Logo Created By VSPW Graphic Arts Program
"Thank You Ladies"
NEW rules for what we can mail in, as of March 2009! We can now send some stationary and paper. Go to
New Mail Rules
to see the new allowances.
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This page includes some FAQs about mail at VSPW, and links to the CDCR rules about mail at the prison.
First, a quick note from an IFC representative: If you have a loved one who is being sent to VSPW Reception, please send her a POSTCARD as soon as you can get her CDCR number and her housing assignment. A postcard will get in there 4 times faster than a letter! She is feeling lost, frightened, and hopeless, and any word from you will be a Godsend. When you know that she has been sent out from county jail, call VSPW at 559-665-6100, extension 5570 for Records. You will need her full name (as incarcerated under), and her social security, or her correct birthdate. They should be able to look up her CDCR number and room assignment. It's best if you already have her CDCR number, but she won't get that until she gets to VSPW.
Send her a postcard right away!!! Be sure to put her name, CDCR number, and housing assignment on it. Then, sit down and send her a letter to the same address, and be sure to add some postage stamps. She can have up to 40 stamps per letter. She will need them to be able to write back to you. Any word from you and from home is precious!
Please be sure you write your return address on the card, or the Unit Command may not allow it in.
Send her a postcard right away!!! Be sure to put her name, CDCR number, and housing assignment on it. Then, sit down and send her a letter to the same address, and be sure to add some postage stamps. She can have up to 40 stamps per letter. She will need them to be able to write back to you. Any word from you and from home is precious!
Please be sure you write your return address on the card, or the Unit Command may not allow it in.
Use These PO Boxes --
PO Box 92 - regular mail to inmates
PO Box 94 - Money Orders to Inmates
PO Box 96 – Legal Mail to inmates
PO Box 99 – mail to Staff and Administration
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What IS allowed in letters? What May I send in letters to my loved one?
a. Forty (40) postage stamps or less (any denomination, as long as you send no more than 40 at a time). NO CUSTOMIZED STAMPS.
Please STAPLE your stamps to the letter, or write your inmate's CDCR# and housing assignment on them. They might fall out during processing and get lost.
b. Photos ARE allowed; not to exceed 8x10" in size. No BACKS! No Polaroids!! No violence, genitals, etc.
c. New rules! Check out these ALLOWED items as of March 2009: New Mail Rules We are now allowed to send in stationary, envelopes and paper. Check out the rules!
2. What is NOT allowed in the regular mail?
a. NO MONEY! NO CHECKS! (send to PO Box 94!!)
b. DO NOT use envelopes bigger than 10"x12". Bigger envelopes, boxes or packages will NOT be delivered. No BUBBLE WRAP. NO Puffy packaging. Flat manila envelopes only.
c. No Polaroids, no pictures with backs and no pictures larger than 8" x 10".
d. No bracelets, trinkets, stickers, or other small items that are not either a letter or a photo or a postage stamp!
e. No phone cards, credit cards, ID cards or anything other than just your letter, photos, or stamps.
f. No stickers, decorative stamps, or non-postage stamp items or sticky pictures & decorations.
g. NO BOOKS, NO MAGAZINES, NO CATALOGS, NO clothing or other products. These may only be received by the inmate through the Quarterly Package system (see "Inmate Property" page). If it's a magazine that can't be sent by the publisher/distributor (specality, old), you should photocopy off the pages of interest, and send them in 10 or less at a time in regular mail.
3. What are the mailing addresses?
SEND REGULAR MAIL TO:
Inmate Name, then her CDCR Number (W- or X-)
VSPW, HOUSING NUMBER (example: B##-##-#L)
PO Box 92
Chowhcilla, CA 93610-0092
SEND MONEY ORDERS TO:
Inmate Name and CDCR #
HOUSING UNIT number
c/o Accounting Department
VSPW
PO Box 94
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0094
PLEASE SEND MONEY ORDERS TO PO BOX 94. THEY WILL GET TO YOUR LOVED ONE MORE QUICKLY. You can get money orders at the Post Office where you live, and at various banks, etc. They are applied to your inmate's trust account immediately. Checks often will be held 30 days before they clear.
**WARNING** IF YOU PUT THEM IN THE REGULAR MAIL (PO BOX 92) THEY CAN TAKE AS LONG AS 6 TO 8 WEEKS!!!
4. How long does it take for mail to get in to my loved one?
According to the 'rules', the mailroom is supposed to process all incoming mail within 7 days. This rarely happens. Mail can be up to 65 days late, especially during Christmas. Expect for mail to get backed up around any holiday, including Ceasar Chavez Day! Normally, mail runs about 2 to 3 weeks past the day you mail it out. IT WILL TAKE LONGER FOR YOUR LOVED ONE TO RECEIVE MAIL IN AD/SEG, THE SHU, OR ON A YARD RECEIVING! Expect these areas to take 30 days.
5. Is there any way for me to get mail in faster???
YES! Send a postcard. This doesn't need to be opened and inspected, and will go in much faster! [Don't forget to put your return address on it.]
6. What about sending postage to the SHU or AD SEG?
VSPW allows us to send in up to 40 postage stamps at a time to people in the SHU and in AD SEG at the women's prisons. Some of the men's prisons have different rules and you will need to check with them.
PO Box 92 - regular mail to inmates
PO Box 94 - Money Orders to Inmates
PO Box 96 – Legal Mail to inmates
PO Box 99 – mail to Staff and Administration
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What IS allowed in letters? What May I send in letters to my loved one?
a. Forty (40) postage stamps or less (any denomination, as long as you send no more than 40 at a time). NO CUSTOMIZED STAMPS.
Please STAPLE your stamps to the letter, or write your inmate's CDCR# and housing assignment on them. They might fall out during processing and get lost.
b. Photos ARE allowed; not to exceed 8x10" in size. No BACKS! No Polaroids!! No violence, genitals, etc.
c. New rules! Check out these ALLOWED items as of March 2009: New Mail Rules We are now allowed to send in stationary, envelopes and paper. Check out the rules!
2. What is NOT allowed in the regular mail?
a. NO MONEY! NO CHECKS! (send to PO Box 94!!)
b. DO NOT use envelopes bigger than 10"x12". Bigger envelopes, boxes or packages will NOT be delivered. No BUBBLE WRAP. NO Puffy packaging. Flat manila envelopes only.
c. No Polaroids, no pictures with backs and no pictures larger than 8" x 10".
d. No bracelets, trinkets, stickers, or other small items that are not either a letter or a photo or a postage stamp!
e. No phone cards, credit cards, ID cards or anything other than just your letter, photos, or stamps.
f. No stickers, decorative stamps, or non-postage stamp items or sticky pictures & decorations.
g. NO BOOKS, NO MAGAZINES, NO CATALOGS, NO clothing or other products. These may only be received by the inmate through the Quarterly Package system (see "Inmate Property" page). If it's a magazine that can't be sent by the publisher/distributor (specality, old), you should photocopy off the pages of interest, and send them in 10 or less at a time in regular mail.
3. What are the mailing addresses?
SEND REGULAR MAIL TO:
Inmate Name, then her CDCR Number (W- or X-)
VSPW, HOUSING NUMBER (example: B##-##-#L)
PO Box 92
Chowhcilla, CA 93610-0092
SEND MONEY ORDERS TO:
Inmate Name and CDCR #
HOUSING UNIT number
c/o Accounting Department
VSPW
PO Box 94
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0094
PLEASE SEND MONEY ORDERS TO PO BOX 94. THEY WILL GET TO YOUR LOVED ONE MORE QUICKLY. You can get money orders at the Post Office where you live, and at various banks, etc. They are applied to your inmate's trust account immediately. Checks often will be held 30 days before they clear.
**WARNING** IF YOU PUT THEM IN THE REGULAR MAIL (PO BOX 92) THEY CAN TAKE AS LONG AS 6 TO 8 WEEKS!!!
4. How long does it take for mail to get in to my loved one?
According to the 'rules', the mailroom is supposed to process all incoming mail within 7 days. This rarely happens. Mail can be up to 65 days late, especially during Christmas. Expect for mail to get backed up around any holiday, including Ceasar Chavez Day! Normally, mail runs about 2 to 3 weeks past the day you mail it out. IT WILL TAKE LONGER FOR YOUR LOVED ONE TO RECEIVE MAIL IN AD/SEG, THE SHU, OR ON A YARD RECEIVING! Expect these areas to take 30 days.
5. Is there any way for me to get mail in faster???
YES! Send a postcard. This doesn't need to be opened and inspected, and will go in much faster! [Don't forget to put your return address on it.]
6. What about sending postage to the SHU or AD SEG?
VSPW allows us to send in up to 40 postage stamps at a time to people in the SHU and in AD SEG at the women's prisons. Some of the men's prisons have different rules and you will need to check with them.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Families and friends can send in up to 40 postage stamps at a time to inmates in their letters. Postage stamps are used by inmates to write letters, etc., and are not counted against them if they are indigent. Please send your loved one some postage stamps every chance you get. She will truly appreciate them!
Families and friends can send in up to 40 postage stamps at a time to inmates in their letters. Postage stamps are used by inmates to write letters, etc., and are not counted against them if they are indigent. Please send your loved one some postage stamps every chance you get. She will truly appreciate them!
Here is the Mail Room Procedure at VSPW, both in PDF and MSWord format:
