Hi,

I just found out that my b/f was transferred to Avenal. Can anyone tell me any information on visiting and mail.

Just when I was becoming a pro at San Quentin. Now I've got to start all over.:D

ANY info would be apprieciated! Thank you.

With all this vast knowledge out there, I know someone has to have some info on Avenal. :(

I really need to know how the visiting works. Do I need to make an appointment? If yes, then when do I make them? (ie: call a week in advance - Saturday for Saturday etc.)

If anyone has traveled from the Bay Area, how long does it take? Any good motels?

Any additional clothing regulations from the main list?

Also, any info on how long the mail usually takes from that facility would be nice to know.

Thank you!!

My brother just left avenal 2 weeks ago the processing is a long process they have u wait outside so u have to be there early to get in early u go up to the door they give u a slip like at all prisons but these are numbered then they only let 5 in at a time. Your first time should be fast because they ask if its your first time and the have u stand in different line but after the first time if your not there early your wait time will be about 30min to an hour sometimes longer.There not that strict on dresscode just the basic. If I were u I would call because they just had a riot there nothing major no one was seriously hurt but they might still be on lockdown. They have night visits on friday and the usual sat and sun visit. On mail can't help u much there my brother didn't write that often but what I can remember its pretty fast but I'm also really close to avenal.

Thank you, JAYCJT1 for the information!

I had heard that they take appointments now. Does anybody know more on this and how it works?

Hi MellyMel,
I dont know if I am doing this right for I am not used to this but here goes. At Avenal you have to make an appointment to visit the number is 559-386-7473 and usually the appointments are taken up to 2 weeks in advance so it is best to call on a monday I believe it is between the hours of 10-1 not sure. If you don't have an appointment which I am rarely able to get you can show up and they will let you in around 10. The mail room it would be best for you to call and ask for I do not know which questions you are wanting answers to the phone number is 559-386-0587 Ext. 7121 I hope that this helps and that you are able to visit. Have a good day sweetie.
Love Mary:fb:

Mary,

Thank you!! I'm pretty stressed about his move. We had a plan for him to shoot me a "heads up" letter immediately upon his transfer. I still have not heard from him, so a visit would be nice.

I was planning on scheduling a visit but it sounds like it's not easy. I'd hate to drive 3 hours without knowing that I was scheduled. How is it if you don't have an appointment? Should you show up early, even though they don't start letting you in 'til 10am? I guess I'm just wanting to know the pros and cons of appointment vs. non-appointment.

Oh by the way, how long are the visits?

Hi MellyMel,
I would call first thing Monday between 10 and 1 and make an appointment. Are you sure he is already gone? You can always call the inmate locater to see if he is in the computer there yet. 916-445-6713 you will need his name, CDC number and birthdate. You can get there before 10 and wait and if some of the appointments don't show up you can get in before 10 but it can be kind of aggravating. Avenal is out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by dirt. Visiting processing is a small building and they have everyone wait outside until it is time to go in. If you have to use the bathroom during that time you have to go to the visitors center across the parking lot. There are no chairs out there. You can go to the visitors center and wait sometimes though. Visiting is over around 2:45 -3:00 on weekends during the week it is between 2 and 8 I believe. The first time you go they make you see the Sgt who will explain the rules to you. You need to where straps on the back of your shoes. If I have forgotten anything I am sorry There is a good cheap motel in Coalinga. IF you reserve it online it will only cost you 33 dollars a night it is a motel 6.
Love Mary:)

avenal is pretty cool about visits. the officers at front are much more strict then the officers in the visiting rooms. make sure your shirts cover your whole back and midriff. not an inch of skin may be shown even if it is below your belly button. make sure you don't wear sandals/flip flops anymore because they consider them shower shoes. also if he is on yard 3 they are almost always on lock down so make sure you call avenal first. if he is on yard 1 or 2 they are hardly ever on lockdown and the visiting co's are very easy going. you may purchase a picture slip in the front lobby where you may take pictures inside. you may only bring $30 in coins and they have a coin machine inside the lobby if needed. Make sure you wear undergarments. sometimes the female sergent who is an old lady with frizzy blonde hair and a lot of eye make up will give ladies a hard time about undergarments. Whenever she is in the lobby she always stops me. Visting food isn't too bad either they give you a lot of options and the friday visits are nice. the visits seem longer. If you can manage to get there on friday there is hardly ever a line to get in and you don't really need an appointment either. it's truly the saturday and sunday visits that are really the hassle. mail is very fast. it has never taken longer than 3 days to receive mail and i am 4 hours away. as far as the motel if you can manage to drive back home after the visit i would. those motels tend to be frightening and not worth a penny from your wallet. if you have anymore questions just ask, i would be more than happy to help you.
lauren

Marerob,
Yes I'm sure he's there. San Quentin informed me last week and I called Avenal to make sure and get his housing information. Wow, they make you see the Sgt first! How long does that take?

sillurian,
His housing is 2Gym. What does that mean? Does that translate to yard 2?

Do either of you know if they go through a process from when they move from reception to mainline? I'm just wondering what he is going through right now. It's not like him to take so long in writing me.

Thanks to both of you for the information!! :)

yes i believe the 2 gym does mean that he is on yard 2. If he just arived to avenal, then it takes a while for him to have the phone. they only get it once a day at first until they get a work card. then they may use it more often. also he may be moving around a bit the first couple of weeks he is there, so mail often takes a little bit longer as they adjust to their new home. you don't have to meet with the sgt. i didn't although you can if you would like. straps on the back of your shoes are not necessary. and visiting on thursday and fridays is from 1-8. He does have a little bit of a process but it should not take longer than a week or two for him to be adjusted to his gym. Also, if you were ok to visit him at reception than you are already approved to visit him at avenal. that is the way it works. any more questions feel free to ask-
lauren

Lauren,

Thank you!!!! If I have more questions, I'll PM you if that's okay.

Melanie

Hi Melly Mel,
Well my first time there a couple of months ago they made me see the Sgt and it did not take too long. I was approved prior to going there at another prison. and she is right about the straps on the back but the last time I was there they had said that they were no longer allowing shower shoes and things like that and that the next time I came up I should make sure I had straps on the back of my sandals to be sure that I could get in. There is nothing out there so that is why I recommend wearing shoes with straps on the back just in case for they were talking about making that change. Once there it is really hard to go out and try to find shoes if you are not in compliance. Also you can't bring in paper money it has to be quarters only. You seem to be in good hands with Lauren so I will leave you be.
Love Mary

Mary,

Thank you for all your help! Every little bit of information helps relieve the anxiety of learning a new facility.

Take care,

Melanie

Your Welcome Melly Mel:)

For anybody that may be new to Avenal, I've listed a really good web site for visiting with some corrections...

CDC Informational Network - Avenal Visiting:
http://www.vip-cali.com/CDCINFO/visiting.htm#_AVENAL

CORRECTIONS:

They take appointments and non-appointment visits. To schedule an appointment call 559-386-7473 Mon, Tue & Wed between 11:00am - 1:00pm
If you have an appointment try and get there earlier than your scheduled appointment. Why? Because they can move through the list pretty quick. If you are there earlier, there's a good chance you will get in before your scheduled visit.

Those without an appointment will be processed AFTER the visitors with appointments. Once again, get there before 8:00am. They pass out the visiting forms with numbers on them. They take groups of five. The lower your number, the faster you will be admitted for processing.

They allow $1.00 bills now. (Up to $30.00).

No cigarettes are allowed.

As for clothing, Avenal does not seem to be as strict as some other prisons. They are making a point of telling visitors to wear shoes that are supportive. This does not mean that they have to have straps. It means that they can't be like beach/shower sandals with no support. This is for safety reasons. As always, bring extra clothes in case they want you to change.

Hi Melly Mel,
I am so glad to see that you posted that. I am one of the moderators for those different groups. But I did not think that I was allowed to post about it in here so I didn't. I am still fairly new to all the rules in here. Glad that you found that.
Love Mary

Glad I could help. There doesn't seem to be much out there on Avenal, so I thought I would try and put it all in one thread.

Do you know if someone from PTO is in charge of gathering all the information we have to put together "Prison Profiles"? I noticed that there's a forum for that but it's not very user-friendly.

Hey MellyMel,

Thank You for the info on Avenal. I have a brother in there, and I know what you are going through. I live in Ohio and we have only been able to see him once. Again Thank You!!!!