Did I mess up? I sent in two forms, one each for hubby and I, but not for the kids, since they were listed in the "minors" section on our forms. Are they supposed to have their own forms filled out??? (They are 9 and 3 yrs.)
I am also having a panic attack about taking them. I need some encouragement! Does the atmosphere in visitation seem safe? Are there ever any problems? I know I'm being paranoid, but it's late and night and my mind is racing.

When I go to visit my man at susanville. I have not seen any behaver that would japordise childeren. Their are always cos sitting in the front of the room. And the peopel are rather friendly. I don't have any childeren but I do belive you filled out the forms correctly and I don't belive childeren under 18 have to have a form filled out just for them. I belive all they need is their birth certificates and legeal adults. You should be fine.

JJJJ,

There should have been a place on the form to put the minors. When you are approved so are they. At least that is how mine went. I have taken my kids to visit and you need to take their birth certificates. I had no problem when I took my kids to CMC. I did not feel that any harm would come to my children at all. The atmosphere is good besides of course seeing your parent and loved one locked up and not able to come home. You will be fine and so will the kids, stop worrying and when its time for you to go visit, have a good one. :)

You're fine, listing them in the "accompanying minors" space is exactly what you're supposed to do and the visiting rooms, as a rule, are safer than your neighborhood park.

Did I mess up? I sent in two forms, one each for hubby and I, but not for the kids, since they were listed in the "minors" section on our forms. Are they supposed to have their own forms filled out??? (They are 9 and 3 yrs.)

No, you did not mess up. You do not have to send in seperate CDC 106 Visitor Questionare Forms for your children who are under 18. As long as you listed them on the form you sent in for youself you are fine.

I am also having a panic attack about taking them. I need some encouragement! Does the atmosphere in visitation seem safe?

Despite the fact that it's a "prison" the atmosphere is fine. Before I started visiting I had this image in my head that it's just like how they show on tv....scary, dirty and ugly...NOT TRUE. It's very relaxed inside and as long as your brother is not on Closed Custody then you all can even go outside.

Are there ever any problems?

I've been visiting at CMC since 2000 and never once has there been a problem. There are toys, board games, coloring books and crayons for the kids. The 9 year old may get a little bored if you stay the entire time. So after your visit you can drive to the "Friends Outside House" which is going to be the house with the swings set you see on the left hand side when you drive into the prison. At Friends Outside you can register your kids there (as long as they are potty trained). Once they are registered they can go to friends outside anytime they want. So for example the next time you visit, at about 10:30am - 11:00am one of the girls that works at "Friends Outside" will walk into th visiting room and you will hear the CO make an announcement "Friends Outside is here to pick up the children." So as long as the child had pre-registered (which is that form I told you to fill out) then they child can choose to go to friends outside while you visit or the child can remain with you. There are usually about 6-10 kids that go to friends outside each visit.

While the children are at friends outside they are all given lunch and snacks that consist of good sandwiches, chips, crackers, cookies, fruits. etc.... They also have tons of games, crafts, toys, swing set, etc.... so they will not be bored there. A lot of the kids like it verses staying in the visiting room for an entire visit. If for some reason the child does not want to stay at friends outside then one of the reps. will bring the child back to you. If you decide to stay your entire visit then they usually return all the kids back to the visiting room at around 2:45pm and visiting closes at around 3:40pm. This is just an option and it wouldn't hurt to register them there just in case. It is a free service so you will never be charged. Trust me, once you wakl into the friends outside house you will like it. It's a very clean and nice homely feeling environment that is very child friendly.

JJJJfam.........I felt the same way you did when my kids where going to go and see their dad for the first time 5 years ago. I did go by myself the first time just to see what the atmosphere was like only because I watchedo much t.v. and thought that the guards whould have guns out like that but to my suprise it was much better than that. I don't think I have run into a CO that has been nasty to my children. As far as the 9 year old goes....my oldest is 8 and there are times where she does get a little bored. They do have some stuff for them to do on the west side but there are times when we have to leave a little early.
I don't know much about the Friends Outside program only because I like my kids to spend as much time with there as possible.
Hope we have all helped you.
Take Care
Amanda

Thanks so much for all your input. I don't know how I would be without you gals! I am going to keep the kids with me because my brother wants to see them so bad. My 9 year old isn't easily bored since she loves to draw, and her uncle is an artist, so I'm sure they will be drawing the whole time. I'm just concerned about the 3 year old lasting that long, two days in a row. But I just can't put him in friends outside, I'd be a nervous wreck (he's never been babysat by anyone except family). Are the kids allowed to play? The 3 year old is majorly into Spiderman and loves to "web" people, which I know he will try to play Spiderman with my brother.

I feel so much better that you all feel that it's a safe place. And yes, I'm sure it's way safer than our neighborhood park!

:D