When a family member is incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation system, navigating the bureaucracy to find information, address concerns, and maintain connection can feel overwhelming. CDCR operates 33 active state facilities across California, each with its own administrative structure, visiting schedule, and communication systems. This guide walks through the key tools and contacts available to families at the departmental level — the resources managed by CDCR headquarters in Sacramento that apply system-wide.
Finding Your Loved One: The CDCR Inmate Locator
The first thing families need when their loved one enters the CDCR system is to know where they are housed. CDCR's Inmate Locator is available free at apps.cdcr.ca.gov/InmateLocator. You can search by name or by CDCR number (the unique identifier assigned at reception). The locator provides the current facility, housing unit, and parole or discharge date.
It is normal for a newly sentenced individual to be at a reception center (such as California State Prison, Sacramento, or the Central California Women's Facility for women) for several weeks while CDCR conducts classification. Classification determines the appropriate security level and facility, as well as program needs. The locator will update when the person is transferred to their assigned facility. Reception processing typically takes between 30 and 90 days.
The Case Manager: Your Primary Point of Contact
At each CDCR facility, every incarcerated person is assigned a case manager (also called a counselor or correctional counselor). The case manager is responsible for the inmate's programming plan, classification reviews, visitor list approvals, and coordination of many administrative needs. The case manager is typically the right first point of contact for most family questions.
You can reach your loved one's case manager by calling the facility directly and asking for the case manager's office for their housing unit or building. Most facilities route these calls through a main number and then transfer you. Be patient — case managers carry large caseloads and may not be able to return calls immediately. Putting your question in writing by sending a letter to the case manager at the facility address can sometimes be more effective than repeated phone calls.
Family Reunification Liaisons
Many CDCR facilities, including SATF Corcoran, maintain an on-site family reunification liaison — a case manager or counselor whose role includes helping families navigate the system. These liaisons can help you understand visiting procedures, work through communication barriers, and access resources specific to that facility. Ask for the family services coordinator or family reunification liaison when you call a facility.
At the departmental level, CDCR also operates the Office of Correctional Education and the Division of Adult Parole Operations, both of which interact with family members at key transition points (educational program completion and release preparation).
Parenting and Family Support Programs
CDCR has invested significantly in family connection programming, recognizing that maintaining family bonds reduces recidivism. Many facilities offer:
- Parenting classes — available at most facilities, covering child development, communication with children across distance, and co-parenting during incarceration
- Family visiting — California offers extended family visits (sometimes called "conjugal visits") in designated units at many facilities, allowing eligible inmates and their immediate family members to spend 30–40 hours together in a private setting. Eligibility depends on the offense category and institutional behavior.
- Girl Scouts Behind Bars / Girl Scouts Beyond Bars — a program at some facilities that allows daughters to participate in Girl Scouts meetings inside the prison with their incarcerated mother or father
Sending Money Within CDCR
All CDCR facilities use JPay as the primary platform for sending money to inmate trust accounts. Go to jpay.com, find the inmate by name and CDCR number under "California DOC," and complete the deposit using a credit or debit card. Fees apply per transaction and vary by amount.
Money orders can also be mailed to the facility, made payable to the inmate and including their full name and CDCR number. Processing times for mailed money orders are longer — typically five to ten business days after the money order arrives at the facility.
Phone Calls: CDCR's System
CDCR uses Global Tel Link (GTL)/ConnectNetwork for phone calls at most state facilities. Set up an AdvancePay account at ConnectNetwork.com to receive calls. Inmates call out from facility phones — they cannot receive incoming calls. Calls are monitored and recorded except for attorney-client calls. Phone time and access is earned through good conduct at most facilities.
CDCR's Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
This office serves victims of crimes and their families. If you are the family of a crime victim and your loved one is incarcerated within CDCR, this office provides notification of hearings, transfers, and release. Registration with OVSRS is voluntary but ensures you receive timely information about the incarcerated person's status and movements.
Filing a Complaint or Concern
If you have a concern about how your loved one is being treated — a medical issue, a program denial, staff misconduct — the official channels are:
- The facility's warden's office for immediate operational concerns
- CDCR's Office of the Inspector General (oig.ca.gov) for staff misconduct allegations
- The California Legislature's JLAC (Joint Legislative Audit Committee) for systemic issues requiring legislative attention
- The Prison Law Office (prisonlaw.com), which monitors CDCR under court settlement agreements and can intervene in serious medical and mental health care failures
Reentry Planning: Starting Early
CDCR begins reentry planning 12–18 months before an inmate's projected release date. The Division of Adult Parole Operations coordinates parole supervision and reentry services. Families can start preparing even earlier by researching housing options in the parole region, employment resources for returning citizens, and any specialized services (mental health, substance abuse treatment) that will be needed after release. The sooner reentry planning begins, the smoother the transition.