CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP)

CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 559-935-4900

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Pleasant Valley State Prison located at 24863 W Jayne Ave in Coalinga, CA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) is minimum-to-maximum security state prison on 640-acres in Coalinga, Fresno County, CA. PVSP has two substance abuse programs involving community services for inmates who have a history of substance abuse. PVSP converted one of its general population yards into a sensitive needs yard (SNY) and now houses approximately 900 SNY inmates on D Facility. Then in 2004 converted A Facility to a sensitive needs yard and houses 1000 inmates on A Facility.

The facility has housed convicted murderers Sirhan Sirhan, Erik Menendez, X-Raided, and Hans Reiser, among others which redefines public safety and public service while providing modern long-term housing and professional services for inmates of all custody levels.

PVSP provides excellence in state service. While maintaining the highest public safety security protocols, education and Career Technical skills are offered to inmates through our academic classes, vocational instruction, and work programs in order to create viable job skills that are marketable in today’s workforce. We offer a multitude of self-help programs inclusive of Substance Abuse Treatment and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that is 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 a youth diversion program for at-risk children. We offer one of the state’s first Enhanced Program Facilities for those inmates who choose to better themselves through positive programming.

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

PVSP offers 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 the Crisis Response Team's, in addition to a youth diversion program for at-risk children. They offer one of the state's first Enhanced Program Facilities for those inmates who choose to better themselves through positive programming.

PVSP provides professional medical and mental health services in modern facilities for those in inmates identified through clinical intervention.

Inmate Programs

• Career Technical Education: Electrical Works, Office Services and Electronics Technology, Small Engine Repair, Carpentry, Building Maintenance, Auto Body & Paint, Auto Mechanics (Engine repair), Welding
• 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), California Prison Industry Authority (CalPIA) Program, Health Care Facility Maintenance (Medical Janitorial Services)
• Other: Community Service Crews (Cal Trans crew), Inmate Fire Fighters,Religious Services ,Bicycle Refurbishing, Self Help/Support Programs (I.e. Lifer Group, Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Veteran’s Group, Criminal Gangs Anonymous) , Handicraft Program, Joint Venture Program (Inmate Labor Initiative Program) PENDING APPROVAL

DRP PROGRAMS:
Adult Basic Education, Arts-in-Corrections, Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Building Maintenance, CalID, Carpentry, Electronics, General Education Development, High School Diploma, Library Services, Office Services, Physical Education, Small Engine Repair, Substance Use Disorder, Voluntary Education, Welding

Family Liaison Service Specialist

CDCR provides through a contract with a community-based organization an on-site Case Manager as a family reunification liaison for inmates and family members, to assist with an inmate's pre-release preparation; and conduct Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes for inmates. Please call the Institution to contact the Family Reunification Liaison.

CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) – Visitation Guide
CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) – Inmate Packages
CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) – Parole Information

visitation Info

CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) – Visitation

Visiting a CDCR facility must be conducted in a manner that maintains order, safety, and security of the people and facility. Failure to comply with the established regulations and policies may result in a warning or termination, suspension, or revocation of your visiting privileges.

Recommended Steps Before Visiting:

1. Read Visitation Guidelines to understand what you can expect and what is expected of you
2. Find out in which facility your inmate is housed
3. Schedule a visit online using the VPASS system
4. The day of your scheduled visit, check the Visiting Status to ensure the institution is accepting visitors

 Visitation Guidelines

• Guidelines for Visiting Adult Prisons 
• Guidelines for Visiting Juvenile Facilities

Refer to the Department's current policies and regulations in Title 15and the Department Operations Manual if you want to know more.

 Locate Inmate

Use the Inmate Locator to find an inmate and what facility they are housed in.

 Schedule Visit

Sign-up or log into VPASS to schedule an inmate visit. VPASS stands for Visitor Processing Appointment Scheduling System. Note: this requires creating an online account.

 Check Visiting Status

You can find out the visiting status of a CDCR facility in one of two ways:

• Call the Visiting Status Hotline at 1-800-374-8474
• Check the VPASS Visiting Status; locate the facility you plan to visit.

You should always do this the day you plan to visit, because visitation can sometimes be unexpectedly cancelled.