California Prison & Jail Facilities
California has 835 correctional facilities, including state prisons, county jails, federal facilities, and reentry centers. Browse the full list from the facility table below, or use the search box to find a specific prison by name.
California has an imprisonment rate of 247 per 100,000 people. A total of 1,72,379 people are currently incarcerated in California, with 1,83,334 on probation and 1,10,349 on parole. View recent arrests in California or search the US inmate locator for individual records.
California Prison & Jail System Overview
California operates 379 correctional facilities under the state Department of Corrections. These facilities include state prisons, county jails, reentry centers, and probation offices. The state also hosts 19 federal facilities operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
The state has 315 regional and city jails, which serve as pre-trial detention centers for individuals awaiting arraignment, bail hearings, or transfer to a state institution.
California operates 8 reentry and transitional facilities — also known as halfway houses or residential reentry centers — that provide supervised housing and services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.
An additional 108 facilities in California serve administrative, probation, or specialized supervision roles.
Searching for Inmates in California
The California Department of Justice maintains a public offender search tool at their official state inmate locator. You can search by the person's full name, inmate ID number, or register number. The tool typically returns results including the inmate's name, current facility, gender, race, offense, and projected release date.
For a comprehensive search that covers all facilities and includes inmates who may have transferred across state lines, use our nationwide inmate locator, which covers 2.65 million+ federal inmate records. You can also run a full background check that searches across court records, arrest records, and public data from all 50 states.
California directory snapshot
Visual breakdown of facilities in this listing—how they roll up into broad categories (derived from security-level labels), plus the most common security classifications recorded in our database for California.
Facility mix
829 facilities classified from security-level tags (same rules as the table below).
Segment width scales with the number of facilities in each category.
Top security classifications
Counts are distinct Security_Level values in California.
Prison Population in California by Incarceration Status
The chart and table below show the distribution of the California correctional population by supervision status. 1,72,379 people are currently incarcerated, with 1,83,334 on probation and 1,10,349 on parole.
| Supervision Status | Population |
|---|---|
| Probation | 1,83,334 |
| Parole | 1,10,349 |
| Life Sentence | 40,878 |
| Total Incarcerated | 1,72,379 |
Prison Population by Gender in California
The incarcerated population in California is predominantly male. 93,814 male and 3,505 female individuals are currently incarcerated. Female incarceration has grown significantly over the past three decades, driven largely by drug-related offenses and mandatory minimum sentencing.
| Gender | Population |
|---|---|
| Male | 93,814 |
| Female | 3,505 |
How to Use the California Prison Search Tool
Finding a prison facility in California is easy with AllJailSearch.us. We have 835 facilities listed in California. Use the search box at the top of the page to find any prison by name, or browse the complete facility table below.
Each facility page provides the following information:
- Visiting Hours — Scheduled days and times for in-person visits
- Visitation Rules — Dress code, ID requirements, and prohibited items
- Phone Number — Direct line to facility administration
- Email & Fax — For correspondence and document submission
- Physical Address — With a driving directions map
- Inmate Locator — Search inmates currently held at the facility
- Send Money Instructions — State-approved methods for commissary deposits
- Phone Call Setup — Carrier information and account setup instructions
How to Contact, Visit, and Send Money to an Inmate in California
Visiting an inmate in California requires advance approval. You must be added to the inmate's approved visitor list before arriving at any facility. Most facilities allow one or two visits per week during scheduled visiting hours.
- Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID on every visit. A driver's license, state ID, or passport is accepted at most facilities.
- Review the facility's dress code before arriving. No revealing clothing, no gang-affiliated colors, and no clothing resembling inmate uniforms are permitted.
- Arrive on time — late arrivals are often turned away. Some facilities require check-in up to 30 minutes before the visit begins.
- Book your visit in advance — walk-in visits are not permitted at most state prisons. Contact the facility directly to schedule.
- Respect facility staff and rules — any violation may result in immediate termination of the visit and possible loss of future visiting privileges.
- Complete the visitor application if you have not visited before. Download the California visitor application.
Read our complete guide to visiting an inmate in prison before your first visit.
Sending Money to an Inmate in California
The California Department of Corrections allows family members and friends to deposit money into an inmate's commissary trust account. Inmates use these funds to purchase hygiene products, food, phone credits, and other approved items from the facility store. Use the following approved methods to send money to an inmate in California:
An inmate trust account allows your loved one to buy essential items from the prison commissary — including hygiene products, food, clothing, and calling credits. California prisons accept deposits through several approved services. Choose the method that works best for you.
Method 1 — Access Corrections (Online, Recommended)
- Visit accesscorrections.com and create a free account.
- Pay by debit card, credit card, or bank account (ACH). Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
- Funds typically post within 24–48 hours on business days.
- A service fee is charged per transaction; the fee amount is shown before you confirm.
Method 2 — JPay (Online & Mobile)
- Visit JPay.com or download the JPay app: Android iOS
- Select the California Department of Corrections facility and enter your inmate's ID to proceed.
- Phone deposits available 24/7 at 1-800-574-5729.
Method 3 — Facility Kiosk (In-Person)
- Many California correctional facilities have on-site kiosks that accept debit or credit cards.
- Walk up to the kiosk in the lobby or visiting area, enter the inmate's ID, and deposit the desired amount.
- Funds post immediately in most cases.
Method 4 — Phone (TouchPay / JPay)
- Call JPay at 1-800-574-5729 to send money by phone with a debit or credit card.
- Call TouchPay at 1-866-232-1899 for an alternative phone deposit option.
- Service fees may apply for phone transactions.
Method 5 — Money Order or Cashier's Check by Mail
- Make the money order or cashier's check payable to the inmate's full committed name and include the inmate ID on the memo line.
- Some facilities require an additional deposit form. Download the California deposit form and include it with your mail.
- Send via USPS only — private carriers (FedEx, UPS) are not accepted.
- Processing time: 7–10 business days after receipt.
Method 6 — Western Union or MoneyGram
- Visit westernunion.com or a local Western Union agent. Select "Quick Collect" and provide the inmate's facility and ID.
- MoneyGram is accepted at select CDCR facilities — confirm with the facility before sending.
Information Required for Any Deposit
- Inmate's full committed name
- CDC number (California Department of Corrections ID)
- Facility name (the specific CDCR prison or jail)
Deposits with incorrect information may be delayed or returned. Read our full inmate money transfer guide for detailed help with every method.
Read our full guide to sending money to an inmate for step-by-step instructions on every method.
Calling an Inmate in California
Phone calls from California correctional facilities are managed through the facility's approved phone carrier. Inmates can only make outgoing collect calls — they cannot receive incoming calls. You must set up a prepaid account with the carrier before any calls can be placed. All calls are recorded and subject to monitoring. Read our inmate phone call setup guide for full instructions.
Types of Prisons & Jails in California
The 835 facilities in California span a wide range of security levels and facility types — from minimum-security federal camps to maximum-security state penitentiaries. The table below shows the breakdown by facility type and security classification.
Complete List of California Prison & Jail Facilities
This is the complete list of California correctional facilities. Results are paginated at 20 per page. Select any facility name to view its full profile, including visiting hours, inmate locator, phone number, address, and driving directions.
Browse Prisons by County in California
California has 64 counties with correctional facilities. Select a county below to view recent arrests and facility information for that area.
Helpful Guides for Inmates & Families
Whether you are looking for an inmate, planning a visit, or trying to support a loved one through incarceration, our guides cover every step of the process.
- How to Call an Inmate — Set up a prepaid account and make your first call.
- How to Send Money to an Inmate — Approved deposit methods for every state.
- Complete Visitation Guide — Rules, dress code, and what to expect.
- How to Get Bail — Understanding bail bonds and the pre-trial release process.
- How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer — What to look for and how to find representation.
- Financial Help for Prisoner Families — Government benefits, nonprofits, and emergency aid.
- Life After Prison — Reentry Guide — Employment, housing, and reintegration resources.