Avenal State Prison

Avenal State Prison is a male-only state prison in the city of Avenal, Kings County, California.FacilitiesThe 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." As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, ASP had 1,603 staff and an annual budget of $136 million. As of September 2007, it had a design capacity of 2,920 but a total institution population of 7,582 (the largest among California state prisons). ASP has been described as the "most overcrowded prison in the state "; its September 2007 occupancy rate was 259.7 percent. Inmate programs include: Narcotics anonymous, Alcoholics anonymous, SAP, autobody, metal fabrication, plumbing and electrical, PIA furniture, warehouse and egg production.HistoryIn the early 1980s, "almost everyone" in the town of Avenal desired the prison to be built to improve the economic status of the town. 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."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", and groundbreaking occurred in December 1985. The first inmates arrived in January 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. 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."