of being at the lowest altitude of any prison in the United States at 184 feet below sea level.

Facility Telephone Number
760-348-7000 Ext. 5716
Facility Address

Calipatria State Prison
7018 Blair Road
Calipatria, CA 92233
United States

Inmate Mailing Address

Inmate Name, CDCR#
Facility A
P.O. Box 5004
Calipatria, CA 92233-5004
United States

Inmate Name, CDCR#
Facility B
P.O. Box 5005
Calipatria, CA 92233-5005
United States

Inmate Name, CDCR#
Facility C
P.O. Box 5006
Calipatria, CA 92233-5006
United States

Inmate Name, CDCR#
Facility D
P.O. Box 5007
Calipatria, CA 92233-5007
United States

Inmate Name, CDCR#
MSF/FH/ASU
P.O. Box 5008
Calipatria, CA 92233-5008
United States

Inmate Name, CDCR#
Inmate Funds
P.O. Box 5003
Calipatria, CA 92233-5003
United States

Legal Mail
P.O. Box 5002
Calipatria, CA 92233-5002
United States

What you can send an inmate

   Inmates at Calipatria State Prison are allowed the following through the mail:

  • Letters
  • printed pages from the internet, newspaper clippings
  • photos 4x6 (no Polaroids, no nudity)
  • calendars
  • up to forty postage embossed envelopes
  • white or yellow lined writing paper (no cotton paper)
  • typing/legal paper (no cotton paper)
  • children's drawings
  • postage stamps (up to 40)

All mail must have the inmate's name and CDCR number on it, and a full return address.

 Inmates can receive quarterly packages sent through the following approved vendors:

How Inmate Calls Work

As of January 1, 2023 all calls made by inmates are free of charge.

  • Inmates must initiate the call, so provide them your phone number in correspondence
  • Calls are limited to 15 minutes in duration
  • Calls are recorded
How to send money to an inmate

To send money to an inmate incarcerated in California you will need their current location and their CDCR number.

You can send funds in three ways:

  • Through the internet via three providers
  • By mailing a check or money order to the institution
    • Make it payable to "CDCR"
    • Include the inmate's name and CDCR # on the check
    • Your name and address must appear on the check or money order
    • There is no fee using this method but it can take up to 30 days
    • Mail to:
      Inmate Funds
      P.O. Box 5003
      Calipatria, CA 92233-5003
  • Through the Centralized Banking Lock Box
    • Send personal check, money order, or cashier's check
    • Fill out the Deposit Form Coupon
    • Mail to:
      JPAY
      2002 South Figueroa St
      Box #3001
      Los Angeles, CA 90007
How to do an Inmate Search

   Find an inmate's CDCR number, current location, and sentencing information by searching the California inmate database.

Visiting Information/FAQs

You must have an approved visitors application on file before you can attend a visit.  You must request from the inmate CDCR Form 106.  This is the California Visiting Questionnaire form and it must be signed by the inmate before you can fill it out and send it back to the facility at the inmate mailing address and add: "Attention: Visiting".

The inmate will be informed if you are approved, and they must notify you of the approval.  If you are not approved, you will get a letter from the prison with an explanation of the reason.

Calipatria State Prison requires you to schedule your visit through California's VSA system.
   
In-Person Visiting Hours:
Fridays:  11:30pm-6:00pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 8:30am-3:00pm

Walk in visitation:
Fridays: 2:00pm-4:30pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 11:00am-1:30pm

For more information contact the Visiting Sergeant at:
760-348-7000 Ext. 5718

This facility provides overnight family visitation Mondays to Wednesday and Wednesdays to Fridays.  Arrival is between 9am and 11am.

View the visitation status for all California institutions here.

You will need to bring a valid government issued photo ID in order to enter into visitation.  If you are entering visitation with a minor and you are the child's parent you will need to bring a certified copy of the minors birth certificate. 

Dress Code
The following clothing is not allowed:

  • Clothes that resembles the clothes of the inmate
  • Clothes that resemble law enforcement or military including camouflage
  • No skirts, dresses, or shorts that expose two inches above the knee or more
  • No halter tops, strapless tops, sheer, or see through, and may not expose the midriff
  • clothing that exposes any breast, genitalia or buttocks, including sheer material
  • No very tight fit/form fitting attire
  • No wigs or hairpieces or extensions (medical reasons require approval prior to your visit)
  • no flip flops, or shower shoes
  • no hats or gloves

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