California Institution for Women (CIW – Chino): How to Find Inmate Information, Post Commissary and More

California Institution for Women (CIW) is the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s women’s state prison serving the greater Los Angeles and Southern California region.

The address for California Institution for Women is:

California Institution for Women
16756 Chino-Corona Road
Corona, CA 92880
(909) 597-1772

Driving directions: Google Maps

Note: Although the mailing address uses Corona, the facility is in the Chino area of San Bernardino County.

CIW houses women across multiple custody levels and provides specialized medical and mental health services.

It also functions as the regional reception center for newly sentenced women from Los Angeles and nearby counties. During reception, inmates complete orientation, medical screening, and classification to determine housing and programming.

How do I post bail for someone at CIW?

Bail cannot be posted at CIW. If bail is available, it must be posted before transfer to state prison, while the person is still in county custody or in court.

Ordinary pretrial bail is not posted at a CDCR prison to release someone serving a state sentence. Any exceptional release pending appeal or postconviction order must be addressed in court; it is a different process from posting county-jail bail.

What is the reception and transfer process at CIW?

CDCR determines the reception or permanent assignment; a Los Angeles sentence does not guarantee that the person will first be transported to CIW. When a person is in reception, evaluation generally includes the following:

• Be medically screened and evaluated.
• Undergo classification to determine security level, housing, and program needs.
• Receive orientation on rules, communication, visits, and property.
• Be permitted a monitored phone call early in the intake process.

After classification, some inmates remain at CIW; others are transferred to different CDCR facilities based on bed space, security level, medical needs, or programming.

How do I look up an inmate’s information?

Use the statewide CDCR inmate locator to search by the inmate’s name or CDCR number.

You can also call CIW’s main line at (909) 597-1772 to confirm current housing and mailing details. For additional help identifying an inmate, the CDCR Identification Unit can assist if you have the person’s full name and date of birth.

How do I contact someone who is being held at CIW?

Phone calls

Calls are initiated by the incarcerated person. Ordinary CDCR audio calls are paid by CDCR and are free to families. Calls remain subject to access, monitoring and duration rules.

Note that calls are monitored and time-limited.

Mail

Address personal mail with the inmate’s full legal name, CDCR number, and the institution name. If you know the housing unit’s P.O. Box, include it; otherwise, use the facility address below.

Inmate’s Full Name, CDCR #
California Institution for Women
16756 Chino-Corona Road
Corona, CA 92880

All mail is screened. Do not send prohibited items. Always include the CDCR number on the envelope and on any enclosures like money orders.

Email and electronic messaging

CDCR’s August 21, 2026 rollout schedule lists CIW as fully transitioned to Securus, with phone transition February 2 and tablet transition February 5 through 13. Use the current CDCR instructions for paid electronic messaging and video services; a transfer to another prison can change the platform.

Sending funds

• Electronic deposits – Use CDCR-approved vendors (for example, JPay, Access Corrections, or GTL/Viapath ConnectNetwork) to add money to the inmate’s trust account.
• By mail – Send a money order payable to CDCR with the inmate’s full name and CDCR number clearly written. Mailed funds may be subject to holding periods before posting.

Always include the inmate’s CDCR number on all mail and payments to ensure correct credit.

How do visits work at CIW?

All visitors must be approved before the first visit. Once approved, you schedule through CDCR’s online visitation system.

Visits are generally offered on weekends and certain holidays; availability can vary by housing unit.

Bring valid government photo ID. Minors must be accompanied by an approved adult and may need a certified birth certificate and, if applicable, notarized consent. Follow dress code and property rules, arrive early, and expect security screening.

Confirm the approved appointment and current visiting status before departure. Available days, duration and special arrangements depend on housing and current institutional conditions.

How to get help for someone

Post-conviction and reception at CIW do not end a person’s legal options. Depending on the case, there may be avenues for appeals, post-conviction relief, resentencing, or program-based credits. An experienced attorney can explain next steps, protect rights, and coordinate communication while your loved one is in state custody.

Robert M. Helfend has practiced criminal defense since 1984. His State Bar record confirms his active license and his Super Lawyers profile lists selection for 2020 through 2023. Call 800-834-6434 for a free case evaluation.

Published September 25, 2025.

Which address and account should you use at CIW?

Purpose	CIW instruction
Personal correspondence	The official CDCR page lists 16756 Chino-Corona Road, Corona, CA 92880. Include full name and CDCR number.
Trust-account deposit	Follow CDCR’s sending-money procedure; a JPay lockbox deposit and direct institutional deposit have different payees and destinations.
Phone, messages or video	Audio calls are free. Check Securus instructions and any paid service terms; commissary funding is a separate function.
Visit	Check approval, appointment, housing and current visiting status rather than relying on a general weekend schedule.

Keep deposit receipts and correspondence records. If the person moves, verify the new institution before making another deposit or sending a letter.

Sources and legal standards

• CIW addresses and facility information
• CDCR telephone and tablet transition
• CDCR sending money
• CDCR visiting

Legal information checked October 10, 2026. The charge, evidence and applicable version of the law control the analysis of an individual case.