Corcoran State Prison
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- Facility Type
- State Facility
- Security Level
- Level III / SHU
- Inmate Capacity
- 4,500 approx.
- Established
- 1988
- Operated By
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Corcoran State Prison Inmate Communication Overview
California State Prison, Corcoran, commonly called Corcoran State Prison, is a Level III and IV state correctional facility operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, located in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley in Kings County, about 60 miles south of Fresno and roughly 200 miles north of Los Angeles. Opened in 1988, it also houses a Security Housing Unit designed for inmates who require the most restrictive housing available within the CDCR system. Over the years, the facility has housed a number of high-profile inmates, and it has been the subject of significant legal proceedings related to its SHU program. Following California's reforms to the SHU system in the mid-2010s, the facility's restrictive housing program has changed significantly from its earlier form.
Communication at Corcoran operates through the standard CDCR provider contracts. JPay handles electronic messaging, photo sharing, and money transfers. Families create a JPay account and link the inmate using their California CDCR number to send messages and photos. Securus manages phone calls and video visitation. The setup is the same as at other California state prisons, JPay for messaging and money, Securus for phone and video, with separate accounts and separate funding required for each. For SHU-assigned inmates, communication access may be more restricted depending on the inmate's current program level.
Corcoran's location in the Central Valley means it is a significant distance from both the Bay Area and Los Angeles, making in-person visits logistically challenging for many California families. The nearest major city is Fresno, about 60 miles to the north. For families in Southern California, the drive from Los Angeles takes approximately three hours. This distance makes JPay messaging and Securus video visits particularly valuable for regular contact. Because CDCR uses JPay and Securus system-wide, accounts created for Corcoran will work at any other California state prison if an inmate is transferred within the system.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
4001 King Avenue, Corcoran, CA 93212
Main Phone
(559) 992-8800
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Visiting Hours
In-person visiting appointments 8:30 am to 10:00 am for Facilities 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4B. Facility 4A Restrictive Housing Unit, CCCMS building Z and CTC by appointment only Fri, Sat, Sun. Facility 4A RIHU and PHU visits Sat, Sun, Mon, THU and DPU Fri, Sat, Sun. Schedule in-person visits at https://cdcr.gtlvisitme.com/app. General visiting questions: CorVideoVisiting@cdcr.ca.gov
Communication Options
Available communication services at Corcoran State Prison.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: JPay
Available for general population. SHU inmates may have restricted messaging access.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: Securus
Available for eligible inmates. SHU status may limit video access.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Provider: JPay
Digital photos via JPay. Subject to CDCR content guidelines.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: Securus
Available for general population. SHU inmates may have restricted phone access.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: JPay
Trust account deposits via JPay. Available regardless of housing assignment.
Communication Providers at Corcoran State Prison
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
JPay
Electronic messaging, photo sharing, and trust account deposits. Uses CDCR number. SHU inmates may have restricted access.
View JPay ServicesSecurus
Phone calls and video visitation. SHU-assigned inmates may have more restricted access.
View Securus ServicesCommunication Rules at Corcoran State Prison
- SHU-assigned inmates may have more restricted communication access than general-population Level III/IV inmates.
- Confirm the inmate's current housing assignment before setting up or funding accounts.
- JPay and Securus are separate platforms. Messaging and phone funds do not transfer between them.
- Messages are reviewed by CDCR staff before delivery.
- CDCR system-wide accounts carry over if the inmate transfers to another California state prison.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Corcoran State Prison
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I send a message to someone at Corcoran?
- Create a JPay account at jpay.com and add the inmate using their California CDCR number. Purchase stamps and send your message. CDCR staff review messages before delivery. If your loved one is in the SHU, confirm their current messaging access before funding stamps.
- How do I set up phone calls from Corcoran?
- Phone calls use Securus. Create an account at www.securustech.net or through the Securus Mobile app. Set up a prepaid AdvancePay account linked to your phone number and add funds. General-population inmates call from facility phones on scheduled call days. SHU inmates may have restricted phone access.
- What is the SHU at Corcoran?
- The SHU (Security Housing Unit) is a restrictive housing program for inmates requiring the most controlled environment within CDCR. SHU inmates are in more isolated conditions than general-population inmates, which can affect communication access. Following California's SHU reforms, the program has changed significantly from its earlier form, but SHU status still affects communication privileges.
- How far is Corcoran from Los Angeles and San Francisco?
- Corcoran is in the San Joaquin Valley in Kings County, about 200 miles north of Los Angeles (roughly three hours) and about 230 miles southeast of San Francisco (roughly three and a half hours). Neither city is a short trip, making electronic communication and video visits important for regular contact.
- How do I send money to a Corcoran inmate?
- Trust account deposits are made through JPay. Log in, go to Send Money, and select Corcoran State Prison. Add funds via debit or credit card. Processing takes one to two business days.
- How do I find or search for an inmate at Corcoran State Prison?
- Use the Sheriff's office or department of corrections official inmate search or roster for Kings County, California. If the inmate does not appear, allow 24 to 72 hours after booking and try alternate spellings.
- How do I send mail to an inmate at Corcoran State Prison?
- Include the inmate's full name and ID on every envelope and follow the facility's mail rules. Confirm the current mailing address on the facility's official page before sending.
- What are the visiting hours at Corcoran State Prison?
- In-person visiting appointments 8:30 am to 10:00 am for Facilities 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4B. Facility 4A Restrictive Housing Unit, CCCMS building Z and CTC by appointment only Fri, Sat, Sun. Facility 4A RIHU and PHU visits Sat, Sun, Mon, THU and DPU Fri, Sat, Sun. Schedule in-person visits at https://cdcr.gtlvisitme.com/app. General visiting questions: CorVideoVisiting@cdcr.ca.gov
- Can I receive incoming calls from an inmate at Corcoran State Prison?
- No. Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. The inmate must call you, and your number must be on their approved list.
- How do I block or stop calls from an inmate at Corcoran State Prison?
- Contact the facility's phone provider and ask to block the number, or block the number through your own phone carrier. You can also ask the facility to remove your number from the inmate's approved list.
Troubleshooting at Corcoran State Prison
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support. For Securus, support can be reached at 972-734-1111 after repeated failed calls.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my JPay account blocked?
- A blocked account usually means the inmate blocked contact, the account details do not match, or JPay flagged the account for review. Confirm the inmate's ID and facility, check for an 'inmate blocked' message, and contact JPay support if the block looks like an error. See our guide: JPay account locked
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