Mixed (Level I-IV) · State Prison · CDCR

Calipatria State Prison

Calipatria, Imperial County, California

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (800) 374-8474 Info last verified: June 2026

Imperial County CDCR prison in the far southeastern desert, with Level I-IV housing and appointment-based Friday-Sunday visiting.

Statewide rules that apply at every CDCR institution

These rules are set by CDCR and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in California.

Dress code

Avoid blue denim, orange, bright yellow, khaki, tan, beige, forest or olive green, and camouflage — these match what incarcerated people or staff wear.
No tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, sheer fabric, or low-cut necklines; shoulders should stay mostly covered.
Skirts and shorts must be within two inches of the knee. Leggings on their own usually do not pass.
Closed-toe shoes only — no sandals, flip-flops, or backless shoes.
Underwire bras set off the metal detector; a wireless or sports bra avoids the issue.

ID: A current government-issued photo ID matching the name on the approved application is required.
What to bring: No cell phones, wallets, other electronics, food, or drinks inside. A small clear bag may hold a car key and vending money in coins and $1 bills, up to the limit the institution posts on its visiting page.
Scheduling: Visitors must be approved on CDCR Form 106 before a first visit, then schedule through the VSA online system. Walk-ins are generally not allowed.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in California

Overview

Calipatria State Prison opened in 1992 in the desert of Imperial County, near the Salton Sea in California’s far southeastern corner. CDCR describes it as a male institution with a custody mix spanning Level I through Level IV (maximum), plus a minimum-support facility, with programs in work, education, substance-use treatment, and family reunification.

Like most California prisons, Calipatria operates well above its design capacity — about 3,700 men against roughly 2,300 designed beds (2026) — which can affect visiting capacity and wait times. Population figures change; CDCR’s population reports are the current source.

What Makes Calipatria State Prison Different

At 184 feet below sea level, it is the lowest-elevation prison in the Western Hemisphere.
It was the first California prison built with a lethal electrified perimeter fence (1993).
Its remote desert location means a long drive for most visitors and extreme summer heat, which affects travel and outdoor wait conditions.
It houses a largely high-security (Level III and IV) population alongside a smaller minimum-support facility.

Visiting Hours and Procedures

Calipatria visits are arranged in advance, not by drop-in.

General statewide rules, dress code, and the approval process are covered in Visiting in California.

Getting There and Parking

Calipatria is deep in the Imperial Valley desert, reached by valley highways after a long drive from any major city.

There is no public transit to the prison; a private vehicle is the practical way to reach it. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley, about 15 miles south, a Level III trauma center; El Centro is about 25 miles away.

Nearby Services

Brawley and El Centro have the nearest concentration of gas, food, and lodging; the immediate area around the prison has little. Visitors coming from San Diego or Los Angeles usually make their last full-service stop in El Centro or Brawley.

For broader family support beyond the institution itself, Friends Outside is a California nonprofit, operating since 1955, that assists families of incarcerated people and operates visitor centers at state prisons.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at a California state prison:

Visiting in California — CDCR approval process, dress code, scheduling
Mail & Packages — What you can send and what gets rejected
Phone & Video Calls — Call costs, tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — How to add funds to a CDCR trust account
Medical & Mental Health — Healthcare in CDCR facilities
Transfers — What happens during transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.