Do any of you have loved ones at Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Facility? I would love to hear from you. I'm wondering about your experience with denials of mandatory supervision/parole.

My son received a DMS in September. He tells me that many at that facility are being denied release (especially if they are in for DWI's). As a matter of fact, the newspaper at Mineral Wells ran a couple of articles which included information on the fact that so many of the ones sent there with the expectation of being paroled within the next year (according to statute) are being kept there at least two years and some for three years or more.

I would really like to hear what experience any of you have had.

Shatsy

My husband was given a DMS at that facility too. It was in April 2005. The reason given to him was because of his " affilliations " ? what ever that means? He was then transfered to south texas to the Segovia unit 13 hours away!! Although he is'nt in for DWI I believe that unit is handing down DMS' for other reasons that we are'nt privy to. I am sure he too will be transfered now. I just pray for you that it is'nt so far from home. Good luck.

Thanks for your reply. My son feels that he will be kept at Mineral Wells, but if he should be transferred, it couldn't be much further from me than he is now. I live in Indiana, which is 1200 miles away.

However, he feels Mineral Wells is a pretty good place to be--able to make phone calls anytime--wear street clothes--air conditioning in the summer--and sufficient heat in the winter--not too bad commissary. We're counting his blessings. But we're ready for him to get out of there.....period.

How much time does your husband have left? Hope everything goes well and both your husband and my son get out on the next go-round.

Good luck!

My friend is there and was just denied...also in for a dwi

Thanks for your reply, twsbabygirl. I'm sorry to hear that your friend was also denied. I've been told that they are really targeting DWI's--and that about a third of the inmates at Mineral Wells are there for DWI. Seems like there are too many being denied--some more than once. We can only hope that things will change.

It would be nice to hear more from you--how long your friend has been there--and when he is going to come up for review again--and anything more that you would be willing to share.

Keep in touch!

Shatsy

He has been there for about six months.....he is due to be released 10-1-06....this was his second time up for review...first time they gave him a serve all to his shortway which was 11-16-05....this time he was denied .....he is serving a two year sentence.

My boyfriend has been there since 3-1-05 and he was also just given a DMS on
11-9-05 he had a projected release date of 11-29-05 so that was very disappointing for us. This was his second time up for parole. He will be reviewed again in October of 2006. We are hoping that they leave him here for the remainder of his sentence because at least we can have phone calls and contact visits. He got a three year sentence for an assault family violence charge. I wonder do they leave them here or do you think that he will be moved back to a regular unit?

Anna

When my ex-husband (at the time he was my husband) was there back this past June, he said that pretty much everyone that he knew with DWI or Drug cases were getting set off. Not sure how it is now. The lady at the Gatesville Parole Board (where the final decision is made) is a real strong activist in MADD. So unless you can schedule a phone interview with her and really impress her on why your loved one or friend should be released, more than likely they'll get a DMS their first go around. When I was in visitation, I would sit next to people who said it was their 3-4th year being there and never caught any cases while there or at other facilities (not sure how much of htat is true...) but to my understanding that facility is to hold you no longer than 2 yrs.

When the inmate is released is he released on a specific day of the week?

When the inmate is released is he released on a specific day of the week?

No, it can be any day, Monday thru Friday. There are no releases on Saturday nor Sunday.

Thanks a bunch because I was thinking they'd release them on the weekend since that's the only time you can visit them.

When you find out the date that the inmate is to be released (you can ask the parole board once he recieves his discharge date) and then calll the unit and MAKE SURE that they are on the list to be released that day and t hen get there around 10:30am, and you'll sit in the parking lot where you wait to go visit, and then the person in the van will get your license and copy info on a piece of paper that they keep and you sit in that parking lot until they're ready to release the inmates, and then you'll follow the van down the street that is to your right when you're at that stop sign, and then park in small parking spaces and wait another hour or so until they actually let them out of the gate. YOu can't get out of your car, you cant sit on the window (with the window rolled down) the only time you can get out of your car is when the inmate is walking through the gates. If you talk to them, or they talk to you, the guards become asses and put the guys in the small building to keep you from talking to them. All the guys sit on the stiar ways outside the buildings to watch the guys get released, adn when they release them, they all cheer. It's cute! But like i said, make sure you CALL the day before they're release date to make sure they're on the list, i knew of a lot of people who got there thinking they were being released and found out the parole board made mistakes and they weren't getting released.

Oh and another thing...if anyone has a loved one there, could you ask them if thye know these two guys? If so, could you have them tell them it's URGENT that I talk to one of them. I'd appreiciate it. Their names are Mark Cupp (he goes by Hillbilly), or Joe Bill...just goes by Joe Bill. Tell them Angela Ashton needs to speak with them ASAP!

The facility is supposed to hold only non violent offenders who are within a year of their release. They CAN hold them up to 2 years, so I was told.

The problem is, it's a strong school unit, and many offenders are sent to Mineral Wells for classes, then cycled back into the system. Skip was sent there in May 03, and I did interview with Juanita Gonzalez. We did get approved, and he was released on a Friday morning (his projected release date fell on a Sunday). He was one of the first students of the new DWI class that TDCJ started in 2003. All indications were that TDCJ was going to designate a unit soley to DWI offenders, and I really kept waiting for them to announce it was going to be Mineral Wells. Skip did NOT finish his class, as his projected release date came up before he had a chance to.

Ms. Gonzalez point blank told me if she had it her way, NO DWI OFFENDER IN THE STATE of Texas would ever drive again. I told her I thought that was VERY unrealistic, as she or I could go out in our car and kill someone too, STONE COLD SOBER.

Anyway...it's not a bad unit. There are advantages & disadvantages. Skip said the place should be condemned for fire hazard...and bug infestation...I was interviewed & quoted in a report about the place back in 2003. I also fell on premises, and they did nothing at all to help me....(medical was called, and they said they could only help me if I was an inmate.) Skip still thinks I should have sued them, as we are pretty sure I broke my hand in the fall. I was the talk of the unit for weeks after that :) The place used to be Fort Wolters helicopter base, and you do a search on the internet and see old pictures of it. It's no wonder the buildings are dilapidated...it's very old.

Let me know if you guys have any other questions!

kath

Jason is there and has been there for6 months. We got an answer on his parole and he was given a serve all on a 3 yr sentence, he has 18 months to go but the kicker there was because they said a weapon was involved. There was no weapon, he is in there for assualt family violence but no weapon was used. I dont get it.

My boyfriend is in for an assault family violence charge as well. He got a DMS on 11-09-05 and has been there one year. We were told that he will be in review again on 10-1-06 and if he makes it out he will have served 2 1/2 years years of a 3 year sentence. If he doesn't make it out in November he will have served his whole sentence which ends on 8-17-07. Have you been to see him there? I like this place because all the visits are contact and also because he gets to wear "Free World" clothes and he can call me however much he wants or however much I am willing to pay for.

Anna

My Husband was transfered to Mineral Wells too. They denied his parole and gave him a serve all on a 5yr. sentence. He is being reviewed for his short wave date which is June 4, 2006!! He says he thinks he's coming home, but who really knows for sure. He has been incarserated for two years now.
I have also been told, they want to grant parole. It is a private facility(I don't know??) and they just get more money for more men!! It's really that simple!!

I have only seen my husband once there. It's been three months since I seen him last. He does complain that it is a bad place; awefull food, not enough of it,gangs and the violence and he just stays to himself to try to stay out of trouble,etc......

anyone from sanantonio and is willing to carpool and split hotel room cost, gas, etc.... Im me please

Can anyone tell me, who to write a recommendation letter to?? I have sent several, from our family, his friends, even his job that he has one waiting for him when he gets out!! None of which seemed to help. Is there anyone I can address it to directly, or who is his people on his panel of judges (sort of say), how can I find out?? And what else can I do to help him get home and reassure them he is ready??

He's in there for burglery of a habitation w/ the intent to assult. He broke down the freaking door. Yep that's it. He kicked the dude's door in. Wow, really something they should fear he can't be put back in society!!

Just need some help. I can't really do this anymore, he had to go to prison to learn to be a convict and to be angry!! And they blame his crime on that??? What is wrong w/ the system

Girl I feel you on that I addressed the letters to the gatesville parole board and two of the people on that board are Juanita Gonzales and Alvin Sahw I don't have their numbers in front of me but you can look up all that info on the TDCJ website. I hope this helps.

Anna

Hello my brother is in this prison and been there for about four to six months. He also got denied his short way this past January. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison and he will be getting out January of 2007. Is there a way that I can talk to him online? He also wants me to put his name and address somewhere on here so people can see him and want to write him and who know maybe meet someone. Does anyone know how I can do this for him? Please help me out. I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

I don't think that inmates are allowed use of the internet but I think that there is a pen pal forum somewhere on here maybe you could post his info there. HGpe this helps!

Anna

Hello, my husband been there for two years he got his parole there he will be release on May the 18 2006. He says it is a good place but there are a lot of gangs there and he saids he have to stay by my self also he don't want to get in any trouable because they will keep you there and add more time to you.

Hello my brother is in this prison and been there for about four to six months. He also got denied his short way this past January. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison and he will be getting out January of 2007. Is there a way that I can talk to him online? He also wants me to put his name and address somewhere on here so people can see him and want to write him and who know maybe meet someone. Does anyone know how I can do this for him? Please help me out. I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

Welcome to PTO and the Texas Forum!

No inmate in Texas has internet access, but you can always list him in the PTO Pen Pal Forum (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=294) and just maybe he'll find a friend through PTO.

Good Luck!!

....I was at CCA Mineral Wells from Oct 04 to Aug 05. I got a RMS, and I had a dwi conviction(3rd). The place is a joke, I was there when there was a riot there. There were no guards at all in that place for over 8 hours. Imagine that! You're right though about the DMS's that are taking place there. It is possible to go on your short way though, but it will take some leg-work. First of all, youu need to find out when he's under review again, and then you need to find out who the lead voter is, since the lead voter will vote first, most of the time they will just look at the previous vote. The only time it goes to a third voter is when the first two disagree. Anyway, find out who the lead voter is, and send them a letter. Also, you'll need to call and explain to them that you will help secure transportation, and also explain how much he is NEEDED. It's possible, I'm proof......GOOD luck, and God Bless:) :) :)

Does anyone know anything about the inmate that escaped from Mineral Wells on Thursday? I read on my local news website abc13.com that he was captured trying to hitchhike. Anyway do y'all think that this will affect visitation in any way?

Anna

I gotta few phone calls from a friend of mine thats there. He was tellin me about the guy that did escape ~ said they caught him a day and a half later. He said when it happened everyone went on lock down .. they werent able to go to the "store" or many any phone calls ... but he said now things are pretty much back to "normal" .. haha .. so Im sure everything will be fine as far as visitation goes. :)

Quick Question ...

I know tha guys can wear street clothes ... so to say ... and I know they can go through old navy to get them ... But I also remember reading about some rules as far as the clothes go ... Tho I cant find the post that gives all the details .... Anyone know tha rules and regulations??

This guy was an idiot. He had it made in Mineral Wells. The truth is he had just learned he had got a year set off. He was really pretty lucky though. Hes lucky TDCJ OIG didnt shoot him. He was involved in a murder somehow in Granbury a few years back. His brother is doing life for that one. Looks like he will get 15 more for the escape!

Unbelievable!!!!

^ Amazing what some people do ~ and more amazing what some people think they can get away with!

..... I've got one more question. I did find the post about how to go about sending clothes down to M.W. ... now my question is I read where someone said they can have up to 5 shirt and 2 pair of pants. Does this mean when sending a package that is the max that you can send at one time ... or does this mean in total that is all they can have while they are there? I didnt want to ask him 'cuz then he'd know what I was up to ~ lol ... So maybe if someone here knows??? :)

I think they can have up to 5 pants and 5 shorts and also like ten shirts. They cannot have anything that has blue or red on it. This I can tell you personally b/c last year when I sent my bf clothes there was a blue shirt that he had to send back to me and it costed him $9 to send home. I have the list that he sent me last year I will try and post it on Thursday.Anna

^ Very cool ... Thanks. :thumbsup:

I know his family has sent him some stuff .. so thats why I was wondering if all they could have was 5 shirt ... or they could only have UP TO 5 when sending them. Ugh .. So confused ~ lol. :confused:



/e looks forward to the list ~ lol.

hey my husband just got there at Mineral wells can any one tell me what that place is like dose that mean they are going to let him come home soon are not he is in there because of a dwi thank u
jessica

I thought when my boyfriend got moved there it meant they would be released on their expected date. Little did I know ... I was wrong. Although I found it conforting to know even if they dont make it out on the expected day .. they will stay there until they are released ... they will not go back to wherever they came from. Its nice there .. or at least he says so. (he spent 7 1/2 years in Ferguson before getting moved) They can make phone calls (just watch out for the phone bill .. and no dont excede more than 5 in one day or a block will go on ur phone and the only way to get it off is to pay the whole bill up front) They can have normal clothes as long as they meet the rules .. and the mail process is pretty quick ~ dont really have any real complaints about tha place. :)

Magiceyez is right we got a dms from there last year and boy was I devestated when I found out. We are now waiting to see if they approve his parole this year. I am praying to god that they do because he has been in TDC 2 years already. I called the Parole board today and they said that he is in the voting process I will call back on Friday to see what the vote is. Either way it goes they can't keep him past Aug. 17, 2007.

Anna

Hope everything goes well Anna ... let us know what you find out!!! :)

Gustavosgirl!!!!! Aug 17,2007 is the DATE HUH!!!! My husband is there and that is his final release date... long time away but yet so close.

As for anyone else wantin info on these DMS

After investigation this is what I came up with. The gatesville board is the one that votes for Mineral Wells and if you read ANY forum about that board they are the hardest voting board in the State of Texas. They are not letting anybody out.

**** note for all with family in Mineral Wells
Its winter time and they just changed the guideline for clothes. Be sure to call and see if you can send your loved one a jacket or clothes because they just started this new 3 month rule....

If any one needs any other info on M Wells just let me know. I am the information highway on this place because they are so full of sh*t.( someone has to stay on them)

Visitation BEWARE!!! for those of you who know the guards that are up there Ms. Woods is back so watch out.... she is on a rampage.

"After investigation this is what I came up with. The gatesville board is the one that votes for Mineral Wells and if you read ANY forum about that board they are the hardest voting board in the State of Texas. They are not letting anybody out."




^^ err, thats never what you wanna hear!!!! :(

Well guys I just called and was told that he was denied parole so he will be discharged on August 17, 2007. I am so disappointed he did everything he could: he took all the classes, he has been case free for two years and still like that they say that his good time does not reflect the potential for rehabilitation. He has been locked up since Aug. 2004. I feel so bad right now but at least when he comes home he will be completely free of TDCJ!!! :cry: :cry:

Anna

:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: Anna,:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

Girl I am so sorry that you got that news... I guess they are on a denial rampage.. My husband is at mineral wells also and the just notified me that they denied his parole so my husband will also be home on April 17th... CANT WAIT