Kern Valley State Prison is located approximately 250 miles south of Sacramento and approximately 180 miles north of Los Angeles.
Driving Directions
From Sacramento
- Take Highway 99 South to the City of Delano
- Exit Cecil Avenue
- Right on Cecil Avenue
- The prison is approximately Seven Miles on the left hand side of the road.
- Take Highway 99 North to the City of Delano
- Exit Cecil Avenue
- Left on Cecil Avenue
- The prison is approximately Seven Miles on the left hand side of the road.
Appointment Required: Appointments are required if inmate is in Oreintation or ASU
Must Line up to Obtain a Number: People start lining up around 4am outside prison grounds about 1/2 mile from the prison grounds. Remember there are no parking signs around the prison.
Line Up: At 7am they start handing out laminated passes at the gate and let you drive onto prison grounds. Then you turn in your pass to a CO that is waiting near the visitor parking lot under the tent, at 8am they let the first 1-50 people/passes go in the visiting process center, then once the 1-50 people are almost out into the visiting rooom they call 51-100 and so on.
Contact or Non-Contact: Visits by appointments only are behind glass all others are contact visits
Visiting Days and Hours: Visits are Friday, Sat and Sun from about 8:00 am - 2:30pm
Length of Visit Allowed: Visit length is dependent on number of visitors. Terminations should be expected on overly busy days.
54020.8 Visitor Application Procedure
All adult visitors shall be required to obtain the institution/facility’s approval before being permitted to visit, except as otherwise authorized in this article. Visitor applicants shall complete and sign a CDC Form 106, Visiting Questionnaire. In order to retain the status of approved visitor, the CDC Form 106 shall be updated whenever there is a change in the visitor’s address, telephone number, or arrest history or periodically upon request. Visitors who have no changes to their personal or arrest history may annotate such by resigning and dating the existing CDC Form 106. The frequency of any periodic update initiated by the institution/facility shall be no more than once every two years. Upon receipt of an updated CDC Form 106 and absent information that would warrant immediate disapproval, the visitor shall be allowed to visit pending review and approval of the updated information. A new CDC Form 106 shall be submitted prior to visiting any inmate returned to an institution/facility from parole, or admitted into a substance abuse treatment control unit while on parole Any visitor approved at one institution/facility, shall be approved to visit the same inmate upon a transfer to another institution/facility provided the visitor’s approval status remains unchanged.
The CDC Form 106 shall be processed as follows:
• The inmate is responsible for mailing CDC Form 106 to any prospective visitor(s). Make sure the inmate has already signed the 106 form before you send it back. They will not process it,if it is not signed by inmate. Send it back directly to the inmate and it will then be processed.
• The applicant shall return the completed form with an original signature via a common carrier, or personal delivery to the institution, Attn: Inmate Visiting.
• The CDC Form 106 shall not be accepted from inmates.
• Visiting staff will process only those Visiting Questionnaires that have been sent by the inmate to a prospective visitor in accordance with the provisions of CCR Subsections 3172(a) and (e). Forms reproduced from any other source, such as from an Internet download, will not be accepted for processing.
• Some other legitimate Verification of inmate mailing of the questionnaire may be proved with an original dated signature provided by the inmate on the form in question. Questionnaires lacking such inmate mailing verification may not be processed absent alternative proof that the requirements of 3172(a) have been met or there is explanation for the absence of a signature. Acceptable explanations for the absence of a signature include, but are not limited to:
• A documented physical and/or mental condition or disability that may exclude the inmate from mailing and/or signing the questionnaire.
• Verification of inmate mailing has been established by other means such as a date officially stamped by the institution or by a staff signature.
• In accordance with CCR Subsection 3172(e), the visitor has been directed to update a questionnaire on file by designated staff in conjunction with a periodic review or a change in name, address, telephone number, or arrest history.
• When the completed CDC Form 106 is received and processed at the institution/facility, the inmate shall receive a CDC Form 887, Notice of Visitor's Approval/Disapproval.
• Inmates shall be responsible for notifying visitor applicants of their approval to visit.
54020.8.2 Arrest History Inquiry
Upon receipt of the CDC Form 106, an arrest history inquiry shall be completed, and a determination to approve or deny visiting should be made within 30 working days at a minimum, a Criminal Identification and Information (CI&I) report shall be obtained if the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System lists a CI&I number for the applicant. Reasons for delay beyond 30 days may be provided to prospective visitors upon inquiry by the individual applicant.
Notification
If the visiting application is disapproved, the applicant and the inmate shall receive from visiting staff via CDC Form 887, written notification of the disapproval and the process to appeal the decision. The visitor shall be informed of the specific reason(s) for disapproval.
54020.8.3 Reconsideration of Disapproval
Reconsideration of disapproval shall occur at the end of the denial period upon receipt of a new CDC Form 106 subject to the provisions of CCR Section 3172.1.
54020.8.4 Revocation of Approval to Visit
An individual's approval to visit may be revoked when:
• Information that would have resulted in visiting denial becomes known after visiting approval has been granted.
• Any activity or event occurs subsequent to an approval to visit that would have resulted in disapproval of the initial application.
54020.8.5 Violations of State Law on Institution/Facility Property
Visitor violations of State or Federal law on institution/facility property may be referred to prosecuting authorities in accordance with CCR Section 3176.2. The visitor's visiting privileges shall be revoked pending investigation and/or court disposition. If the visitor is not prosecuted, or not referred for prosecution, the visitor shall be subject to action in accordance with CCR Subsections 3176.2(a) and (b). If the visitor is found not guilty, or a court dismisses the charges, visiting approval may be restored upon the written request of the visitor.
54020.9 Extenuating Circumstances for Visitor Approval
Exceptions to approval requirements for visitors may be made when death, life-threatening illness, or injury occurs to an immediate family member of the inmate. Family emergency exceptions shall be made only for an inmate's immediate family members, or clergy. Each request to visit because of a family emergency shall require proof of the emergency and approval of the supervisor in charge of visiting. Visitors must present acceptable picture identification, and pass an arrest history inquiry in accordance with this section. The visit shall be conducted under the direct supervision of visiting or designated staff.
54020.10 Visiting Requirements for Minors
Minors shall be accompanied by an adult who has been approved to visit
the inmate. Approval of an emancipated minor’s visit requires a one-time submission of a certified copy of the court order of emancipation. Staff shall make a copy of the order, note that the original is certified, and place it in the inmate's visiting file. Verification of the order shall be noted in the automated visitor information system. The emancipated minor is subject to all the rules and regulations as set forth for adult visitors. If the accompanying adult is not the parent, legal guardian, or spouse of the minor, a notarized written consent shall be required from the person with legal custody of the minor, or a certified copy of a court order, authorizing the minor to visit while accompanied by a designated adult.
• The notarized written consent, or court order, shall state the duration of approval, and must be presented each time the minor visits. The notarized written consent must be renewed annually.
• A copy of the notarized consent form, or court order, shall be retained in the inmate’s central file and visiting file. Any required removal of prosthetic and medical implants for inspection will be done in private setting or area. If reasonable suspicion exists to believe that a visitor is attempting to introduce contraband or substances into or remove contraband out of the institution and the visitor has a medical implant, prosthetic device or uses a wheelchair or assistive device(s); a search will be initiated in accordance with this section. A licensed physician, nurse, and/or medical technical assistant of the same sex shall be present to assist with the unclothed body search consistent with the duties of their classification.
