Avenal State Prison (ASP)
Main Phone: (559) 386-0587
Physical Address: #1 Kings Way, Avenal, CA 93204 (Directions)
- All Staff: P.O. Box 8, Avenal, CA 93204
- Personnel Department: P.O. Box 39, Avenal, CA 93204
- Inmates (include inmate’s name and CDCR number):
- Facility A, P.O. Box 901, Avenal, CA 93204
- Facility B, P.O. Box 902, Avenal, CA 93204
- Facility C, P.O. Box 903, Avenal, CA 93204
- Facility D, P.O. Box 904, Avenal, CA 93204
- Facility E, P.O. Box 905, Avenal, CA 93204
- Facility F, P.O. Box 906, Avenal, CA 93204
Visiting an incarcerated person: learn how to visit an incarcerated person at our institutions.
Other Resources: explore family & friends resources, including how to contact or send packages to those incarcerated in our institutions.
- Substance Abuse and Recovery Support
- Self-Awareness and Improvement
- Criminal and Addictive Thinking Recovery
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Faith Groups
- Lifer and Long Term programs
- Veteran Support groups
- Victim Awareness
- Inmate Community Services
- Reentry Preparation
- Cultural, Recreational, and Educational groups
- Parenting and Family Support
- Youth Diversion Programs
Avenal State Prison is home to Golden Hills Adult School, which is fully accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Golden Hills Adult School’s mission is “Creating Opportunities for Successful Lives.” We provide a variety of educational programs to the inmate population including Adult Education, Career Technical Education (CTE), Transitions, eLearning and College.
Our academic course offerings include: 1) Adult Basic Education I (K-3 grade subject matter), 2) Adult Basic Education II (4-6 grade subject matter), 3) Adult Basic Education III (7-8 grade subject matter), 4) General Educational Development, 5) High School Diploma, and 6) Face to Face and/or Correspondence College Courses. We also provide life skills training through our Transitions and eLearning programs.
Our CTE course offerings include: 1) Auto Body and Fender, 2) Auto Mechanics, 3) Building Maintenance, 4) Carpentry, 5) Computer and Related Technology, 6) Electrical Works, 7) Electronics, 8) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, 9) Industrial Paint, 10) Machine Shop, 11) Masonry, 12) Plumbing, 13) Small Engine Repair, and 14) Welding. All CTE classes offer nationally recognized certifications and/or industry certifications recognized by employers. The certifications include, but are not limited to, National Center for Construction, Education, and Research (NCCER); Microsoft Office Systems (MOS); Automotive Services Excellence (ASE); American Welding Society (AWS), and more.
DRP Programs
Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT)–Overview
On January 21, 2020, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) implemented ISUDT. ISUDT is a comprehensive and evidence-based cross-divisional program with pathways to treatment through DRP Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) programs referred to as:
CBI-Intensive Outpatient (Medical Classification T1, SOMS assignment code ISI) 2-hours/day, 5-days/week, 52-weeks completion
CBI-Outpatient (Medical Classification T2, SOMS assignment code ISO) 2-hours/day, 3-days/week, 14-weeks completion
CBI-Life Skills (Medical Classification T3, SOMS assignment code CB2) 2-hours/day, 3-days/week, 29-weeks completion
All participants will be assessed by medical and referred to one of the CBI classes.
Avenal State Prison is located approximately 20 miles south of Coalinga and 14 miles west of Interstate 5. The city of Avenal has a small town/community feel to it. But if you like a bigger city, Fresno is about an hour northeast. Because of Avenal’s central location in the state, getaways to the California coastline, Hume Lake or the giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park are nice options. Avenal has quality schools, a library and museum along with a small town feel. Avenal is a great place to live and work and not too far from the rest of the Golden State.
Re-Entry Facility
ASP is a Reentry Hub programming hub which is geared to ensure that, upon release, offenders are ready for the transition back into society. We help develop parole plans, provide prisoners assistance with developing social skills and obtaining services in their local communities, promote public support.
Inmate Leisure Time Activity Groups (ILTAGS) Currently, ASP offers 18 ILTAGS with active inmate participation. ILTAGS are 12-step recovery programs where inmates learn to acknowledge their addictions and the need to live a sober life. The programs are conducted in a classroom setting utilizing staff sponsors. Participants are provided materials donated by outside groups, as well as books purchased by the institution. These groups are facilitated on Facilities A thru F.
History
Avenal prison was the first institution solicited by a local community. When it opened in 1987, it was the first all-new prison built in California in 20 years and was originally known as Kings County State Prison. On February 22, 1988, it was officially named Avenal State Prison.
Martin Gamboa was appointed Warden at Avenal State Prison in March 2023. He had served as acting Warden since November 2020. He began his career in 1998 as a Correctional Officer at Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison. In August 2005, Mr. Gamboa was promoted to Correctional Sergeant at San Quentin State Prison. In April 2007, he transferred to California State Prison-Corcoran (COR). From 2007-2020, Mr. Gamboa served in several positions at COR, including Correctional Sergeant, Correctional Lieutenant, Captain, Associate Warden, and Chief Deputy Warden.
Jaron Nash is the Chief Executive Officer at Avenal State Prison. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration, and Healthcare Masters in Business Administration from Florida International University. He is recognized by National Commission on Correctional Healthcare as a Certified Correctional Healthcare Professional. He is also certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
He has 14 years of correctional health-care experience, achieved by serving in public and private sectors of the industry. He obtained his start with Florida Department of Corrections at South Florida Reception Center, where he promoted to Health Services Administrator. He directed the multifarious healthcare mission until 2015.
He was recommended, and accepted the opportunity to lead healthcare operations at South Bay Correctional Facility. Under his leadership, South Bay’s multilateral healthcare division successfully achieved regulatory compliance across five governing entities. He departed South Bay Correctional Facility to achieve his aspirations to lead a jail division. In 2016, he was appointed as Healthcare Operations Administrator of Broward County’s Southern Division. He was the head of the multiplex operations comprised of Broward Main Jail and Central Intake divisions until 2020. In 2020, he relocated to California to join the team at Avenal State Prison.
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.