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Frequently Asked Questions
What can I bring and/or wear to visiting?
Why can't the vendor have BBQ Beef Ribs or Birthday Cake on the Menu? ---And why is the food so expensive?
What can I send in a Quarterly Package (Box)?
What about books?
What can I send in the regular mail?
Where do I send Mail, money orders, etc.?
Why can't the Visitor food vendor have BBQ Beef Ribs or Birthday Cake on the menu?
No Special Orders are currently allowed in Visiting. This is because the Vendor, Sam, is under a very specific contract with the Department of Rehabilitation and the CDCR in Sacramento. While Sam does a wonderful job, there are some things that he cannot change, due to his contract. Birthday Cakes and other special items are NOT currently allowed.
The state of California gets a large percentage of Sam's gross sales, and he has to set the prices where they are to survive. Last time I checked, I believe that he has to give the state 40% of each sale to Visitors. That's why it's so expensive. VSPW is lucky to have Sam; most of the prisons only have vending machines.
Another interesting fact is that the CDCR is required to offer the food vending contract to the Department of Rehabilitation (DoR)FIRST. If they don't want it, then people like Sam can compete to have the contract. Sometimes the Department of Rehabilitation people don't do as good a job as outside contractors. The DoR didn't want VSPW, so we got to keep Sam during the last contract rounds.
Sam is usually around during Visiting, and would be happy to talk to you about his services.
Return To Questions
Boxes from families and friends are no longer accepted at VSPW, only from CDCR-approved vendors!
You may not send anything except regular mail in directly. Regular mail includes your letters (which can include postage stamps, a few photos, internet printouts, or magazine and newspaper clippings, but nothing else), magazine or newspaper subscriptions directly from the publisher/distributor, and religious tracts or booklets. However, all boxes, entertainment devices, allowed clothing, books or other purchases or property MUST come from an approved vendor. A list of approved Vendors can be found by following this link:
How To Send A Box!
How To Send Books!
What can I send in the regular mail?
Very few items are allowed in the regular mail. You may send up to 40 postage stamps, and up to 10 photos (as long as they don't have backs -- in other words, no polaroids).
You can send occasional newspaper clippings or magazine articles, as long as you don't send in a whole catalog or magazine in your envelope. For instance, don't try to send in half a magazine. A couple of pages of an article are fine, but if you try to send in too much, it will be returned at the inmate's expense.
Magazines and books must be sent in directly from the publishers and magazine distributors. See our page about BOOKS to get information on subscriptions, etc.
The mailing envelope you send in can't be bigger than 10" x 13" in size, the regular flat-type envelopes. No bubble wrap. No padded envelopes. If you send a padded envelope, it will not be opened, but will be immediately returned to you.
Don't write on the outside of your envelope!!! Just addresses. If you write on the outside, it will be returned to you. Don't use stickers of any kind, or put any stickers on the envelope or the letters, except for the postage. Stickers are contraband, and your mail will be returned!
Children are encouraged to color pictures for their moms and sisters and aunts and other inmates. A little bit of glitter on regular manufactured Christmas Cards is okay, but not on handmade cards. Nothing can be glued to your letters.
No toys, trinkets, jewelery, money, etc. Keep it simple! And remember, postcards go in SUPERFAST. If you need to get word in to an inmate faster, send a postcard. They don't have to be opened and checked for contraband, and they go in about three times as fast as regular envelopes. And they're colorful.
Stationary or blank cards or envelopes are not allowed. Your inmate will need to get these types of supplies from their Quarterly Package purchases or through Hobbycraft purchases. Writing supplies are also available for the women to purchase monthly through the canteen.
Remember to send in extra 2-cent stamps for your inmate when the Post Office changes the price on stamps (which is now an annual event). It is hard for the women to purchase 2-cent stamps through canteen, as they only carry a limited amount, and don't like to 'mess around' with them. It's become a real problem over the last two years.
Here's a short list of Mail do's-and-dont's:
1. Forty (40) Postage Stamps or less. They can be any denomination; 2-cent, 41-cent, etc. You can send in fourts stamps each time you send a letter.
2. Ten (10) Photos not to exceed 5 X 7 in size. NO POLAROIDS !!
3. YOU MAY NOT SEND IN STATIONARY OR CARDS. Ask your inmate on the new rules about stationary.
4. Don't glue or stick anything to your letters.
5. No magazines or catalogs.
Return To Questions
EXAMPLE OF MAILING ADDRESSES AND P.O. BOXES:
SEND GENERAL INMATE MAIL (LETTERS, POSTCARDS) TO P.O. Box 92 ONLY:
Jane Doe X12345 <- Inmate Name - CDC(number)
VSPW, B1-12-2L <- Housing Assignment
PO Box 92
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0092
SEND MONEY ORDERS TO P.O. BOX 94 ONLY:
Jane Doe X12345
c/o Accounting Department
VSPW B1-12-2L
PO Box 94
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0094
SEND LEGAL MAIL TO P.O.BOX 96 ONLY
JANE DOE X12345
VSPW B1-12-2L
P.O.Box 96
Chowchilla, CA. 93610-0096
SEND VSPW STAFF MAIL TO P.O.BOX 99 ONLY:
Warden
VSPW
P.O. Box 99
Chowchilla, CA. 93610-0099
PLEASE SEND MONEY ORDERS TO PO BOX 94. THEY WILL GET TO YOUR LOVED ONE MORE QUICKLY.
Very few items are allowed in the regular mail. You may send up to 40 postage stamps, and up to 10 photos (as long as they don't have backs -- in other words, no polaroids).
You can send occasional newspaper clippings or magazine articles, as long as you don't send in a whole catalog or magazine in your envelope. For instance, don't try to send in half a magazine. A couple of pages of an article are fine, but if you try to send in too much, it will be returned at the inmate's expense.
Magazines and books must be sent in directly from the publishers and magazine distributors. See our page about BOOKS to get information on subscriptions, etc.
The mailing envelope you send in can't be bigger than 10" x 13" in size, the regular flat-type envelopes. No bubble wrap. No padded envelopes. If you send a padded envelope, it will not be opened, but will be immediately returned to you.
Don't write on the outside of your envelope!!! Just addresses. If you write on the outside, it will be returned to you. Don't use stickers of any kind, or put any stickers on the envelope or the letters, except for the postage. Stickers are contraband, and your mail will be returned!
Children are encouraged to color pictures for their moms and sisters and aunts and other inmates. A little bit of glitter on regular manufactured Christmas Cards is okay, but not on handmade cards. Nothing can be glued to your letters.
No toys, trinkets, jewelery, money, etc. Keep it simple! And remember, postcards go in SUPERFAST. If you need to get word in to an inmate faster, send a postcard. They don't have to be opened and checked for contraband, and they go in about three times as fast as regular envelopes. And they're colorful.
Stationary or blank cards or envelopes are not allowed. Your inmate will need to get these types of supplies from their Quarterly Package purchases or through Hobbycraft purchases. Writing supplies are also available for the women to purchase monthly through the canteen.
Remember to send in extra 2-cent stamps for your inmate when the Post Office changes the price on stamps (which is now an annual event). It is hard for the women to purchase 2-cent stamps through canteen, as they only carry a limited amount, and don't like to 'mess around' with them. It's become a real problem over the last two years.
Here's a short list of Mail do's-and-dont's:
1. Forty (40) Postage Stamps or less. They can be any denomination; 2-cent, 41-cent, etc. You can send in fourts stamps each time you send a letter.
2. Ten (10) Photos not to exceed 5 X 7 in size. NO POLAROIDS !!
3. YOU MAY NOT SEND IN STATIONARY OR CARDS. Ask your inmate on the new rules about stationary.
4. Don't glue or stick anything to your letters.
5. No magazines or catalogs.
Return To Questions
EXAMPLE OF MAILING ADDRESSES AND P.O. BOXES:
SEND GENERAL INMATE MAIL (LETTERS, POSTCARDS) TO P.O. Box 92 ONLY:
Jane Doe X12345 <- Inmate Name - CDC(number)
VSPW, B1-12-2L <- Housing Assignment
PO Box 92
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0092
SEND MONEY ORDERS TO P.O. BOX 94 ONLY:
Jane Doe X12345
c/o Accounting Department
VSPW B1-12-2L
PO Box 94
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0094
SEND LEGAL MAIL TO P.O.BOX 96 ONLY
JANE DOE X12345
VSPW B1-12-2L
P.O.Box 96
Chowchilla, CA. 93610-0096
SEND VSPW STAFF MAIL TO P.O.BOX 99 ONLY:
Warden
VSPW
P.O. Box 99
Chowchilla, CA. 93610-0099
PLEASE SEND MONEY ORDERS TO PO BOX 94. THEY WILL GET TO YOUR LOVED ONE MORE QUICKLY.
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Return To Homepage
Web Page Designed and Published By;
Computer Consulting Service