How to Schedule a Visit at Taft Correctional Institution: VPASS vs. Walk‑Ins (and the 2:00 PM Cutoff)

You have two options at Taft: book through VPASS or show up as a walk‑in. VPASS is the safer bet - approved visitors can schedule up to a week ahead, and appointments take priority. Walk‑ins are allowed, but they're first come, first served. Either way, you must already be approved to visit.

Before you plan a trip - appointment or walk‑in - you need to be on the approved visitor list. Taft requires approval through the CDCR 106 Visiting Questionnaire. Without it, you won't get past the front gate.

Once you’re approved, you can use VPASS to schedule your visit up to one week in advance. If you run into issues or need to confirm details, the facility’s main phone number is 661-765-2840, and the fax number is 661-765-2850.

Step2 Vpass How It Works

• ✓ You can schedule a VPASS appointment up to one week in advance.
• ✓ Visitors with VPASS appointments have precedence over visitors without appointments.

Taft accepts walk‑ins, meaning you can show up without a reserved time slot and be processed in the order you arrive. But "walk‑in" doesn't mean "no paperwork." You still need prior approval through the CDCR 106 Visiting Questionnaire.

Without an appointment, your visit depends on how busy things are with scheduled visitors. Taft processes walk‑ins after scheduled appointment processing wraps up at 12:30, or fits them in as space opens up between appointments. Bottom line: appointments come first.

Two timing rules matter most here. First, walk‑ins get processed after 12:30 (once scheduled visitors are handled) or squeezed in when there's a gap. Second, there's a hard stop: the last visitor is processed at 2:00 PM. Arrive too close to that cutoff and you risk not getting in at all.

If you can plan ahead, VPASS is the smarter choice. You can book up to a week out, and appointments get priority. Walk‑ins can work if your schedule is flexible and you don't mind waiting - but remember, it's first come, first served, and processing ends at 2:00 PM. If you're traveling far or can't risk being turned away, don't count on a walk‑in as your backup plan.

1. Call Taft to confirm details - Reach the facility at 661-765-2840 if you need clarification, and use 661-765-2850 if you’re asked to fax paperwork.