My fiance is being transferred to Chuckawalla from Old Folsom on Wednesday April 6th, 2005....can anyone offer me info on this prison? I know it's in the middle of nowhere surrounded by desert.........that's all I know.

Thanks!

I don't personally know much about it but here are some links that have some info for you, hope it helps.

Link from the CDC

http://www.corr.ca.gov/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/fac_prison_CVSP.asp

I did a search for 'Chuckawalla' in the California Forum, there is all kinds of misc info.

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1343071

Katrina,
I just heard from my husband yesterday, and he says the guys are saying it's not bad there. I believe it's close to the Arizona/Ca border.
Wendy

hi well my husband is there and i can answer pretty much any question you have so ask away ok talk to yuo later

Chuckawalla is a pretty easy going and mello prison. It is located 20 miles west of Blythe, California off of Interstate 10. It is only about 25 miles from the Arizona border.

It is hot out there in the summer---around 110 to 115 degrees. In the winter it is cold. Sometimes it's windy---very, very windy.

Visiting days are Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 2:30 pm. It is a Level 1 and Level 2 prison so the visiting rooms are more relaxed than the other prisons. You can wear multiple pairs of earrings, you don't have to take off your shoes when you check in, etc. etc. Other restrictions apply---no underwire bras, no sleeveless shirts, no short skirts, no denim, etc.

Any other questions--feel free to send me a private message. My husband has been out there about a year and a half now and will be released in 2007. Good Luck to you.

Does anyone have info on the family visits there? How often are they?
Thanks,
Wendy

My husband and I have family visits out at Chuckawalla. Visits are on Tues, Wed, Thurs or Fri, Sat, Sundays. You check in on day one---(Tues or Fri) at 9am and you check out on day three (Thurs or Sun) at 9:30am.

If you have Tues visits---then they are about every 6 to 8 weeks. If you have Friday visits, then you can get them about every 9 to 10 weeks.

The standard rules apply---no underwire bras, all containers must be see through like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc., no denim, etc. etc.

Do not bring any clothes or toiletries for your husband--they especially freak out over that.

Your husband must go to his counselor and ask for a family visiting form. He will fill it out, give it back to his counselor, and his counselor will determine if he is eligible for family visits or not. If he is eligible, then the counselor will forward it to the family visiting officer and she will schedule you a date. You can request either a Tues or a Friday visit.

For food, you have to buy their food that they sell. You cannot bring your own. It is the same vending machine food that is in regular visiting. It runs us about $100 per family visit.

The c.o.'s leave you alone during your family visit. They only ring the phone about 4 to 6 times during the visit so your husband can step out for count.

The rooms are o.k. Nothing fancy. You can bring your own sheets and towels if you prefer, but they do supply them. The rooms are fairly clean. They are 2 bedrooms with a bathroom, a small kitchen with a microwave, and a tv. There is no radio.

That's about it. If you want any more info or have any questions--please feel free to IM me. Hope this helps.

Thanks so much, Sparky. We aready have FV's at OF, and wherever hubby gets transferred I want to make sure the FV's are good. If he goes to your prison, that's all we'll have because it's too far for me to visit on the w/ends. Wow! Every 6-8 weeks! I'm soooooo there! Hee Hee.
Thanks again!
Wendy

Thank you all for the information. I took a spill in the shower and have been on bed rest.........sneaking on here to write this before I get caught by my kids and sent back to bed!

I will respond to each and everyone of you. Again...thanks so much!

Thank you ladies for all the replies. Charles is a lifer so family visits will not happen for us...sigh.....Charles is not happy there. He doesn't like being in a dorm setting. There is no hobby, they have taken all his tools, this effects our business as he supplies the jewelry, I supply the website through which to sell it. The clothes are all changed, he has no pillow, he is the only Pagan in his dorm...they have no religious grounds there as they did at Old Folsom, and I just spent $150 tonight to send him a box of stuff that he needs........sigh......perhaps tonight wasn't the night to reply to this post....I am feeling a bit bitey...I shall go........
Thanks again!

I have started a yahoo group for families of inmates at CVSP. My friend has informed me of many things at Chuckawalla and I felt a group specifically geared towards Chuckawalla would be the best way to do it.