My son was transferred from Tusc Co jail yesterday to Kilby. I joined PT this morning. Am trying to get around in the site without breaking any rules or stepping on anyone's toes so if this is inappropriate please let me know. How long am I going to be in limbo now? My son was arrested while on probation in drug court. He recieved two concurrent 2 year sentences. (WE ARE THANKFUL). His were nonviolent crimes (except the harm he is doing himself). He has been to rehab (3 months intensive at Bradford 2 years ago) That's the background. His projected release date is 3/30/06. Am waiting to hear from his attorney as to how do I get money to him? How do I write? When does he get to call? I discovered by chance that he was transferred yesterday. I am rambling. Sorry. Why doesn't Alabama DOC have a handbook on line for family members so they will know what to expect and how to act? If y'all can give me any information on first steps I would appreciate it. He's our only child and this is our first experience with DOC I am as my name says without a clue.:confused:

without...first of all welcome to pto. We have the answers to your questions. but first i would recommend that you go to the introduction forum and post. here's the link

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=311

you should hear from him within just a couple of days, he has to set up a phone list first. Kilby is where everyone goes to be processed, more than likely they will classify him and then send him to another facility, they are quite backlogged on transferres so be patience. As far as money, like the phone list it has to be approved first, he will let you know soon. He will need all your information to put you on the phone & funds list such as SS Number, birth date and all that personal stuff. Writing, you can go ahead and write him. be sure to put his AIS number along with address, you can find his AIS number on the doc web site. Here's the link to it:

http://www.doc.state.al.us/inmate_search.htm

i know you fill lost right now, we've all been there, take your time and read over all our post and you learn more than you possible could any where else.

and again welcome, and i look forward to getting to know you and feel free to ask any questions, we have a wonderful group here with a huge amount of personal knowledge of the workings of the DOC...

take care

Denise

Denise you are so wonderful I can't thank you enough. I will do as you say. I have been reading your posts since my son got his AIS number on the 14th and have tried to learn as much as possible before now. MANY, MANY THANKS.

If you have any questions just ask, i'll be glad to help and if i can't someone here can. everyone thats been around any amount of time already knows that i'm not on line on the weekends, but there's plenty others that can help. Thats just another great thing here, theres someone popping in 24 hours a day 7 days a week....

deniseJ

Welcome withoutaclue...Denise filled you in on the processing thing. He should only be there about 30-60 days. I also have a son in Ventress in Clayton, AL. It''s his first trip to prison and better be the last, he is 22 and his release date is 4/06. Let me know if your son gets sent to Ventress, I'll give you the info on Jason so they can met. Glad to have another Mom here, feel free to pm me anytime. This is the most wonderful support place and the people are the best.
God Bless,
Linda

Welcome to PTO. I'm sorry I can't answer your questions, but you are so right, where is the family info. Someone will be along shortly to answer your questions for you.

No answers here either, but I do want to welcome you to PTO!! You will find lots of answers, information, and most importantly support here!

We are glad you found us!!

without, see your finding your way around here...good girl, you're going to fit in here just fine...

Welcome to PTO....Denise has filled you in...If you son goes to Elmore I can help you out...The only thing I can add right now is find out his dorm and bed number by calling up to Kilby and make sure to put them on the letters you send to him along with his AIS #....

Ladies I cannot tell you how much hearing from you has lifted my spirits today. My son turned 27 in jail on Sunday and that was the last time I saw or talked to him. Gary and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary on Tuesday this week. A week usually filled with joy and celebrations has just been a chore to endure this year. I have mailed my son another letter today to Kilby and the jail informed my husband today that they sent our son's commisary account to Kilby with him (thank God again for the little things.) I'll pray for you and yours and you please pray for me and mine. God Bless. Once again, Denise, you are special, as are Lisa, Linda, Kat, and Raymond's Girl.

Welcome to PTO!

Hello! As a Mom...I know exactly how you feel! My son has been in since March 16, 2004! He is currently at a work release center. If your son is in because of a drug charge, he will have to complete some type of SAP (Substance Abuse Program) before he will be released. After he finishes that...he could be sent to a work center and allowed to go out to work during the day.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask...PM or e-mail me and I will be glad to help in any way I can!

I have another son that was at Bradford...he is doing so well now...he has a sponsor and has recently become a sponsor himself. There is always the possibility of slipping...but you have to pick yourself up and continue to move forward!

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76444 Here is a link to the thread where you will find the Prison Handbook link, if you haven't already found it!


Kay :)

Thanks for all the info. Our son called Friday and would have called Thurs. but all phones had been turned off. He says Kilby was a huge wake up call. Swears he'll never ever do anything again to put him back in a place like that once he is out. Good news is he says they feed you like a man. He dropped 10 lbs while in county but had regained 8 of those in two days at Kilby. No more going to bed hungry - just hot :) He wasn't allowed to attend AA/NA meetings at County (dumb, dumb, dumb) and has missed his NA meetings and support group so I hope he gets to start at Kilby soon. He didn't get to retrieve his big blue book at county either so hope they are available at Kilby too. "Life is too short to live it in regret so fill the days with hope instead." B's Mom.

Just wanted to welcome you to PTO and the Alabama PTO family especially - glad you found us! It's not always easy but you WILL get thru it. We've been dealing with this 15+ years, including the addiction/recovery part.

Lots of folks here all too familiar with ADOC so anytime you have questions just post!

Glad you're here! :)

Lys

Just Wanted to Add to the many Welcomes to PTO and The Alabama Forum...There is also a Forum for "Parents with Children in Prison" that you will find alot of other Moms with Sons in prison that is very enlightening and helpful. Besure to read some of the Posts written by Masonic4 as he himself spent many years incarcerated in Prison and shares with us his incite to this difficult time as a prisoner. He has even put into printing some of his writings. I have often copied some of his posts and sent them on to my daughter who is now at work release(spent 26 months back in the Prison for violatiion of work release rules) and awaiting a second Parole Hearing Aug 8th!
I have spent hours on here just reading and reading and responding to threads all over.

You will find lots of caring and loving people here and soon you will feel as thou they are your family. I would never have made it this far without the undconditional love from all these ladies and gents that "talk" to us and help each day go by. I have cryed many tears for myself and for them too and also jumped for joy with each triumph that we all share in! And Laughter I understand is the best Medicine of all.

One important piece of advice I have to offer is this...You are important to your son as he depends on you for support and You must above all take care of yourself during this early stages of his incarceration and thru out the whole process...Eat right, exercise, sleep well each night and above all find time for yourself away from all of this..even if it is only a bubblebath or a walk in the park..or read a good book!

Glad you came aboard! Looking to seeing you often!

Alabama Granny

I wanted to welcome you to PTO as well sorry i am late on it, I look forward to getting to know you. Like Granny said you are important to your son so take care of yourself too. May God bless you and your family and keep you strong during this time and all the days to come.
HUGS
BRANDI

I'm sorry I'm late, but I just wanted to welcome you to PTO and to the Alabama forum. My husband and I survived his last prison stint of 21 months and he's been home for almost 2 years now. My husband is a non-violent habitual offender and a recovering addict.

Best wishes to you and to your son. Good luck to him in his recovery!