The primary mission of Avenal State Prison is to provide for the control, care and treatment of those inmates committed to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation by the courts. Avenal State Prison is designated as a low-medium security institution to provide housing for general population inmates.

Institution Statistics

The institution is comprised of six separate, semi-autonomous facilities, which consist of a combined total of 17 open dorm buildings, six 200-bed open dorm E-bed buildings, two converted gymnasiums, a 100-cell administrative segregation unit, and a 10-bed firehouse.  Avenal also houses mobility impaired inmates on two facilities that have been modified to meet ADA Standards.

Avenal State Prison opened in January 1987, and covers  640 acres.  As of Fiscal Year 2008/2009, the following statistics apply:

Number of support services staff:      617

Total number of staff:                      1,517

Annual budget:                               $144 Million

Designed Bedspace & Count

Visiting Hours and Directions

Avenal State Prison currently allows visiting on the holidays as designated by Title 15:  New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

Appointments will be scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and designated holidays. Visitors will be able to schedule an appointment to be processed between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 10:45 A.M. Appointments may also be made in the visiting rooms from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM during regular scheduled visits. Visitors who arrive and do not have an appointment, will be processed after all visitors with appointments have been processed, or at approximately 11:00 AM.

Visiting Information:

Visitors may call the Avenal State Prisons Visiting Hotline for any updates concerning visiting at (800) 374-8474. Visiting rules and regulations can also be found on the Internet at www.cdcr.ca.gov and access visiting rules. For additional information concerning visiting at Avenal State Prison, please contact the visiting processing center at (559) 386-0587, ext. 5400.

Visiting Appointments:

To make an appointment, visitors may call (559) 386-0256 on the following days:

Monday  10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.  Tuesday 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Thursday 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Or by E-Mail at ASPVisitingCDCR@cdcr.ca.gov

E-Mail Visiting Appointments will be accepted between 4:00 AM on Monday and 12:00 PM on Tuesday of each week. Any E-Mails outside these hours will not be processed. Enter your first and last name, date and time of visiting appointment request, the inmate's last name and CDCR number. You will receive an E-Mail confirmation of your visiting appointment.

General Directions:

From Northern California:

• Take I-5 south to Lassen Avenue (Highway 269)
• At Lassen Avenue turn right and go over the hills and through the City of Avenal
• Turn left on Highway 33
• Prison on the right

From Southern California:

• Take I-5 north to either Lassen Avenue (Highway 269) or the Ketteman City exit (Highway 41):
  • Turn left and go over the hills and through the City of Avenal
  • Turn left on Highway 33
  • Prison on the right side
  • Turn left on Highway 41 and go over the hills
  • At Highway 33, turn right
  • Prison on the left side