A friend is due to be sent there within the week and I was wondering if anyone could give me any info on mail,what type of items they can recieve and so on.Also some advice if anyone knows this particular prison on helping myself and his mother help him make the transistion to prison esp. this one.I hear it is rather tough???? This is his first trip to prison until now it has been strictly county jail time.Needless to say we are very concerned for him and how he is going to handle this.Thank you

Once he gets there,it might be best to call the prison and find out the rules for HIM.As far as P.B. helping anyone make the transition,I've never heard of anything like that!!! but who knows. Good luck to you.

Thanks Valerie
I'm sorry I wasn't clear on what I meant by helping him make the transistion,I didn't mean P.B helping in any way I meant if other posters had experience with a first time prisoner going to P.B. What it is like and so on.....Sorry this is new to me,learning the ropes as I go!

What level is he?

Oh I'm sorry ,I didn't understand.My son has been in Pelican Bay but it wasn't his first time in prison.Now it probably depends on the person. I think I was more upset then he was.He told me it wasn't as bad as the story's I've heard but then again he doesn't complain much especially to me. I think one should know how to handle themselves and Ken will be able to tell you about that kind of thing.I just saw a post the other day about this very same thing. KEN! COME BACK!!!

K, I don't mean to sound like an airhead but honestly I have no idea! All I know is he was in county jail,sentenced to 4 yesrs prison time,sent to DVI in Tracy to await the news of which prison he was going to(no phone contact or visiits allowed and the mail is running 2 weeks behind) His counsler called his Mother last night to say she suggested Susanville Fire Camp but "they" whomever "they " are did not agree and chose to send him to Pelican Bay.


Thank you again Valerie,I think his Mom is more frightened then he is as well because of all of the things she has "heard" about P.B. and she is really have a hard time understanding why they decided P.B was the right place for him.

You know it just may not be too bad for him if they where considering Fire Camp! It sounds as if he's a level 1 and thats good.

I heard Pelican Bay is tough. course, I'm in NY.. and I have heard several stories about our jails/prisons as well.. so..

Hi, welcome to PTO my son is at Pelican Bay so I know a little about how the SHU is run. If he is on the main yard I have heard that is not the worst place he could be sent. You need to find out where he is being put and then there are a number of us here that can give you some ideas on what to expect. Love Barbara

Thank you.I will find out more about exactly where he is when he has a chance to speak with one of us and let you know.I realize it's kind of hard to give me info when I don't know much about where he is going or what I'm asking!! Thanks so much though,it is appreciated :)

I go up to see my son in July, where are you at in California. Maybe I can help you with visiting info. Love Barbara

I'm in Sacramento about 8 hours I believe from there...His Mom and I are discussing a trip for sometime this summer,possibly August.
I hope you have a wonderful visit with your son.

Thank you I always do. Since you are so far away they might let you go both morning and afternoon. They let me do that because I live in S. Cal it's about 800 miles from where I live. Is he in transit right now? Love Barbara

It sounds like he is a level 1 prisoner, & the 1 yard at pelican bay is pretty good. I asked to be sent there, but they wouldn't do it. I only had 4 months left on my sentence when I got my overide from level 2 to level 1. My sisters fiancee was at Pelican Bay 1 yard, he did his whole sentence there. The fact that this fool made it out in one piece means it has to be a pretty easy yard to be on. I've talked to other guys who have been on the 1 yard there, & they all said it was pretty good yard. The 4 yard is a pretty rough yard, but I doubt anyone doing a 4 yr sentence would be on a 4 yard. It does happen but it is rare, & he would never have been considered for fire camp if he had level 4 points.-----------Ken

Thank you Ken,Glad to hear it may not be as bad as some of the tales I have heard.Once I find out for sure what section he is in I may be back with more questions for everyone,if you all don't mind! Thanks again

most of those tales are from the SHU, or the 4 yard.------ken

Sounds like he will be on the Level I yard at Pelican Bay, which is probably not too bad. My son was in the Level I work camp at Folsom and he did fine. Level IV at Pelican Bay would be tough.

The prisons in California now with the worst reputations are Pelican Bay, Corcoran and New Folsom. They have taken over for the old guard, San Quentin, Folsom and Chino.

If he has a four year sentence, he should do a little over two years because he will earn half-time as soon as he gets to Pelican Bay.

He'll be getting half time once he gets a job at the bay, which usually takes about a month, but can happen sooner.----Ken

Thanks all. I found out he is on a bus headed there as I type!

I have another question for you all. I have his CDC # and the prison mailing adress which I got from calling the CDC locator is that all I need to send his mail? We haven't heard from him yet and when I called the prison to get the info they said call back between 8 and 4 for mail info that's why I called the CDC phone number. Will it get to him with just that info or should I wait to get more details?
Thanks

Hi Imarie, I think you are going to need his cell # inorder for the mail to be delivered to him. You might just send him a quick note just to see if it gets through. The address is
P.O. Box 7500 Crescent City CA 95532 or 31 either one will get it there. Love Barbara

he should get it without a bed number but it makes it quicker if you have his housing location, bed number, & upper or lower. It can save up to a week, they are more lax with guys on one yards, I got a letter on one 1 yard that only had my name on it, & the prisons address. I wouldn't suggest this, & it's always best to include as much info as you can.-----------Ken

Thanks,got all the info I needed and mail has been sent....He is in Level 1 btw