- State Prison
- California
- PO Box 567, Delano, CA 93216-0567
- 661-721-2345
- Official Website
- Featured
CDCR – North Kern State Prison (NKSP) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 661-721-2345
This facility is for adult inmates.
The inmates housed at North Kern State Prison located at 2737 W Cecil Ave in Delano, CA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.
North Kern State Prison (NKSP) is an all-male medium-security 5,000 inmate prison located in Delano, Kern County, CA state prison. North Kern serves as a reception center for incoming inmates. Inmates usually serve two to three months at North Kern while staff processes their criminal and health records and assesses their physiological and social needs before assigning them to another prison.
The reception center portion of this facility is responsible for diagnosing and classifying many inmates from all over the state. Initial processing and classification of inmates can take up to 90 days because the facility will work up a comprehensive background on the offender and evaluate the mental and physical health of the inmate. Once finished with reception and classification the inmate may be moved to a new more permanent facility that better suites their rehabilitation needs.
NKSP offers inmates a variety of education, from earning a GED and basic adult education to learning new vocational skills. Educating the inmates provides them with a better chance of success once they are released and to reduce the recidivism rate. Some of the vocational programs that inmates may participate in are carpentry, gardening/landscaping, auto mechanics and auto body repair. Inmates at this institution can also earn a 2-year college degree.
Details
NKSP has a general population medium custody facility and a minimum support facility with a ten-bed Level I firehouse. The general population portion of the institution focuses on providing educational/vocational opportunities to inmates equipping them with skills which will aid them in finding gainful employment upon their release from prison.
The Reception Center currently processes incoming inmates usually within a 90 day period. After compiling the inmate's criminal records, life histories, medical and psychological histories, and social relationships, NKSP staff determines the inmate's classification score and institutional placement.
NKSP is also the site where the Central/Southern California Transportation Hub for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is located and operates from.
Inmate Programs
- PIA: None
- Vocational: Small Engine Repair, Electrical Work
- Academic: Adult Basic Education, High School/GED, English as a Second Language Bridging Education
- Other: Religious Services, Self Help Groups, Substance Abuse Program
DRP PROGRAMS:
Adult Basic Education, CalID, General Education, Electrical, Library Services, Physical Education, Small Engine Repair, Voluntary Education
Family Liaison Service Specialist
CDCR provides through a contract with a community-based organization an on-site Case Manager as a family reunification liaison for inmates and family members, to assist with an inmate's pre-release preparation; and conduct Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes for inmates. Please call the Institution to contact the Family Reunification Liaison.
CDCR – North Kern State Prison (NKSP) – Visitation Guide
CDCR – North Kern State Prison (NKSP) – Inmate Packages
CDCR – North Kern State Prison (NKSP) – Parole Information
visitation Info
CDCR – North Kern State Prison (NKSP) – Visitation
Visiting a CDCR facility must be conducted in a manner that maintains order, safety, and security of the people and facility. Failure to comply with the established regulations and policies may result in a warning or termination, suspension, or revocation of your visiting privileges.
Recommended Steps Before Visiting:
- Read Visitation Guidelines to understand what you can expect and what is expected of you
- Find out in which facility your inmate is housed
- Schedule a visit online using the VPASS system
- The day of your scheduled visit, check the Visiting Status to ensure the institution is accepting visitors
Visitation Guidelines
Refer to the Department's current policies and regulations in Title 15and the Department Operations Manual if you want to know more.
Locate Inmate
Use the Inmate Locator to find an inmate and what facility they are housed in.
Schedule Visit
Sign-up or log into VPASS to schedule an inmate visit. VPASS stands for Visitor Processing Appointment Scheduling System. Note: this requires creating an online account.
Check Visiting Status
You can find out the visiting status of a CDCR facility in one of two ways:
- Call the Visiting Status Hotline at 1-800-374-8474
- Check the VPASS Visiting Status; locate the facility you plan to visit.
You should always do this the day you plan to visit, because visitation can sometimes be unexpectedly cancelled.
