I'm glad to share it with you, I was approved today for 2 four hour visits next September, 19th and 20th at Livingston, TX where my friend Troy is incarcerated on death row. This will be our very first visit since we are penpals, we've been corresponding for 5 years.

The Warden's office told me that I can come any time from 8am to 5pm. Does any of you has advice for the best time to show up? Thanks in advance. Love. Catherine

I don't know but I hope you have a great visit.

I am happy for you. Give time before your visit. It takes them anywhere from 15 mins to 1 hour plus to get them out for a visit. I waited last Thursday from 2:15 pm until 3:30pm and didn't get my full visit. It is over promptly at 5:00pm. But I am told that it is better on time during the middle of the month. The ladys who work visitation are nice, and will help you as much as they can.

Thank you very much for the info to both of you, that's important to know that I might wait a long time before the guards bring Troy to the visitation room... That was totally different in California because you have a scheduled hour (i.e. 9.00 a.m.) and the inmate knows it as well and is bring on time in the visitation room.

I have another question: I know that you speak through a phone, is it easy to understand the conversation?... Since I'm French I have a bit of an accent :)

Love,
Catherine

When I was there in June, I showed up around 10 a.m. (on a Monday & a Tuesday). That worked pretty well because I was sure to get the full four hours but wasn't so early as to make someone crazy (who wants to get up at the crack of dawn to go to a prison?). The first day, it took the guards 50 minutes to bring him down. The second day, only 10 minutes. You never know.

Be sure, though, to let your pal know what time you'll be arriving & then stick to it ... that way ,they can plan & have something to look forward to. And, if their cell faces the parking lot, they can watch you walk in, which is fun. If you know about where their cell is in the building, you can even see them wave or flash a mirror (but you really have to know where you're looking because the windows are pretty small).

Talking on the phone is a little weird, but you get used to it really fast. I hadn't talked so much on a phone since my high school days. HA. The worst part about the phone is having your ulnar nerve make your two little fingers go numb from resting your elbow on the ledge for so long.

Another little thing, when you walk away from the phone to get a soda pop or food, don't hang it up, just let it dangle. The guys can still hear into the visitation room, and it gives them something different to listen to while you're gone.

If I can help in any other way, I'm just a PM away. :thumbsup:

Last time at Polunsky I had to wait for two hours :angry: and like you I had a four hour visit. That day we got less then three hours since I got there at noon, so I'd be there around 11am to make sure I'd get my full time!

Thank you very much Shimmer and Emma. I'll show up at 10 a.m. so to have time enough if they bring Troy within 2 hours... The phone thing is a great idea, never thought about it, thanks again. PTO is really a great site where you can meet great people :) Catherine