How to mail a letter to an inmate at High Desert State Prison

To write to someone held at High Desert State Prison, address your envelope to the inmate's full committed name and CDCR number, High Desert State Prison, P.O. Box 3030, Susanville, CA 96127-3030. High Desert State Prison is a state prison in Susanville, California, operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Inmate mail — High Desert State Prison

[Inmate's full committed name]  [CDCR number]
High Desert State Prison
P.O. Box 3030
Susanville, CA  96127-3030

Put the inmate's full committed name and CDCR number on the first line, and mail to the institution's inmate-mail address here — not its street address. Mail without a usable name and CDCR number is returned.

Verified August 2026cdcr.ca.gov cdcr.ca.gov

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High Desert State PrisonP.O. Box 3030Susanville, CA 96127-3030

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Key facts

Send mail to High Desert State Prison, P.O. Box 3030, Susanville, CA 96127-3030 — the institution's inmate-mail address, not its street address.
High Desert State Prison is located at 475-750 Rice Canyon Road, Susanville, CA, but inmate mail must go to the mailing address above — a letter sent to the street address can be returned.
California delivers inmate mail to each prison directly — but to the institution’s inmate-mail P.O. box, not its street address. Address it to the person’s full committed name, CDCR number, and housing/bed.
Several CDCR prisons use a different P.O. box for each housing facility (yard). Confirm the person’s current housing and use the matching box, or the letter is delayed.
Include your full name and return address. Mail without the correct CDCR number, or without a return address, can be rejected or returned.
Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband before it is delivered. Keep to plain letter-size paper; send copies of anything you are not willing to lose.
People are transferred between prisons without notice — check CDCR’s inmate locator for the current institution and housing before you mail anything.
PostPal prints and mails your letter for you the next business day for $5 — with your return address printed so the inmate can write back, and no printer, envelope, or stamp needed.

How to send your letter

1
Confirm the person is still at High Desert State Prison
Inmates are transferred between facilities without notice. Confirm they are still at High Desert State Prison — and double-check the CDCR number — before you mail anything, using the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)'s official inmate locator.
2
Address it exactly
First line: the inmate's full committed name and CDCR number. Then High Desert State Prison, P.O. Box 3030, Susanville, CA 96127-3030. Add your full return address.
3
Keep the contents allowed
Plain letter-size paper is safest. Do not enclose cash, stamps, gift cards, or any object other than paper — prohibited items get the whole letter rejected. Check the mail rules above before adding photos.
4
Send it without a printer
Write or upload your letter to PostPal with this address prefilled, and we print, envelope, and mail it via USPS the next business day for $5 — your return address printed so they can reply.

Common questions

How do I address a letter to an inmate at High Desert State Prison?

Put the inmate's full committed name and CDCR number on the first line, then High Desert State Prison, P.O. Box 3030, Susanville, CA 96127-3030. Include your full first and last name and return address on the envelope.

Is mail to High Desert State Prison opened, read, or scanned?

Expect it to be. Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband and can be read under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)'s rules.

What can I send to High Desert State Prison — photos, cards, or books?

Standard photo prints are generally allowed, usually limited in number and no larger than 8" x 10". No polaroids, and nothing nude, sexually explicit, or gang-related. Books, magazines, and newspapers must come directly from an approved publisher or vendor — they cannot be sent as personal mail.

What can't I mail to High Desert State Prison?

Do not send: Cash, checks, money orders, or postage stamps; Any item other than paper (no polaroids, laminated cards, or enclosures); Nude, sexually explicit, or gang-related photos or content; Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker; Paper treated with any substance, or anything with drug residue. Prohibited items get the letter rejected or destroyed.

What if the person has been transferred or released?

The letter will not reliably reach them or come back to you. Confirm they are still at High Desert State Prison before mailing, since the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) moves people without notice.

Can the inmate write back to me?

Yes, if you include a complete return address. Inmates can send outgoing mail, though they may need to cover their own postage. PostPal prints your return address for you.

Sources

Addresses verified August 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

See the full California inmate mail rules — what you can and can’t send, photos & more →