California Correctional Center

California Correctional Center, or CCC, is a minimum-to medium-security facility that sits on 1,100 acres in Susanville, California. It has a capacity of 3,883, but as of 2018 it is over-crowded and houses more than 4,400 inmates.

This facility has been overcrowded for several years, and at one point housed over 6,000 inmates. In 2012, legislation was passed to reduce the inmate population. This dramatically reduced the amount of prisoners at each facility in the state of California, but most of the state prison facilities are still overcrowded.

CCC's mission is, "to receive, house, and train minimum-custody inmates for placement into one of the institution's 18 Northern California conservation camps," and, "to provide meaningful work, training, and education programs for inmates who do not meet the criteria for assignment to a conservation camp.”

Some of the minimum-security inmates assigned to this facility have the opportunity to be a part of the highly-esteemed forest fire suppression crew. This program trains inmates how to assist containing and or putting out wildfires during the dry season in California.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

California Correctional Center has visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and four holidays during each calendar year (New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day). Visits usually begin between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and end between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

To find out the specifics, call the 800 Visitors’ Information number (800-374-8474) and follow the directions given on the recording, or visit the CDCR website www.cdcr.ca.gov and click on Prisons and then California Correctional Center.

In addition to providing information regarding days and hours for visiting, the 800 Visitors’ Information number and website will also provide information on lockdowns, medical quarantines, or other circumstances affecting visiting, addresses, and directions to the prison.

Recommended Steps Before Visiting:

1. Read Visitation Guidelines to understand what you can expect and what is expected of you
2. Make sure your friend or loved one is incarcerated at California Correctional Center
3. Schedule a visit online using the VPASS system
4. The day of your scheduled visit, check the Visiting Status to ensure the institution is accepting visitors

Getting Approved for a Visit

You must first get approval to visit an inmate at California Correctional Center by completing a visitor questionnaire. You can get this questionnaire by having the prisoner you wish to visit mail it to you.

The prisoner must sign the questionnaire before sending it to you, as the signature confirms the prisoner’s agreement to have you added to his/her visiting list.

You must fill out the questionnaire completely and accurately. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) will conduct a background check for arrests and convictions when processing the application and will deny approval to visit if the check indicates an arrest or conviction not listed on the questionnaire, so you should be thorough when completing the questionnaire.

Mail the completed questionnaire to:

California Correctional Center
Visiting Sergeant
PO Box 790
Susanville, CA 96127-0790

If you are approved to visit, the prisoner is notified and then they must notify you. Once you are approved, you are listed in the computer as being an approved visitor for that specific prisoner, and you do not need to bring any proof of approval with you to the prison.

If you are denied, you will receive a letter from the prison giving the reason for disapproval, and the prisoner will also receive notice of the disapproval but will not be given the reason. If you are denied approval to visit, you may reapply, you may appeal the denial, or the prisoner may appeal the denial.

Contact, Non-Contact, and Family Visits

Most prisoners are in general population and can have contact visits. At a contact visit, prisoners are allowed to sit with their visitors and have limited physical contact at the beginning and end of the visit.

These visits occur in a large visiting room, usually furnished with tables and chairs and usually shared with many other prisoners and visitors.

Contact visits are restricted to five visitors at a time.

Prisoners who are still in reception (recently admitted to CDCR or transferred between prisons) or who are segregated (i.e., Administrative Segregation, Security Housing Units, Adjustment Centers, pending specific rules violation report charges, or assigned to Behavior Management Units) are restricted to non-contact visits.

Non-contact visits occur with a glass partition between the prisoner and their visitors. The prisoner is escorted in handcuffs by staff to the visit. The handcuffs are removed only after the prisoner is secured in their side of the visiting booth; so, parents who do not wish to have children see the prisoner in restraints should wait away from the booth or glass partition until the prisoner is settled.

Non-contact visits are restricted to three visitors and are limited in time, usually one to two hours.

Some prisoners are eligible for, “family visits.” These visits occur in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and last approximately 30 to 40 hours. Family visits are restricted to approved visitors who are immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, legal spouses, or registered domestic partners) of the prisoner. Family visits are further restricted by availability; usually one visit every three to five months.

An eligible prisoner must put in an application for a family visit with his assigned Correctional Counselor at the prison.

General Visiting Rules

All adults must present identification when being processed to visit. Acceptable forms of identification must be valid and current (not expired) and include:

• A driver’s license (from any state) with photo
• A Department of Motor Vehicle identification card (from any state) with photo
• An armed forces identification card with photo
• A United States passport with photo or a foreign passport with photo
• A photo identification issued by the Mexican Consulate

Minors (children under 18 years old) are required to be accompanied by an adult who is an approved visitor.

Visitors are strictly limited in the items they may bring into the prison. Items allowed without prior approval are limited to the following:

• A $50 limit per adult and $20 limit per minor; only as dollar bills, dollar coins, and quarters (change machines are usually available but they may be out of order or out of change)
• A small (generally 6” by 8”) clear, plastic purse or bag
• Two keys on a ring with no other attachments. One key may be an electronic car keys
• Identification (as previously specified)
• A comb or brush; non-metallic, no pointed end or detachable parts
• A small unopened pack of tissues or a handkerchief; no bandanas
• A pair of prescription glasses
• Ten Photographs, no larger than 8” by 10”; photos may be shown to the prisoner, but must be taken out by the visitor at the end of the visit; photos cannot be Polaroid and may not include any sexual or gang images; photos will be viewed by staff during processing
• Documents up to 10 pages, no larger than 8-1/2” by 11” (standard size typing paper); usually such documents will be either papers for the prisoner’s signature, information to share with the prisoner, or family papers. However, they can be anything that can be sent to the prisoner through the mail

The staff will view and read the documents during processing and you must take them with you at the end of the visit.

The following baby items are allowed when bringing in an infant or toddler:

• Any combination of two, factory-sealed, single serving size, ready to feed bottles of baby formula, or two, transparent, plastic baby bottles either empty or containing pre-mixed formula/milk/juice/water
• Three non-glass containers of baby food in sealed packaging
• One plastic spoon
• Six disposable diapers
• One sealed package of baby wipes
• One change of clothing
• One small blanket
• Two searchable small toys
• One transparent pacifier
• One burp cloth
• Baby carrier
• One clear plastic diaper bag (12” by 20”)

Dress Code

• No blue denim, blue chambray, orange jumpsuits, or orange tops with orange bottoms
• No forest green bottoms with tan tops
• No camouflage unless identification shows active or reserve military personnel
• No strapless, halter, bare midriff, sheer, or transparent clothing
• No skirts, dresses, or shorts that expose more than two inches above the knee
• No clothing that exposes the breast, genitalia, or buttocks area
• No very tight, form-fitting attire
• No wigs, hairpieces, extensions, or other headpieces except for medical reasons and with prior approval
• No hats or gloves, except with prior approval or in inclement weather
• No shower shoes

The Visitor Center will lend you used but clean clothing if the clothing you wear is rejected by staff. The funding for the Visitor Center is not always secure and may not always be open. For this reason, it is good practice to bring an extra set of clothing in the car in case you need to change.

Although a minor must clear the metal detector, children under 36 inches are not subject to the restrictions related to colors of clothing or types of material.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at California Correctional Center can’t receive incoming calls, however they do have access to phones during daytime hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in California, please click here.

How to Send Money

Before sending money to an inmate at California Correctional Center:

• Lookup the inmate’s CDCR number by using the Inmate Locator
• Make sure the inmate is located at California Correctional Center by using the Facility Locator

There are three ways to send money to an inmate:

1. Lock Box: A no fee service that allows you to send money via money order, personal check, or cashier’s checks.
2. EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer): A paid service, this is the fastest option with funds posted to inmate’s account within 1 to 3 days
3. Mail funds directly to the institution:

California Correctional Center
PO Box 790
Susanville, CA 96127-0790

There is never a fee. However, all funds are subject to a 30-day hold. All checks and money orders must be made payable to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The sender’s name and address must be written on the face of the check/money order along with the inmates name and CDCR number.

If the sender’s name and address are not written on the face of the check or money order, the item will be considered contraband and will not be deposited to the inmates account.

​Programs For ​Inmates

• Vocational Programs:  Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; Auto Body Construction and Paint; Auto Mechanics; Electronics; Office Technology; Welding
• College Correspondence
• Adult Basic Education
• Computer-Assisted Education
• High School/GED
• Literacy Program
• Narcotics Anonymous English and Spanish
• Alcoholics Anonymous English and Spanish
• Laubach Literacy
• Veterans in Prison
• Alternatives to Violence Program Support
• Alternatives to Violence Program Support-Spanish
• Inmate Developed Educational Acumen for Life
• Page-turners
• Root & Rebound
• Not in my Life
• Pups on Parole
• Getting out by going in (GOGI)
• Stand up
• Alternatives to Violence Program
• Arts in Corrections Drawing
• Arts in Corrections Choir
• Arts in Corrections Creative Writing
• Get on the Bus.

Pictures of California Correctional Center

Careers at California Correctional Center

If you are interested in a job at California Correctional Center, please visit the CalCareers website to view available positions.