Wasco State Prison‑Reception Center (WSP)
Main Phone: (661) 758-8400
Physical Address: 701 Scofield Avenue, Wasco, CA 93280 (Directions)
- Institution: 701 Scofield Avenue, P.O. Box 8800, Wasco, CA 93280
- Inmates (make sure to include Inmate’s Name and CDCR number as well as last known housing):
- Facility A, 701 Scofield Ave.,P.O. Box 4400, Wasco, CA 93280
- Facility C, 701 Scofield Ave.,P.O. Box 6600, Wasco, CA 93280
- Facility D, 701 Scofield Ave.,P.O. Box 7700, Wasco, CA 93280
- Facility H, 701 Scofield Ave.,P.O. Box 9900, Wasco, CA 93280
- Facility M, 701 Scofield Ave.,P.O. Box 3300, Wasco, CA 93280
Learn about contacting, visiting, and corresponding with inmates and juveniles who are in our institutions.
PIA
Laundry & Farm Enterprise; Pre-Release; AA/NA; Visiting; Slow Down/Despacio – a Youth Diversion Program; Religious; Friends Outside; TABE (Testing of Adult Basic Education); GED; Libraries; Physical Education/Recreation; Vocational Electronics, and Office Services and related technology; Fire Department – consists of 8 inmate firefighter positions; Independent Study Program – Coast Line Community College; Correctional Learning Network; Breaking Barriers-A Cognitive awareness Model, Starting August 2010- Batterer’s Intervention which will encompass Anger Management; Parenting Education and Creative Conflict Resolution.
DRP PROGRAMS
CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs offers a wide range of programs for inmates. Check to see which programs are offered at this institution.
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 inmates pre-release preparation; and conduct Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes for inmates. Please call the Institution to contact the Family Reunification Liaison.
Once known as the “Rose Capital of the World,” Wasco is still home to a booming agricultural community. Wasco is a small city with approximately 25,000 residents located in Kern County, one of the most affordable areas in the state. Bakersfield is the nearest big city, about a half hour’s drive. A short two-hour drive will take you to Pacific Ocean beaches, giant redwoods in the Sequoia Mountains, Paso Robles Wine Country, and America’s second largest city, Los Angeles.
Details
A 1,000-bed medium custody facility houses general population inmates to help support and maintain the 4,580-bed reception center. A minimum custody facility provides institutional maintenance and landscaping services.
Amber Williams was appointed acting Warden at Wasco State Prison (WSP) in July 2025, following her tenure as Chief Deputy Warden at Avenal State Prison (ASP). She briefly spent time in the Centralized Allegation Resolution Unit, as Chief Deputy Warden from February 2025 to July 2025.
Amber began her career in 2003 as a Correctional Officer at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP). She promoted to Correctional Counselor I in 2006 at SVSP, later transferring to California Correctional Institution (CCI) and then to the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (CSATF-SP). Later, she promoted to Correctional Counselor II (CCII) Specialist in 2012, transferring to the DAI headquarters-Classification Services Unit.
Between November 2013 and May 2020, Amber held various positions at CSATF-SP, including CCII Specialist (Asst. C&PR), CCII Supervisor, and promoting to Correctional Captain in 2017, holding roles as Facility Captain and Custody Captain.
In May 2020, Amber promoted to Associate Warden at ASP, serving in multiple capacities, including Complex I Associate Warden, Health Care Access Unit Associate Warden, ADA Coordinator, Central Operations Associate Warden, and the Business Services Associate Warden.
In addition to her extensive experience with CDCR, Amber holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Ethnic Studies, from University of California, Riverside. She continued her education, earning a master’s degree in justice administration, from Norwich University.
Amber is dedicated to supporting CDCR’s mission by promoting a safe, secure, and inclusive environment, for all who work and live within CDCR’s Custody.
Lastly, Amber’s goal is to develop staff who aspire to lead by promoting leadership and accountability, which in turn will promote a safer environment for staff and incarcerated persons.
Scott Woodhouse began his career with CDCR in 1996, serving as an Office Assistant at Avenal State Prison.
Prior to his transition to health care, he gained a broad range of experience holding positions in various areas including Case Records, Procurement, Personnel, Plant Operations, Budgets and Accounting. Woodhouse has over 15 years of health care management experience.
He served as a manager with Fiscal Management and Human Resources before promoting to Business Manager II at Wasco State Prison. Woodhouse also served as Correctional Health Services Administrator II at Kern Valley State Prison prior to promoting to Regional Personnel Administrator (CEA) in the Region II office.
He served as the Chief Support Executive (CEA) at Wasco State Prison for the past seven years where he previously completed a long-term acting Chief Executive Officer assignment. Most recently, Woodhouse was assigned as the acting Chief Executive Officer at Corcoran State Prison; before being appointed as acting Chief Executive Officer at Wasco State Prison in May 2025.
Local Inmate Family Councils (IFC’s) are a gathering of family and friends of the incarcerated who meet regularly with Wardens to support visiting since keeping strong family connections with loved ones is a powerful rehabilitative tool. These IFC’s promote visiting by clarifying rules and regulations as well as discussing health, education, vocational training, packages, books, and related issues. For more information on connecting with a local IFC, please visit the Statewide IFC website.