At Cameron where Craig is there is the nicest CO ever. She is always very friendly. She works at the front desk in the visiting area and is the one who checks us in and calls the inmates down. We have became pretty good friends. She knows that my cousin is in the war right now and she took all his information and sent him a care package. I thought that was so cool. I went out there one day and I was about in tears when I got there and they were going to count in like 2 minutes and she wasn't supposed to call anymore inmates down and there were probablt 25 people a head of me but she knew that if I didn't see Craig soon that I would probably have a break down while waiting for count to clear which usually takes an hour so she went ahead and called him down. She could have got in alot of trouble but she did it anyway. We had a food visit set up one day and it was not in the computer nor did they have his sheet requesting one but she still let us have it, never put in the computer or anything. She is the nicest CO I have ever ran across. When Craig leaves that camp I would like to get her some kind of a gift to show her my appreciation.

What a wonderful story, thank you for sharing! Just the thoughtfulness of one person can make such a difference in our lives!

As for a gift, I think the best and greatest gift you can do, is write a letter to the Commissioner and cc it to the Warden of the prison about this CO. Speak of her professionalism, her courtesy, but I wouldn't speak of any 'extra' things she did, but that she just made an already difficult and stressful situation, just a little more easier. This 'gift' will go a long way, trust me!

Pammie

Nice Jamie... Nice... Good to hear that some have a heart!

ITS SO WONDERFUL TO HEAR THAT SOME COS HAVE A HEART AND THANK GOD SHE IS SO WONDERFUL AND I THINK YOU SHOULD GET HER SOMETHING

I will write a letter about her kindness but I was also thinking about giving her a card and some little something that actually has a little meaning to it. Craig has been making these awesome picture frames and I know that she really likes them so I was thinking about having him make one so I could give it to her. I only have a few weeks left to come up with something. Any ideas would be great.

Wow, that is so wonderful. Always nice to have proof that there are some really extraordinary and wonderful folks working within the system...

Sounds like a special person!

she sounds like a great person...:)

Sounds like a person they should all be like....

Deb

That is forsure. If they would all be that way, there wold'bt be half the problems. They need to stop worrying about being in control.

Speaking from a CO's point of view I would have to say that in my opinion the best way to show her how you feel would be to send a letter directly to the Warden of the institution she works at and also to the Director of the system. In the letters explain how cooperative and helpfull she has been to you and ask that they recognize her for it.

I can understand you wanting to give her a gift but the policies with most of the institutions I have seen in the past 15 years do not allow employees to receive anything as a "gift" from a current or former inmate or the inmate's family or friends under any circumstance. A gift could possibly cause her problems with her job and I'm sure you would not like to see that occur.

Not trying to tell you what to do but wanted to provide you some "food for thought"... :)

I think that is great about wanting to show appreciation but I also have to agree with Wizard that you have to be careful about how you do it.
I did something while on the inside without thinking that got me called down to the Lt's office and jammed up pretty hard. It was something I wouldn't have told other inmates that I did because I wouldn't have wanted them to think that I was getting to cozy with the staff, but in turn I didn't think about how it would look from the other end.

We got gift cards often through the chapel and I had a surplus even after sending everyone on the outside a card for Christmas. I had been dealing with lots of petty BS in medical but a couple of people really came through for me when the contract psychs were playing games. They took it to the warden and got me hooked up with what I had coming, even though on my own it would have been weeks more playing the paper game. These CO's and the head of the medical dept. / BOP liaison for the contact “care” always put up with all sorts of complaints and BS. I just thought; why not shoot her and a few others cards saying that I appreciated what they did. I was still pretty new to the system so I didn't snap that they (the administration) would have a problem with it - I didn't think much about it either way.

Well, when I got called into the Lieutenant’s office, they tossed the cards out in front of me and asked me what the hell I thought I was doing, amongst other things. They wanted to know if I had an interest in any of them because most were sent to females, one of which was pretty young. At the end of the meeting they let me go, but also told me they were not there to be my friend, and I am not theirs.
I felt pretty stupid when I walked out of there because it should have been common sense, but I wasn't thinking like that yet.

Sending “gifts” are not allowed because all too often it leads itself to “favors”, etc. Some people do it out of the goodness of their heart, but others have other intentions entirely. I saw this happen more than once after I was paying attention.

Thanks for all the great advice...I would hate to get her in trouble...She has been so good to us...

Go with Wizard's idea. You are thanking her by giving her a complement to her boss.

That is where I would go.. Just a mention of what a great job she is doing to a boss or supervisor. Tell her thank you and just smile sometimes that is enough for him.

I agree with Wizard. Being an EX CO, giving a gift could cause trouble for her. Some times just a encouraging word about how great she has been to you and a big smile is a great reward after a long day at visatation. Sherry

That lady sounds like a one of a kind CO, and a warmhearted person overall. Thanks for sharing this with us. You know we live for good news.