Hey All,
Do they use these scanners down there in the States when you go to visit? Last weekend half the women visiting at the Institute we go to were refused visits and turned away for "suspicion" of drug residue on our ID's. I was unfortunate enough to be one of them :( Being as I have never been a drug user I was furious. After speaking to the Supervisor I was told to go home and "clean" my ID as it can pick up drugs off money, counters, anything it is in contact with. Apparently they quit using these for awhile due to the fact that the Wardens were even coming up with suspicious residue on their ID. Now they are back again. The supervisor told me not to stress it, the machine is brand new and very faulty. But still denied the visit. Come back next week.
Just another way to screw with families, I guess.
Anyways, just felt the need to vent..LOL

Shannon:pissed:

They don't use scanners at Powhatan, here in Virginia. I don't know about anywhere else, like in other states. Where did you visit?

THANK GOD I HAVE NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ASSININE PRACTICE (YET)--SORRY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT!

I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT MOST OF US HAVE NOT HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS SITUATION. I HAVE HEARD OF THESE SCANNERS AND THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT VISITORS WILL BE SCANNED WITH THEM. THERE IS SO VERY MUCH DRUG USE IN THE SYSTEM ESPECIALLY HERE IN N.C. THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO PREVENT DRUGS FROM COMMING IN

WE ALL WILL PROBABLY HAVE THIS BEFORE LONG.

DONNA

You can thank a scanner like the one that got your visit denied in part for the creation of PrisonTalk. My mother was denied because of a FALSE positive for heroin, methamphetamines & marijuana. She doesn't even know what they look like.. and she had NO recourse..
The Feds use these quite a bit and they are very apt to falsing!

David

Apparently I tested quite high for cocaine of all things. The sad thing is that I have never done coke in my life. My man has been 5 years free of coke but having me test positive on this idiot machine has caused both of us untold grief and worry. He went right to his CO and demanded weekly urinalysis and even "dry-celling" to prove he is drug free.
It is a horrible feeling to be accused of something you have not done, but because of your love for an inmate you are automatically suspect. Nothing will stop my visits.I have been told to come back with clean ID and I will. I am even ready for the strip search with a quick reply of " Please put on some music so I can get into the mood".LOL

These machines suck.


Shannon

:confused: these ion scanners are chairs you sit in and they detect drugs in your system???? how/what in the hell??? i'm so confused!?!?!

April, no, they are in a box located outside the control room (here in Florida) you punch in your PIN number and then place your hand in the box and it scans your hand. That is how they assure that it is you visiting, not someone else using your PIN card.

oh phew @ goody's girl. i was starting to wonder! i'm thinking off all the LEGAL meds i'm on! lol *hugs*

You've got to stick your hand in a box & punch in a pin for visitation? Geez, next thing you know you're going to have to submit to an optic scan each time.

It amazes me as I read more posts about visitation & the processes we go through to see our loved 1's!! What crazy things they think up to keep us away from them, you know?

You know now it makes me wonder if when they checked out my ID if they ran it under that scanner. I gave it to them along w/my SS card, since they were taking forever w/it I sat back down.

Diona

:confused: i guess i am still lost....how can a palm print reader detect drugs in someone's system??? (referring to Shan & Kev and Fed-X's post). sorry, folks, i'm a virgin to the prison system and horribly naive! *hugs*

Sherri, that's a good way of putting it 'assasin practice' LOL.
I walk through the metal detector thingie and the make you shake your shoes but that's it. I had money in my pocket and didn't know it until after the visit. They could have took that since you're not allowed to take cash money inside visitation.

I've read somewhere that if you wash your hands wrist and arms (surgical scouring) that the ion scanner won't give off as many false positives. SO I guess if you wash your ID card it may help.

THE WORST I HAVEHAD TO ENDURE IS ME AND THE KIDS HAD TO GET OUT OF OUR TRUCK AND LET A GERMAN SHEPHERD WANDER AROUND SNIFFING --OF COURSE THIS USED UP OVER 30 MINUTES OF VISITATION TIME!

where I went they made you take your shoes off so they could check. no money but a system debit card you could put $ on before you went in plus a serious pat-down. She didn't even buy me dinner first. Just think what the guys have to go through!!

Here in Florida they make you remove your shoes, then they pick them up and check the inside of them. The women have to shake out their bras and then you get patted down. The only time anything different has happened was once I wore a new bra (forgot about the underwire thing) and the metal detector went off when I went through it. So I had to remove my shirt in a little private room to make sure I wasn't carrying a concealed weapon.

OK- NOW YOU GUYS ARE SCARING ME-I HAVEN'T VISITED JAY YET- AND I'M SEEING ALL THAT I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO!! I WISH ONE OF YOU GUYS COULD COME WITH ME- I HATE THE FACT I HAVE TO GO ALONE!!!! :)

Jennifer, If I were closer to you, I would definitely go with you. It really isn't that bad. When you get there (and it may be different in Wisconsin) you just put in your pin number, then have your hand scanned, go through the metal detector and a quick pat down and you're in. Sounds worse than it actually is. Let us know how it goes.

I never even had a pin or anything. They just eyeblled my id & ss card, plugged me in while I filled out a little form & in I went to get searched. It's not bad!

It's the same for me at the prison hubby's at Goody's, but my underwire never sets the machine off.

well i have never had to go though any of that. they just put a wand ( portable metal detector) over you and that is it.. no pat down no nothing.. they cool with visits where anthony is at. I guess i do it better on some level, even being in TEXAS.. imagine that.. :)

It sounds like Fed visitation is waaaaay easier!

For FCI Lompoc:

- hand in our form w/ ID
- remove shoes & jacket and put in on the xray machine
- place all money (no more than $20 in ziplock bag), cigs (unopened pack), jewelry, belt & keys into a bowl that is handed to the guard
- walk through the metal detector
- get the wrist stamped (alternates each day)
- sign the visitor log book

They do shake the shoes & check the jacket pockets. Thank gosh I've never had the detector go off cuz of the wire in my bra!

Here is the procedure here for anyone interested:
You go in through the first checkpoint (gatehouse). You show two pieces of ID, which they scan with this machine and they also "vacume" you with some sort of thing with a filter on it.
Scares the hell outta little children. You then go through this walk through scanner and then assume the position arms straight out and legs spread and let them wand you.IF you are lucky, you are then directed to the main visiting area in another building. If you are unlucky, you are subjected to the dog that is untrained and skittish and possibly a strip search.
Once inside the other building you sign in all over again. It can take around one and a half hours away from your visit depending on how slow they are doing it all.
I am so used to it now I don't even seem to be aware of what is happening around me.
BY the way, Kevin told me that they turned away approx 25 people in the last week due to the scanner. Apparently the Inmate Committee is getting involved now due to the fact so many Mothers, etc travel for hours or even days to see their Sons and are turned away due to this new "miracle machine".
As I said before, just one more way for them to yank chains.

Shannon

Jennifer I know how you feel. During my first visit with Steven I brought my sister with me who is under 18. People under 18 don't have to be on the visiting list but have to have a letter of consent to visit from a parent or guardian. After that first visit I was fine I have been going by myself ever since. You'll get used to it after a while.

I feel soooo bad for you guys that you have to go through all that!

I thank my lucky stars that the hardest things about our visits is the money (expenses) & the drive (3.5 hrs).

Yeah me too Carla. All I get is a pat down and shakin of the shoes. I guess I have to count my blessings!

Darn! I don't even get a pat down!

I've been pretty lonely these past few months, kinda wishin' I could get one! :haha:

vnv....you nut! lol "and she didn't even buy me dinner first" xo

hahahahah carla!

Sherri, Where in NC did this happen? Even though I can't visit my sweetie right now, I'm sure glad I haven't had to endure anything like this.

Has everyone heard what the government has come up with concerning Driver's License? The new Smart Card? It is pretty scary!!!!!

NEVER HEARD OF THE SMART CARD- WHAT IS IT?

Isn't that where they put a magnetic stripe on the back of DL's which contain all your info including warrants? How long before your entire life is read off your thumbprint? Pay for everything w/ a print? talk about cookies!! The possibilities are endless and scary! Just my 2 cents...

You know what...I have a friend in TX that mentioned that they changed the licenses over to having their thumbprints on them, can you believe it?

vnv...
I agree it's way too scary!!

I read an article in People magazine a couple months back regarding chips that they are going to implant in people. They are doing it already for medical reasons, kinda like a Medic Alert thing? BUt my first thought was " Oh my God...how far are they gonna take THIS?"
Big brother is watching....always.


Shannon

LOL @ Carla

Just my paranoid way of thinking but you know all those shots the hospital requires every baby to have?? (Those ID chips are implanted in your pets by injection.) I know! I know! I'm being silly. If anyone were really on that there wouldn't be any "America's Most Wanted" LOL

They are also using the chips in Alzheimer patients. It's a voluntary procedure. The information that's programmed is their name/addy/ph #, any medical conditions, drs name/number, family/friend contact info, blood type, any medications being taken.

I think they are a good idea.

eeeeeek! the day the govenment starts microchipping citizens is the day my fat butt is running for canada or sweden or holland!!!! i hate the thought of that. *shiver*

I don't think the Gov't will. And if they do, I'm running someplace warmer aprilcat. :)

I agree w/you both...too scary of a thought!!

If that happens, then The Running Man isn't too far behind! eeek!

RENEE- IT HAPPENED AT BROWN CREEK IN POLKTON- I THINK SOMEONE HAD SMUGGLED SOME DRUGS IN THE WEEK BEFORE OR SOMETHING

that is true that texas has our thumb prints on file you can not see them on your license. Cali has you give them a thumb print too! It is scary..

Shortie - makes you wonder exactly what information they encoded on the strip on the back of the Calif. DL.

Yeah it does Texas Has the strip too. I know they can pull up your record with that strip.. In cali you can cash a check by swiping your driver licenses in the atm strip reader. it populates all your info into there computer.

Geez you guys have to go through so much! Are they with the Feds???

I know at the San Diego MCC (fed facility) they have the metal detector & ion scanner. I don't know if any fed facility goes through the extreme lengths above & beyond that.

You have to go through a lot for a visit.

In Arizona its fairly quick 30 to 45 min to get in. In the year and a half I've been visiting, I have only seen one person strip searched, and she had already gotten in. A female CO took her in the bathroom and then the girl left. The CO found Chapstick and lip-liner. I'll be damned if I would lose my visits over some make-up.

lizbeth

LOL @ lizbeth yeah that wouldn't be worth it.