Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP)

P.O. Box 8500, Coalinga, CA 93210

Visiting Inmates: learn how to visit inmates in-person or by video at our institutions.

Other Resources: explore family & friends resources, including how to contact or send packages to inmates in our institutions.

• Career Technical Education: Electrical Works, Office Services and Electronics Technology, Small Engine Repair, Carpentry, Building Maintenance, Auto Body & Paint, Auto Mechanics (Engine repair), Welding, and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Academic: Adult Basic Education (ABE) I, II, III; GED / High School Diploma Program; Voluntary Education Program (VEP); Elementary/Secondary Education Act (ESEA); College Program (Coastline); West Hills College (Face to Face); California Prison Industry Authority (CalPIA) Program; Health Care Facility Maintenance (Medical Janitorial Services); and Building Maintenance.
• Other: New Life K9 and the Equine program, Community Service Crews (Cal Trans crew), Inmate Fire Fighters, Religious Services, Bicycle Refurbishing, Self Help/Support Programs (such as Lifer Group, Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Veteran’s Group, Criminal Gangs Anonymous), Handicraft Program, and Inmate Ward Labor.

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.

Pleasant Valley State Prison is located in Fresno County in the community of Coalinga. You’re not far from the beautiful California coastline or the giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park. Coalinga has quality schools, a library, a museum and is home of the famous Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant. Key community events include the Annual Horned Toad Derby, Annual 4th of July Fireworks Display and the Wham-O-Bass Hot Air Balloon Festival.

PVSP provides excellence in state service and excels in public safety and public service while providing modern long-term housing and professional rehabilitative services for inmate of all custody levels. We maintain the highest public safety security protocols.

Education and Career Technical skills are offered to inmates through our academic classes, vocational instruction, and work programs to create viable job skills that are marketable in today’s workforce. We offer a multitude of self-help programs inclusive of Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Medicated Assisted Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention that are developed to aid in the inmates’ ability to make positive life changing decisions while giving back to society.

We offer support to our local community through inmate work crews, mutual aid agreements in fire suppression and with local Law Enforcement Agencies to provide enhanced support through our Crisis Response Team.

In addition, we offer a youth diversion program for at-risk children in our community. Our Youth Offender Program offers those inmates who are 18-25 years old, a voluntary intensive rehabilitative treatment program to address their educational, emotional, social, and behavior needs. Our goal is to provide modern rehabilitative services to the inmate population while developing life and social skills to those preparing to reintegrate back into society.

PVSP provides professional medical and mental health services in modern facilities for those patients identified through medical intervention. Our licensed Correctional Treatment Center provides short-term inpatient medical care, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of patients, including those in need of intervention in our Mental Health Crisis Bed housing. We are able to provide modern medical care for those inmates patients designated as low to medical risk.

Institution Statistics (SB601), Operational Performance Measures (COMPSTAT) and Inmate Population Reports

Tristan Lemon was appointed warden at Pleasant Valley State Prison in September 2023. He had served as acting warden since August 2022. 

Mr. Lemon began his career with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in 2002, at California Men’s Colony (CMC). During his tenure at CMC, Mr. Lemon held the ranks of Correctional Officer, Correctional Sergeant, and Correctional Lieutenant.  In 2013, he transferred to Correctional Training Facility (CTF) where he was a Captain and later promoted to Associate Warden in December 2017.  Mr. Lemon transferred to Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) as a Chief Deputy Warden in June 2020.

Mr. Lemon has received and provided specialized training in incident management and leadership. Mr. Lemon frequently challenges the accepted norms in the prison environment and is a strong advocate for staff safety and wellness. 

Clarence Cryer, MPH, CCHP-A is the chief executive officer (CEO) for Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP).

He joined California Correctional Health Care Services in 2013. Since that time, he has served as the CEO for San Quentin State Prison, the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran and the California State Prison, Corcoran.

He entered the specialized arena of correctional health care in 2008, as an administrator for the corrections health services division at Jackson Memorial Hospital, an accredited, non-profit, tertiary care center in Miami, Florida.

As the major teaching facility for the University of Miami’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital is the sole provider of health care for those in the custody of the Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

In addition to his tenure at Jackson, he has served in a similar capacity with national providers of correctional health care.

He has earned degrees in clinical laboratory science, journalism and public health administration. His more than 25 years of health care experience began in the United States Army as a medical lab specialist.

He has held several public health executive administrative roles including Community Health Services Director for Volusia County, Florida and a gubernatorial appointment to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to direct the state’s tobacco prevention program. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer for the St. Gabriel Health Clinic a multi-site community health center in Iberville Parish, Louisiana.

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care recognizes him as an advanced correctional health professional for demonstrated excellence, commitment and contributions to the field. He is also a national consultant for correctional facilities seeking accreditation for health care services and a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

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.