Level I-II (Reentry Hub) · State Prison · CDCR

Avenal State Prison

Avenal, Kings County, California

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (559) 386-0587 ext. 6014 Info last verified: June 2026

Kings County CDCR prison in Avenal, a lower-security reentry-focused institution in a Valley Fever-endemic area, with appointment-based visiting.

Statewide rules that apply at every CDCR institution

These rules are set by CDCR and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in California.

Dress code

Avoid blue denim, orange, bright yellow, khaki, tan, beige, forest or olive green, and camouflage — these match what incarcerated people or staff wear.
No tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, sheer fabric, or low-cut necklines; shoulders should stay mostly covered.
Skirts and shorts must be within two inches of the knee. Leggings on their own usually do not pass.
Closed-toe shoes only — no sandals, flip-flops, or backless shoes.
Underwire bras set off the metal detector; a wireless or sports bra avoids the issue.

ID: A current government-issued photo ID matching the name on the approved application is required.
What to bring: No cell phones, wallets, other electronics, food, or drinks inside. A small clear bag may hold a car key and vending money in coins and $1 bills, up to the limit the institution posts on its visiting page.
Scheduling: Visitors must be approved on CDCR Form 106 before a first visit, then schedule through the VSA online system. Walk-ins are generally not allowed.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in California

Overview

Avenal State Prison, in the western San Joaquin Valley, is a lower-security (Level I-II), dormitory-based men’s institution that CDCR designates a Reentry Hub, concentrating rehabilitation and transition programming. It opened in 1987 — the first all-new prison built in California in 20 years — and is organized into six facilities (A through F). It runs above design capacity, about 3,800 men against roughly 2,900 designed beds (June 2026); population figures change weekly, so CDCR’s population reports are the current source.

What Makes Avenal State Prison Different

It is a Reentry Hub with a lower-security, dormitory setting, so visiting is generally contact.
It is in California’s most restrictive Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) tier: beyond excluding people who are immunocompromised, post-transplant, or pregnant, the policy restricts housing here for people who are Black or Filipino, or who have diabetes, unless they have prior immunity.
A 2013 federal court and the prison medical receiver ordered the transfer of people at higher Valley Fever risk out of Avenal and Pleasant Valley.
Mail and visit paperwork are specific to the facility (A-F) where the person is housed; correspondence requires the person’s facility letter.

Visiting Hours and Procedures

Avenal visits are arranged in advance, not by drop-in.

General statewide rules, dress code, and the approval process are covered in Visiting in California.

Getting There and Parking

Avenal is in the western San Joaquin Valley, off CA-269 and CA-33 near I-5.

The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Coalinga Regional Medical Center, about 18 miles north in Coalinga; Avenal itself has an outpatient clinic but not a 24-hour emergency room. There is no public transit to the prison; a private vehicle is the practical way to reach it.

Nearby Services

Avenal has limited gas and food; Hanford and Coalinga have more, and Fresno has the deepest concentration of services and lodging for longer trips.

For broader family support beyond the institution itself, Friends Outside is a California nonprofit, operating since 1955, that assists families of incarcerated people and operates visitor centers at state prisons.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at a California state prison:

Visiting in California — CDCR approval process, dress code, scheduling
Mail & Packages — What you can send and what gets rejected
Phone & Video Calls — Call costs, tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — How to add funds to a CDCR trust account
Medical & Mental Health — Healthcare in CDCR facilities
Transfers — What happens during transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.