Avenal uses a separate P.O. Box for each housing facility, so you need the person's current facility to address a letter correctly.
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Avenal State Prison handles inmate mail by housing facility: instead of one shared inmate box, it routes mail through a separate P.O. Box for each of its six facilities, A through F. That means you need to know the person’s current facility to address a letter correctly. Confirm their housing on CIRIS before you send anything, and include their name, CDCR number, and current facility on the envelope.
Use this format, filling in the P.O. Box that matches the person’s current facility:
[Full Legal Name, CDCR Number]
Avenal State Prison, Facility [A/B/C/D/E/F]
P.O. Box [see below]
Avenal, CA 93204
Avenal doesn’t use one inmate mail box. Each housing facility has its own:
Avenal’s staff-only P.O. Box 8 is for institutional business, not inmate mail. If you use the wrong facility box, mail can be delayed while it’s rerouted, or returned. Confirm the person’s facility on CIRIS first.
People move between facilities at Avenal, so a letter addressed to Facility A won’t reach someone who’s since moved to Facility D. Recheck CIRIS close to when you mail, and ask the person to confirm their current facility.
Standard letters, greeting cards, and photos are generally accepted. Keep to plain paper and cards without stickers, glitter, tape, or anything glued on, since those get mail rejected. Don’t send cash; use an electronic deposit or a check or money order payable to CDCR for money.
Photos are generally allowed within CDCR’s limits: no Polaroids, since the backing can conceal contraband, and nothing larger than 8x10. Avoid nude or sexually explicit images, gang-related content, and anything depicting drugs or weapons, which will be rejected. There’s usually a limit on how many photos per envelope, so send a reasonable number and confirm current limits with the institution if you plan to send many. You can also send photos through Pigeonly without printing anything yourself. Upload the photos online and Pigeonly prints and mails them to the correct Avenal facility box for you.
Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband before delivery. If a piece is rejected, the person is typically notified and told why, and the item may be returned to sender or held. Following the plain-paper, no-attachments rules is the best way to avoid a rejection.
Legal mail, clearly marked from an attorney, court, or public official, is handled separately. It’s opened only in the presence of the incarcerated person to check for contraband and is not read. Mark legal mail clearly on the outside so it’s routed correctly.
You can’t mail a personal package straight to the person. Approved packages, including quarterly packages, come through CDCR’s contracted package vendor, which the person or an approved family member orders from. Contact the institution or check CDCR’s approved vendors page for the current process.
6 of 11 questions
It depends on the person's housing facility. Use Avenal, CA 93204 with the matching P.O. Box: Facility A Box 901, B 902, C 903, D 904, E 905, F 906. Always include the person's full name, CDCR number, and current facility.
MailAvenal routes inmate mail through a separate P.O. Box per housing facility instead of one shared box. You need to know the person's current facility to use the right one. Confirm it on CIRIS before mailing.
MailMail can be delayed while it's rerouted between facilities, or returned to sender. Recheck the person's current facility on CIRIS close to when you mail.
MailNo. P.O. Box 8 at Avenal is for staff and institutional business only, not inmate mail. Use the box that matches the person's housing facility instead.
MailYes, within CDCR's limits: no Polaroids and nothing larger than 8x10. Avoid nudity, gang references, and images of drugs or weapons, which get rejected. There's usually a per-envelope limit, so send a reasonable number. You can also send photos through Pigeonly, which prints and mails them for you.
MailNew books and magazines generally must come directly from an approved publisher or vendor, not mailed by you personally. Check CDCR's approved vendors and disapproved-publications rules before ordering.
MailNo. Personal packages aren't accepted directly. Approved packages come through CDCR's contracted package vendor, ordered by the person or an approved family member.
MailLegal mail marked from an attorney, court, or public official is opened only in front of the incarcerated person to check for contraband, and is not read. Mark it clearly on the outside.
MailIncoming mail is opened and inspected before delivery, so allow extra time beyond normal postal delivery. There's no guaranteed delivery window.
MailStickers, glitter, tape, glued-on items, cash, Polaroids, oversized photos, and any content seen as contraband, gang-related, or explicit. Stick to plain paper and cards.
MailNever send cash. Use an electronic deposit through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections, or mail a check or money order payable to CDCR to the person's facility box. See the CDCR send-money guide for details.
MailConfirm the person's facility and CDCR number before you mail.
View ArticleGet approved with CDCR Form 106, then schedule through VSA.
View ArticleUse an EFT vendor or a check payable to CDCR instead of cash.
View ArticleStay in touch between letters with free calls.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 19, 2026.