Shafter Community Correctional, CA

Visiting at Shafter Community Correctional starts with getting approved—you'll need to complete the CDCR 106 Visiting Questionnaire. Once approved, schedule through VPASS up to one week in advance. VPASS will notify you if anything changes. Appointment holders get processed first. No appointment? Walk-ins may be admitted after scheduled processing ends at 12:15, on a first-come, first-served basis. Only approved visitors are allowed on facility grounds, and expect searches of your person, vehicle, and belongings. Don't arrive more than 30 minutes before your scheduled time. The last visitor is processed at 2:00 PM, so plan accordingly. ASU visiting appointments are listed as N/A.

Shafter Community Correctional is part of CDCR's telecom switch from ViaPath to Securus. Once the transition completes, you'll need a Securus account. According to CDCR's cost comparison, Securus video calls run $0.10 per minute versus ViaPath's $0.16, and Securus includes 30 free video minutes per month (ViaPath offered 15 minutes every two weeks). To prepare, set up a Securus account and use AdvanceConnect and Video Connect to schedule and join video sessions. The Securus app supports remote participation. During the changeover, incarcerated individuals turn in ViaPath tablets and receive new Securus tablets. Photos, e-messages, and media purchased through ViaPath won't transfer. You can request refunds for unused ViaPath balances through ViaPath's call center; incarcerated individuals' balances are refunded to trust accounts automatically. Before connecting, confirm which platform Shafter is currently using.

Sending mail to someone at Shafter Community Correctional is straightforward once you know the rules. Quarterly packages can't be mailed by family or friends—they must be purchased from CDCR-approved private vendors. Want to become an approved Quarterly Package Vendor? Email Lt. Victor Espinoza at Victor.Espinoza@cdcr.ca.gov for application details. CDCR isn't affiliated with and isn't liable for independent vendors that sell merchandise. All incoming mail gets inspected for contraband. Legal mail receives special handling and isn't read during contraband checks to protect confidentiality. On your envelope, include the inmate's full booked name and identifier, plus your printed return address. Follow content limits like photo restrictions and avoid hard-to-inspect items.

Shafter Community Correctional (Shafter MCCF) is at 1150 East Ash Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263. From Highway 99, take Lerdo Highway west to Beech Avenue, head south to East Ash Avenue, then turn left—the facility is the second building on the right. For visiting or on-site questions, call the Visiting Facility Supervisor at 661-746-8900 Ext. 5114 or the Visiting Facility Officer at 661-746-8900 Ext. 5139/28. For contract-bed or system-level matters, reach Edward Vasconcellos at (916) 464-4001 or the Division of Adult Institutions at (916) 445-7688. Have the incarcerated person's full name and date of birth (or booking/ID number) ready so staff can locate records quickly.