Hi all. I am new to this site. I think it is a great way to understand what the families of our loved ones are going thru.
I have a cousin who has been incarcerated since 1990 and I haven't seen him since 1988. When he was locked up I was fairly young and he is all the way in California and I am in Pennsylvania. I am planning my first visit next year in February for his birthday. Any advice for a new comer?
He is and has been my favorite cousin and I constantly keep in touch thru letters and the occasional phone call. I am so excited about seeing him. It is going to be one of the most emotional reunions ever!

Jewel

Welcome to PTO and to the Extended Family forum. If I can help you with anything, please let me know.

Hi Jewel! Well, you will for sure have an emotional reunion! I hadn't seen my cousin since 1989 and just visited him last year in prison for the first time. I was so scared to even go to a prison..didn't know what to do, the 'ettiquette' involved. And then before he came into the visiting room, they have windows, and we could see each other, and when he got into the room, I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands to see him! It was GREAT, 'specially since I am the only family he has left now. The worst part was saying 'goodby" :-(
Welcome to PTO!
lis

Thank you!
My cousin was recently denied parole. After the parole denial he was moved from High Desert State Prison to San Quentin. He is not in the best of spirits. I think a visit from me will be a good thing for him. I wonder if the visit will be a contact visit! I just need to hug my cousin! You know let him know it will be ok! I miss him tremendously!

Can you write and ask him if he's allowed contact visits? Or on the phone, ask him. He should know. If not, get the name of his case manager and call and ask?
My cous was denied parole also, last January.
That's ok, we still write. And I even brought my husband for a visit!
My cous is in Oklahoma. I'm in Texas. I try to visit every few months.
Not a LOOOOONG way like you are from your cous.
Anyway, get the info on the visits (contact or not).
let us know, ok? Gonna be SOOOOO cool to see each other!!
lis

HI I am also new to PTO but not to CA prisons. My husband and an uncle are locked up in CA so I have visited serveral prisons. Although I have not visited SQ my advise to you would to call the visitors information line before you visit. There are so many rules you have to follow to be able to get into the visiting room. There are many types of clothing and colors you can not wear. Money you take in has to be in Change only $30 per person and no pennys. Call the prison directly may be there is a way you can make an appointment that way you dont have to wait in long lines. Let them know you are from a different state they will give you priority. Here is the number for the visitor information line 1 800 374-8474 good luck!

Shadys ladie

Thank you for this information!!!!

I'm new to this, I too have a nephew in Lewisburg, I miss him so much, he's release date is 2/07, but he has never been in any trouble, maybe just the minor stuff, but I knew he had a drinking problem, and he got into a fight with some neighborhood hoodlums, and bullies, and use a nuchucks to defend himself, and nothing happen to them and they didn't want to presue it, but since we live on the reservation anything like this happens, it always goes to federal and sometimes like my nephew get the bad end of the deal. It's not fair, now he's where he shouldn't never have been, it hurts me so much, that this can happen. Now he's in lewisburg and I don't even know how that place is, he was in phoenix but was transferred, please need information on lewisburg. thanks