California Men's Colony Overview
California Men's Colony, commonly called CMC, is operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. It is located at Colony Dr., San Luis Obispo, CA 93409, with main phone (805) 547-7900. Because CMC is a CDCR state prison, it is separate from the San Luis Obispo County Jail, the Sheriff's Who's in Custody roster, and the 30-day county Booking Log. People at CMC are searched through CDCR's statewide California Incarcerated Records and Information Search, known as CIRIS.
CDCR describes CMC as two physically separated complexes: East Facility and West Facility. East Facility is Level III and includes Facilities A, B, C, D, and H. Facilities A through D house medium-security Non-Designated Programming Facility populations and provide EOP and CCCMS care, while East also includes services for people with developmental disabilities or assistance needs. Facility H is a stand-alone 50-bed Mental Health Crisis Bed Unit opened August 27, 2013. West Facility includes Level I and II housing in Facilities E, F, G, and M, with dormitory settings, minimum and medium security, CCCMS care, firefighter assignments, and programs such as New Life K9.
For a screenshot of the official statewide prison lookup used for CMC, see CDCR CIRIS.
CIRIS is the correct lookup route after a person has moved from county jail custody into California state-prison custody.
California Men's Colony Capacity and Population
CDCR's TPOP-1 weekly population report dated April 22, 2026 reports California Men's Colony at 2,191 people, with design capacity of 2,613, staffed capacity of 2,543, and 83.8 percent occupied. A separate CDCR TPOP-4 gender-identity population report dated April 8, 2026 reports CMC total population of 2,140 by gender identity: 2,051 male, 43 female, and 46 non-binary. These state-prison counts are not part of the San Luis Obispo County Jail average daily population.
CMC is the only state prison physically in San Luis Obispo County identified in the facility map. It should be described as a state correctional population under CDCR, not as a local jail population under Sheriff Ian Parkinson or the county custody roster.
California Men's Colony Lookup
Use CDCR CIRIS to look up sentenced California state-prison custody. CIRIS searches by CDCR number or by name. A number search uses the CDCR number, while a name search requires last name and may include first name, middle name, age range, and commitment county filters. CIRIS profile details can include CDCR number, name, age, admission date, current location, location link and address, commitment counties, parole eligible date when available, and victim-notification information.
- Open CDCR CIRIS and agree to the informational disclaimer.
- Search by CDCR number when known, or search by last name with optional first name, middle name, age range, or commitment county.
- Open the profile and confirm the current location is California Men's Colony or another CDCR facility.
- Use the CDCR number, location, admission date, and commitment county to route mail, visitation approval, and case follow-up through the correct agency.
CIRIS is informational only and warns that records may contain errors or omissions and may not reflect the true name, age, CDCR number, current location, commitment county, admission date, or parole eligible date. Conviction information should be obtained from the court or jurisdiction. If CIRIS does not locate a person who should be in CDCR custody, CDCR lists the Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding state holidays.
California Men's Colony Contact
The physical facility contact is separate from San Luis Obispo County Jail contact channels. The county jail booking line cannot confirm CDCR housing, CDCR visiting approval, prison trust-account deposits, or prison classification details. Use CMC and CDCR channels for people in state-prison custody.
California Men's Colony
Colony Dr.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93409
(805) 547-7900
CDCR state-prison facility
CMC Mail Format
California Men's Colony, P.O. Box 8101
ATTN: I/P First and Last Name, CDCR Number, Housing
San Luis Obispo, CA 93409-8101
Visit California Men's Colony
CMC visitation follows CDCR visitor approval and institution scheduling, not San Luis Obispo County Jail's NCIC visit schedule. CDCR approval requires a CDCR Form 106 Visitor Questionnaire. The incarcerated person signs the form first and sends it to the proposed visitor, who completes it for CDCR review. CDCR runs a background check and requires disclosure of arrests and convictions before approval. Only after approval should a visitor move into scheduling and institution-specific visit planning.
| Stage | Requirement | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor questionnaire | CDCR Form 106, initiated by the incarcerated person and completed by the visitor | Approval step |
| Background review | CDCR reviews arrests, convictions, and eligibility information | Approval step |
| Scheduling | Use CDCR and CMC visiting procedures after approval | Institution visit process |
| Arrival rules | Follow CDCR identification, dress, contraband, and processing requirements | In-person prison visit |
Do not apply county-jail visit rules to CMC. The county jail's two one-hour weekly visits, NCIC scheduling, and $0.19 per minute remote video rule are jail rules. A person at CMC is under CDCR custody and must use CDCR's visitor approval and prison visiting process.
California Men's Colony Mail
CMC mail must include the incarcerated person's first and last name, CDCR number, and housing. The CMC mail format is California Men's Colony, P.O. Box 8101, ATTN: I/P First and Last Name, CDCR Number, Housing, San Luis Obispo, CA 93409-8101. County jail mail rules, the Oklahoma Avenue jail address, TouchPay facility number 293405, and iCare gift ordering do not apply to CMC.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | California Men's Colony, P.O. Box 8101, ATTN: I/P First and Last Name, CDCR Number, Housing, San Luis Obispo, CA 93409-8101 |
| Phone Calls | CDCR telephone audio calls have been free to incarcerated people and friends/family since January 1, 2023 |
| Electronic Deposits | CDCR trust-account deposits through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections |
| JPay Lockbox | No fee for money order, personal check, or cashier's check; maximum $999.99 per form; no letters or notes with payment |
| Hold Times | Personal checks through JPay lockbox are held 10 business days; institution-mailed funds have a 30-day hold |
CDCR deposit rules include deductions and trust-account processing that are different from county-jail commissary deposits. Use the CDCR number and institution details from CIRIS before sending money or mail, because housing and location can change.
CMC Admission and Classification
California Men's Colony does not perform street-arrest booking for San Luis Obispo County. A person reaches CDCR after sentencing and commitment to state prison. CDCR states that once sentenced to CDCR, an offender is sent to a reception center for processing and transfer to an institution. The CDCR ombuds FAQ describes reception-center processing and classification. After classification, the person may be assigned to a facility based on security level, medical or mental-health needs, program needs, bed availability, and other CDCR criteria.
That prison admission path is why a person can disappear from the county jail roster and later appear in CIRIS. The San Luis Obispo County Jail roster is for current county custody. It does not track long-term state-prison housing after CDCR transfer, and it does not control CMC visitation, phone, mail, trust-account, or parole-eligibility information.
About California Men's Colony
CMC's East and West facilities support a range of security, treatment, work, and education programs. East Facility A through D house medium-security populations and provide Enhanced Outpatient Program and Correctional Clinical Case Management System levels of care. The East Correctional Treatment Center-Medical Unit serves a statewide CDCR medical function. Facility H is a Mental Health Crisis Bed Unit with 24-hour treatment and monitoring. West Facility E, F, G, and M include Level I and II housing, dormitory settings, and programs for minimum and medium custody.
CDCR-listed programs include California Prison Industry Authority textiles, glove factory, jacket line, T-shirt line, silk screening, knitting mill, laundry, shoe factory, printing, facility maintenance, auto mechanics, electronics, electrical works, masonry, welding, building maintenance, small engine repair, computers, Adult Basic Education, GED/HSD, peer literacy, eLearning, Transitions, culinary arts, and college opportunities. Facility M houses incarcerated firefighters working with Cal Fire captains, and Facility G has the New Life K9 Program. CDCR's inspected facility page identified Nathan Gaughan as Acting Warden, appointed December 31, 2025.
Note: Confirm current CDCR location, visitor approval, and institution scheduling before traveling to CMC.