Avenal State Prison (ASP) is a male-only state prison in the city of Avenal, Kings County, California, United States.
Facilities The structures on ASP's include "17 open dorm buildings, six 200-bed open dorm E-bed buildings, six converted gymnasiums, a 100-cell administrative segregation unit, and a 10-bed firehouse." It is a "low-medium security" or "Level II" prison with "open dormitories with secure perimeter fences and armed coverage."California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. California's Correctional Facilities. 15 Oct 2007. Inmate programs include: Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, SAP, autobody, metal fabrication, plumbing and electrical, PIA furniture, warehouse and egg production.
Population, staffing and budget As of fiscal year 2006/2007, ASP had 1,603 staff and an annual budget of $136 million. ASP has in the past been described as the "most overcrowded prison in the state [of California]";Furillo, Andy. Health care crisis behind bars: Three deaths in two months focus federal attention on state's most overcrowded facility. The Sacramento Bee, May 4, 2007 its September 2007 occupancy rate was 259.7%.California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Monthly Report of Population as of Midnight September 30, 2007.
As of April 30, 2020, Avenal was incarcerating people at 143.7% of its design capacity, with 4,197 occupants.
History
In the early 1980s, "almost everyone" in the town of Avenal desired the prison to be built to improve the economic status of the town.Walters, Dan. A Town That Wants Prison. The Sacramento Bee, May 12, 1985. It was reportedly "the first prison to be solicited by a local community." As of 1984, the plans were to build "the largest enclosed security compound in the nation."New prison to be largest. Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA), July 18, 1984.
Despite some opposition, Governor George Deukmejian signed a bill into law in September 1985 to authorize "$117 million from existing prison construction funds to build the prison",Deukmejian signs prison construction bills. Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA), September 25, 1985. and groundbreaking occurred in December 1985.Geissinger, Steve. Avenal gives new prison project keys to the city. Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA), December 19, 1985. The first inmates arrived in January 1987.State's First New Prison in 22 Years Opens in Avenal. San Jose Mercury News, January 29, 1987.
According to newspaper articles, the original name of the prison was "California Correctional Institution at Avenal", which the Kings County Board of Supervisors changed to "Avenal State Prison" in December 1987.Good, Bob. Kings County Renames Avenal Prison. The Fresno Bee, December 24, 1987. According to the CDCR Web site, ASP "was originally known as Kings County State Prison. On February 22, 1988, it was officially named Avenal State Prison."
In 2001, a trap–neuter–return program was begun for feral cats that had lived on the prison grounds since it was built.Brazil, Eric. A death sentence handed down to a prison colony of feral felines is commuted to life -- and sterilization. San Francisco Chronicle, September 9, 2001. ASP officials stopped the program (in February 2005) due to a perceived lack of effectiveness.Jimenez, Sarah. Prison cat program declawed; fur flies: Avenal's feral felines were humanely trapped, neutered and freed. The Fresno Bee, September 25, 2006. Subsequently, "the prison traps cats and volunteers are allowed to pick them up at the prison." The organization Feral Paws Rescue continues to advocate for reinstatement of the trap–neuter–return program.Feral Paws Rescue page. Accessed 11 Nov 2007.
In 2005/2006, ASP and Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) were "particularly affected" by valley fever, with "150 new cases from PVSP and 30 from ASP" in 2005Pappagianis, Demosthenes, and the Coccidioidomycosis Serology Laboratory (2007). Coccidioidomycosis in California State Correctional Institutions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1111 (1), 103–111. and 514 at PVSP and 91 at ASP in 2006.Furillo, Andy. Prison report cites valley fever risks. Construction may release spores that cause disease, increasing inmates' cases. The Sacramento Bee, August 16, 2007.
The receiver of the California state prison health care system blamed three deaths among ASP inmates in December 2006 on a "complete breakdown in medical care coverage."Schultz, E.J. Care of Avenal inmates blasted: Crowded prison gives poor health coverage, state medical czar says. The Fresno Bee, March 21, 2007. Prison Talk discussion thread, accessed 17 December 2007.
As of October 31, 2020, Avenal State Prison had seen 2,881 cases of COVID-19 and 8 deaths.
Notable inmates Robert John Bardo (born 1970) – the murderer of Rebecca Schaeffer Gerald Parker (born 1955) – serial killer; was held during trial Billy Preston (1946–2006) – musician sentenced for cocaine possession, violation of probation, and insurance fraud Robert Chan (born 1975) – one of the murderers of Stuart Tay. Serving a Life Sentence.
References
External links Avenal State Prison website