Well, for the 3rd. time, another year of trying to make sure that everthing is in order for the 1 packager that we can send our son for the year. He may get only the items that he was approved for, only things he can eat, only un-opened packages, sent only by a buisness, w/packing list and invoice enclosed and only 1 hour to consume anything we send. (I find this to be a little over the line)! :angry:I understand from a person employed at the brig that the inmates all get sick from trying to eat all of the good things that they cannot have thru the year in the 1 hour that they have w/the gift. I would think that maybe deviding the gift into a few smaller packages thru the season would be better. Also I do not understand the package having to come from a Buisness, :idea:As long as the rules are followed (only authorized items and un-opened) what is the big deal? What can you do for your inmate for Christmas?

Sheesh,....they are lucky to even get anything edible...at the brig I was at, that was totally a no-go. Food items were NEVER approved. :( The best thing I got was money, that way I could use it towards getting a cd player and for the phone (the two things I wanted/needed most in there). I know as a mom you want him to enjoy his Christmas and get his gifts, but when in the brig, the best thing, imo is moeny so we can talk to our moms.

No goodies ey, Well I guess that they like to pick one thing and only one thing that they can have for instance, The only things he can buy with his money that I have put in his account are personal needs (underwear, sox, razors, soap, toothpast, toothbrush, envelopes w/pre paid postage on them, paper, pencils, and to pay for any courses that he is taking). The phone calls are already on me (collect only @ $15.00 for a 10 min. call) so we talk about 6 times a month or so. No Items for him like a personal cd player. I guess I shouldn't complain but, he has been in for over 2 years now and it is starting to show (if you know what I mean).:(

(FCI Texarkana (low)) I can send books from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, magazine subs. or money, for commisary.

The USDB allows no packages of any kind unless they are direct from the manufacturer or retailer. The inmate must submit a Form 510 describing the item(s) in detail for approval before they are received. No foodstuffs of any kind may be sent. Books, magazines, newspapers, clear products (radios, headphones, etc.) are about the extent of the list. These are the guidelines for SHU (max custody) inmates. Perhaps someone with an inmate in general population can let us know if it is any different for them?

~Lisa.

My son is in general population and I had a calculator ordered to my son on 12-13-05 from Wal-Mart for the class that he is taking. He can not take this class unless he has the calculator. This calculator was $20 before the shipping, handling,and taxes. Once all charges was put on our credit card it was around $48. It was delivered to the prison on the 16th of December. They are declining the calculator , saying there was no invoice included with the shipment, even though the package itself had walmart.com stamped all over it and all the tracking numbers. When does a company ship something without an invoice? My son said when they called him to the mailroom, the package was already opened. Today is the 10th of January and he called last night to let us know the calculator will have to be shipped back to Walmart because of the missing invoice. He has to take the time now and write to Walmart explaining the reason for the return. Now he say's what was a $20 calculator will most likely be around $200, if and when he does get the calculator. I also in the meantime printed out the confirmation when the calculator was ordered, then was in the process of being shipped, then the delivery date and mailed that to him because the were rejecting his calculator. They rejected that also because it was printed over the internet. Go figure what they want!!!!!!!!!!

Karen,
That seems to be enforcing the regs to an extreme. Somewhere common sense has to come in !! If it's shipped FROM Wal-Mart, it has a bill of lading somewhere, even if it is the shipper's! Maybe we all need to make sure to let retailers know when we place an order that an invoice of some type needs to be included. That can be done although they sometimes get lost along the way.

My son is having a problem receiving a Spanish grammar book he ordered. As I understand it, he turned the 510 in right after he ordered it and the book arrived before personnel processed his request. They then held it for approval of the 510. During that period, someone in the Education department became involved and has denied it because it is not connected to any coursework. My son is not able to participate in any courses! It is simply an effort at self-improvement, which seems to me to be something the facility would encourage and not attempt to make as difficult as possible. Like I said, at some point common sense has to intervene. I'm sorry you and your son are having so much difficulty. I hope it gets straightened out soon, for both your sakes!

~Lisa.

Ok, Ive learned this much from the sending stuff to my husband at the DB. *Absolutely nothing can has a web site address (although they watch tv in gen pop and see them all the time/and they are founf all over magazines.) *When ordering anything, if there is a special instructions area/or over the phone, request and invoice be shipped with the package. * If he knows exactly what he is getting, them give him all the detail you can about the item, like model#, size,make, costs, where it will be shipped from. Have his submit this information to his CTT via a 510. All items have to be approved, so submitting the 510 will speed up the request. If they dont approve it, he has the option of special appeal for acceptance (takes a few days), or he can return it to sender, or have the item destroyed. *Everything has to come from the manufacturer, unless already preapproved. Thats about all I know.

I ordered some shoes from Nike.com and had them shipped. I gave him the product info prior to actually ordering them so he could submit a 510. That went well, however, dumb me, I printed off the "keep this for your records" receipt and mailed it to him, to let him know I ordered them. They wouldnt let him have the printed invoice because it came over the internet. For a watch, I went to Timex.com, that went smoothly, no probs. Then, I decided to suprise him with a new book. I went to a nationwide chain, bought it and had them ship it WITH and invoice. But, it wasnt preapproved, then was denied. Funny thing is, its was the basic rated -g, sci-fi, and they have a copy of it in the library, but still wouldnt let him have it. So he asked if he could donate it to the library instead of destroying or shipping back to the store. They said no due to "favoritism". I offered to donate some new board games and decks of cards to the visitation room, for the families. but denied die to favoritism. So I asked them, well what if it was anonymous. They said nope. I said, well what if you came to work on Monday and they were jsut sitting outside the front door. They said they would not be allowed in the facility. I dont get it..I was talking NEW, still in the plastic wrapper...its not like I was going tamper with candyland and scrabble. LOL.

Christmas this year: I was able to visit for Christmas, so I let him buy me things...hehehe. The first day I wore a new watch..then took it off, hid it under his candybar wrapper, and let him have the surprise of "giving" it to me. The second day, same thing with a necklace, and the third day, Christmas Day, a ring. (They were all pretty inexpensive, and all CZ and plastic, but it was the thought that count) Then for the grand prize, I let him win a game of Scrabble. I didnt even know we could send food! Dang

Lisa,

The Commander in General called us twice today, after my husband called and talked to the public affairs office and the commanders office on Wednesday. The Commander in General was really understanding and helpfull. He told us that he has had more than enough complaints about the mailroom and he would be looking into the future problems. If you would like to call and tell them about your son and his problem here is the number: 1-913-684-5604 X 8. They will put you in touch with the office that can help you. My son called tonight and said miracles happened today and he received his calculator. The lady in the mailroom was extra,extra nice to him and he did not understand why.

Karen,
That is great news for your son! And, maybe for the rest of the inmates, too! I hope they get the kinks straightened out soon, for everyone's sake. Thanks for the number! I may give them a call if he hasn't been allowed to receive the book soon. Take care.

~Lisa.

Lisa,
My son was thrilled at getting the calculator, now he will be able to do the assignimets he has to do to pass the course. Without that calculator it was impossible for him to continue to take the course. Everyday he was without the calculator he fell further and further behind in his course. As of now he is almost 1 month behind in his courses. Without that calculator he would of failed the course he is taken, in business adminstation. That would have been $$$ down the drain.
I hope that everything works out for your son in getting his book. I wish you and him the best.
Keep in touch,
God Bless,

Lisa,

The Commander in General called us twice today, after my husband called and talked to the public affairs office and the commanders office on Wednesday. The Commander in General was really understanding and helpfull. He told us that he has had more than enough complaints about the mailroom and he would be looking into the future problems. If you would like to call and tell them about your son and his problem here is the number: 1-913-684-5604 X 8. They will put you in touch with the office that can help you. My son called tonight and said miracles happened today and he received his calculator. The lady in the mailroom was extra,extra nice to him and he did not understand why.

Its the people in the mail room alright. They are a$$holes.
Once at my job detail supervisor if I could leave for the day. He said sure and I took off. I got back to the wing and discovered I had a package waiting for me in the mailroom.
Well in the mornings is the "offical" times an inmate can go pick up package. I did not want to wait till next day so I asked one of the wing guards to take me down to get it. I get it and everything fine.
A few hours later a person from MPI (Military Police Investigations) comes to see me and hands me a paper. The head civilan jerk off wrote me up for being "out of place." She said write a response then hand it back in.
So I wrote what happened and the name of the guard who escorted me to the mail room and asking how could I be "out of place" if a guard is escorting me around the DB?

Never heard anything back about it.

The mailroom has always been problematic both in the old and new USDB. The reason they were nice to your son was that they are being watched. Once the heat is down on them, they will be back to their old tricks. So the only advice I can offer is to keep the heat on them and ensure they do their job. They think they have this god complex and will use it to every extent they can.

Hello' everybody,
I read somethings about package and I was very scared aboutyou wrote.
My question is if I can order books on the amazon.com and if he need to write that books for be approvate in the 510 before I send.
I'm new for send stuff there at usdb, any information is be glade.
Thank you