Valley State Prison For Women - Facilities

Facilities

VSPW covers approximately 640 acres (260 ha). As of September 28, 2010, VSPW had a total of 1,222 staff and an annual operating budget of $129.3 million. As of March 2012, it had a design capacity of 1,980 but a total institution population of 2,431.

VSPW holds prisoners at almost all security levels:

• Reception Center (RC), which provides short term housing to process, classify and evaluate incoming inmates
• Level I housing – Open dormitories without a secure perimeter
• Level II housing – Open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage
• Level III housing – Individual cells, fenced perimeters and armed coverage
• Level IV housing – Cells, fenced or walled perimeters, electronic security, more staff and armed officers both inside and outside the installation
• Security Housing Unit (SHU) – the most secure area within a Level lV prison designed to provide maximum coverage

The mission of VSPW is multi-fold. VSPW functions as a Reception Center (RC) and as a General Population institution providing education and vocational opportunities for inmates. For inmates requiring a higher level of management care, VSPW has an Administrative Housing Unit (ASU) and Security Housing Unit (SHU). VSPW is also designed as the hub facility for female inmates with mobility impairments, and the ASU and SHU serves as a hub for housing inmates in the Mental Health Services Delivery System (MHSDS) at the Enhanced Outpatient Program (EOP) level of care. VSPW also houses pregnant inmates.

The Chowchilla Family Express provides transportation for family members from major California cities to visit prisoners at the facility.