Valley State Prison Inmate Family Council 

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GET ON THE BUS

Mark your calendar for May 8, 2020 when GOTB comes to VSP. 


Information for GOTB is at each podium in visiting.  The inmate can get the application from IAC (Inmate Advisory Council) or the Catholic Chapel.  The deadline to submit the application is November 22nd.


“Get on the Bus” offers free transportation for the children and their caregivers to the prison, provides travel bags for the children, comfort bags for the caregivers, a photo of each child with his or her parent, and meals for the day (breakfast, snacks on the bus, a special lunch at the prison with their parent and dinner on the way home), all at no cost to the children’s family. On the bus trip home, following a four hour visit, each child receives a teddy bear with a letter from their parent and post-event counseling.

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PHOTO PROGRAM

One photo printer was not working in late August.  The printer has been replaced.
 

On Saturday August 31, 2019 and Sunday September 1, 2019 the photo token machine became inoperable, an out of order sign was placed, and a service request was entered.  Visitors were issued rose-colored ducats due to the photo token machine being inoperable. This ensured the inmate/visitor photo system continued. The photo token machine was then subsequently serviced.


The process of retakes has not changed. The inmate photographer will take pictures of the inmate and/or inmate family and then allow the subjects to review and choose the acceptable photograph for printing.  The Correctional Officer in charge of the inmate photographer is the only staff person authorized to approve a photo retake. The inmate photographer shall bring the camera to the assigned custody officer to have the photograph printed. The officer will review the photographs to verify that the photographs meet acceptable standards, and then print the photograph.

Visitor photo Guidelines:

• Only the inmate and his visitor(s) may be in the Visiting photos.

• No "gang" associated signs or clothing will be allowed.

• Photos will be in good taste and respectable.

* Photos not in compliance with the above will result in forfeiture of the photo ducat/token.

* No "retake" shall be authorized.

 

Acceptable Reason(s) for a Photo Retake:

• Blurred photos due to camera, paper or printer problems.

• Subjects in the photo are unrecognizable due to camera, paper, or printer

  problems.

• Photo is deemed unacceptable but was not determined until after the photo

  was printed.

 

In the end, allowing each visitor to capture his or her precious moment is always the priority.

posted 09-05-2019

BATHROOM ETIQUETTE

There has been many complaints about the disarray in the bathrooms.  It is not the staff that is causing the messiness, it is the visitors.  PLEASE make sure you flush the toilets, pick up all paper and clean your hair from the sinks.  It all begins with YOU.  You shouldn't have to be told to do this and it's very frustrating to see how nasty the restrooms become.  If you need toilet paper, paper towels or feminine products please let the CO's in the foyer know this and they will replenish the supplies.  The restrooms are cleaned every hour.  So, please pick up after yourself.lick here to edit text

posted 09-05-2019

While in visiting if your loved one has not entered the room and it's been 1/2 hour of you waiting, PLEASE go to the podium and have them check as to where they are.

posted 07-19-2019

THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN BY THE OFFICER AT THE GATE.  

PLEASE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.  THANKS!!!


You will not be allowed on prison grounds until 8:00 a.m.   You can wait at places such as Pilot Travel Center at Hwy. 99 and Ave. 18 1/2, Jack-in-the Box at Hwy. 99 and Ave. 24, Starbuck's at Hwy. 99 and Robertson Blvd., McDonald's also at Hwy. 99 and Robertson Blvd and Carl's Jr. behind McDonald's.

Please read updated Visiting OP manual regarding the procedure for entering prison grounds no earlier than 8:00 a.m.

posted 05-18-2019

GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S 
DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM

posted 03-18-2019

CENTERFORCE
(formerly FRIENDS OUTSIDE)


Friends Outside is now Centerforce.  Please see below for information. 

posted 03-04-2019

Food sales will be on hold pending further instructions from Sacramento.

posted 11-12-2018

UPDATE ON NON-DESIGNATED YARDS

posted 10-02-2018

NON-DESIGNATED YARDS

posted 07-15-2018

INMATES BOXED LUNCHES

posted 07-11-2018

FOOD SALES
"IN LIEU OF FORMS"

At this time, VSP will no longer be accepting In Lieu of Forms.  This information has been provided to the MAC reps for posting for the general population, so inmates should be aware that they must be present in order to pick up any items, from now on, that they have ordered during a food sale fundraiser.

 

Inmates who have scheduled visits may elect to leave their visit early in order to come pick up their food sale items. However, if they elect not to do so or are unable to do so, they will forfeit any items ordered. So it may be best in such cases, if an inmate knows he will have a visit scheduled during an upcoming food sale fundraiser event, to not order items from that sale. Unfortunately it is not possible to predict what time an inmate should leave his visit/cut it short as each food is different in terms of length of time. Some end as early as 11:00 a.m. while others may last until nearly 4:00 p.m. Therefore, again, in such cases the inmate may elect to not order for that particular sale. There are a lot of opportunities for an inmate to donate funds to a food sale throughout the year. The dates are posted for the year typically by July of that fiscal year.

THANKSGIVING, SUNDAY DELAYS
AND FOG PROCEDURES

Dear VSP Visitors,
 
Thanksgiving Weekend visitor processing encountered some unique delays.  Once again, we were reminded "Fog and Murphy's Law Happen"
 
Fog procedures begin when fog rolls in.  If the fog rolls in after inmate movement begins, e.g. workers going to work assignments, group activities, chow, etc. delays occur.  The men have to be escorted to/from the places they need to be.  Then, once the men are returned to their buildings, a count has to be conducted.  No further movement occurs until the count has cleared.
 
Unfortunately, the fog rolled in and out before visitors arrived at VSP on Thursday.  So, even though you did not see the fog, the procedure had begun.  Men were escorted to and from work and chow.  Upon the conclusion of chow, the men were counted.  Once count cleared, visitor processing began. 
 
Visitors are not processed and sent to the Visiting Rooms until count has cleared.  This procedure is in place in case there is a problem and resources have to be utilized elsewhere.
 
On Sunday, Murphy's Law took action.  Visitor processing was originally delayed due to an emergency count.  However, after count cleared, there continued to be processing delays due to computer difficulties.  Again, visitors experienced processing delays up to 2 hours.
 
VSP Administration is aware many families travel great distances and incur large expenses to see their Loved One. They also know it is difficult for visitors to wait patiently when you see your visiting time slipping away. Please remember, these are exceptions and not the normal way of doing business at VSP.   Most visiting days are uneventful and processing occurs with minimal delays.

posted 11-28-2017

GAMES WITH DICE

Dice have been donated for games in the Visiting Rooms.  Please make sure that all games have the dice intact when you are finished  playing.  IF they disappear, so will ALL the games that require dice.  NO MORE dice will be allowed.

posted 10-15-2017

HOW TO CALM AN ANGRY
PERSON IN 90 SECONDS

Does your loved one struggle with anger issues?  Perhaps this book will benefit them immensely. 
"De-Escalate How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds"  The book is FREE, you just pay $7.00 for shipping through Barnes and Noble.

posted 08-17-2017

8 1/2 X 11 DOCUMENTS
WITH PHOTOS

There has been questions as to what counts as one page that you bring to visiting.  You can bring in 10 8 1/2 X 11 pages with photos on it.  A 2-sided page counts as one page.

posted 10-15-2017

HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
TRANSCRIPTS

Send transcripts to the following:

Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 99

Chowchilla, CA 93610

ATTN:  Zack Patrick

posted 08-25-2017

RESCENDING TEMPORARY SUSPENCION
OF AMAZON SERVICES

As of 08-18-2017 this memorandum (below) supersedes the memo previously posted on June 5, 2017.

TITLE 15 REVISION NOTICE
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2017

Staff continues to receive numerous checks/money orders that are not in compliance with the attached. 
Failure to adhere to this notice may result in the disallowance of funds.  

California Code of Regulations

Title 15 Section 3140 Funds Enclosed in Correspondence


Subsection 3140 (a)(1) states:


“The personal check, money order, cashier’s check, certified check, or any other negotiable instrument shall be made payable to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with the inmates last name and departmental identification number. This information, along with the sender’s name and address, shall be on the face of the negotiable instrument.”


Funds sent to inmates must include the following information on the face of any personal check, money order, cashier’s check, certified check, or any other negotiable instrument: 


  • Made Payable to CDCR
  • Inmate’s Last Name
  • Inmate’s CDCR Number
  • Sender’s Name
  • Sender’s Address
posted 6-27-2017

SUGGESTIONS/PRAISE/
COMPLAINTS/COMMENTS

If you are experiencing a problem, would like to give praise or leave any type of suggestion/complaint or questions, please find forms under the glass bulletin board in Visiting Processing.  You do NOT need to leave your name or any other information.  You can remain anonymous.  Place your form in the slot below the glass.  The IFC will make sure your comments/praise/suggestion gets to the proper channel. 

posted 06-06-2017

MESSAGE FROM VPASS

It is requested visitors only take one appointment time slot on VPASS, as VSP is trying to accommodate all visitors. If you cannot make it to your appointment there is an option to cancel it. This way other families will have an opportunity to make an appointment. It is unfair for families to make multiple appointments for one visit and other families cannot utilize those unused appointment times.

posted 06-06-2017

APPOINTMENT GUIDELINES

ZZZZZZZ...Are you in a dead sleep and too tired to get up and make your VPASS appointment at 12:01 a.m.?  Does the 12:01 a.m. time just not work with your busy schedule?  You can always make an appointment by calling the VISITATION APPOINTMENT LINE.

 

Visitation can be scheduled by calling the Visitation Appointment Line

 

@ (559) 665-8950 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

PLEASE DO NOT make an appointment on VPASS and also call line for the same date.

If you make an appointment on the call line you CAN cancel it if you are unable to visit, by calling the call line on the WEDNESDAY before your scheduled appointment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please check out the new FAQ section.  We will be updating it periodically.  If you have any questions, please send them via the CONTACT US tab.

YOUTH OFFENDER PROGRAM

If you have heard that VSP is going to be a Youth Offender Prison, this is a RUMOR and there is NO truth to it.  Currently there are 186 18 - 26 year olds in a Youth Offender Program at VSP.

posted 06-16-2017

PRISON TRANSPORTATION
SERVICE EXPRESS, INC.

Please check the following website for a new bus service serving prisons.  In Visiting Processing you can pick up a 6X4 card explaining what all they have to offer.


http://www.pts-express.com/

FULL BODY X-RAY SCANNER

As most of you have heard the full body scanners are in use for the inmates. For more information, click below.