My husband is being transferred to Mule Creek and I have a few questions.
1.From what I have read here visits get terminated because of overcrowding. Does this still happen?
2.On our first visit will they terminate us if we get there early?
3.What time can you begin to line up? Do you have to wait outside in your car?
4.How long are they in orientaion?
5.Can they recieve mail while in orientaion?

Thank you in advance for any information!!!

If you go to search and then advanced search and type in mule creek it will have all these questions in there for you....there is a lot of good information...

Yes, the visit get terminated for overcrowding, my visits average about 2hrs.
My first visit was all day, they try not to terminate your first visit.
Visiting starts at 8:30, I don't think you have to line up in your cars... never been there that early. But you do have to line up in the visiting room. Sometimes the lines are long, sometimes short.
My guy was in orrientation for about 2 weeks...and I think they get mail.
If you have any more question just pm me or post the question....Vicky

Yes, the visit get terminated for overcrowding, my visits average about 2hrs.

Two hours is NOTHING :angry: . I would be driving over 3 1/2 hours just to get there. Does this happen everytime you go visit? How often do you go visit?

oh one more question....what is the address to write?

IF you drive more than 250 miles you can get a "non-termination" visit. I think it's once a month. And that's one day, not one weekend! Yes, you can write to him in orientation, but he won't be there long...a week or 10 days is average. The address changes depending on what yard they are on...try PO Box 409020 (that's A yard), Ione, CA 95640 Once I got family visits, I quit going to regular visiting. I was driving 215 miles, paying for a hotel and getting terminated every time I went.

Thanks for all the info ladies!! I really appreciate it!! :thumbsup: Now that I know what to expect I wont be too disappointed when my visit get terminted :( !!

Would you say that visiting is the same on Saturday and Sunday? I mean do they terminate as many visits on Saturday as they do on Sunday? I guess I am just trying to figure out what my game plan is gonna be. I will be coming with my daughter who is 4 months and both of his parents!! I think we are gonna go up and visit on sat and sun that first time.

I fly to California from Cleveland, Ohio to visit though I haven't been there since they reduced it from 4 days to 2 days. I never got terminated in the past because of the distance. Of course, it always helps to follow the rules and be really nice to the visiting staff which is easy as all that I have had contact with have been just great. I'll be out there in March and really hope that I don't get terminated...it's a lot of money as it is to go visit for 12 hours max, shortening it would be horrible! Good luck, take lots of quarters and ones.

Sat and Sun are usually the same... you can never tell. I usually get there between 11 and 12 and my visists last the rest of the day. I like it out side when the weather is nice... seems quieter and more private. Good luck

Thanks for all the info ladies!!! I called his counselor yesterday and she says he might be off orientation next week.:D So I might be there next weekend!!! I cant wait. He has been in custody since May 2005, so we have only had non contact visits!!!

I drive from LA to visit there once like 3 months or so. They don't terminate my visit both Sat and Sun because of distance traveled and more than 30 days thing. I don't think they will terminate your first visit.
I have gotten there early. I got there at 7:50 am and there were already people lining up in the parking lot, waiting for 8 am so you can line up in front of the visiting processing building. ( at this point I was number 20 in line). I asked the first person what time they got there and they said 7 am.
The vendor gets there around 10:30 to sell more food which is better than the vending machine. Also I always bring in my singles and not depend on the change machine in the visiting processing room coz I heard they do run out of coins and then its tough luck for you.
Have a great visit and if you are visiting A yard, the COs in the visiting room are cool for the most part.

I drive from LA to visit there once like 3 months or so. They don't terminate my visit both Sat and Sun because of distance traveled and more than 30 days thing. I don't think they will terminate your first visit.
I have gotten there early. I got there at 7:50 am and there were already people lining up in the parking lot, waiting for 8 am so you can line up in front of the visiting processing building. ( at this point I was number 20 in line). I asked the first person what time they got there and they said 7 am.
The vendor gets there around 10:30 to sell more food which is better than the vending machine. Also I always bring in my singles and not depend on the change machine in the visiting processing room coz I heard they do run out of coins and then its tough luck for you.
Have a great visit and if you are visiting A yard, the COs in the visiting room are cool for the most part.


So people line up in the parking lot and then again in front of the visitor processing?? I am confused. Oh and good thing you brought up the money. I totally forgot to ask that. So you can take in singles?? I ate lugging around $30 in quaters.

If you get there before 8 am people line up in the parking lot coz you cant line up in front of the visiting processing until 8am. (that's their rule) What happens is the people that are there before 8 am line up in the parking lot and then at 8 am, walk up the sidewalk to the processing to line up.

people that get there after 8am just walk up to line up behind those people in front of the processing building. Then the door opens at 8:30 for processing. The line gets long fast.

I usually go to the bank the day before and get the $60 in singles for both days. That way I don't have to lug my coins around. And they do check to make sure it's all singles.

Have a good visit and let us know how it went.

I just saw that you are bringing the baby. If you get there early, you can have them wait in line and you and the baby wait in the car coz it gets cold now. Then when it is almost 8:30 am you bring the baby and meet them in line.

Also don't forget the birth certificate. ( I know that you already know but I am paranoid sometimes and always double and triple check that I don't do something stupid like forget my ID.)

Oh, Ok now I understand what you meant about the lining up. Thanks. Good idea about having his parents wait in line. I always check and check again too. I would hate to get there and forget something.

All this is getting me sooo excited!!! This next week is going to drag on.

When my husband was a porter in visiting...about 4 months ago, he said Sundays were almost always less crowded than Saturdays. I agree with Vikkie, though, I always waited until around 10 am. The crowds were almost always processed and the wait was WAAAAY shorter, especially if you have a baby in tow.

Ladies, Are there any hotels in the area other than the one I found on the internet? It is the Ione Hotel. It has like 14 rooms.

Jackson is a bigger town and only about 20 miles away. It should have more places to stay. Ione is a small town, you would probably have more choices in Jackson or even San Andres, I think that is about only 20 miles away too..

The hotel in Ione is haunted. (so I was told). I stay in Galt and then drive the highway 104 for like 20 minutes. I stay in the motel in Galt only because they let me check in at 4 am and not charge me 2 days. But that place is crappy.

If I were you I'd stay in Jackson. It's closer and nice.

Do any of you know if it is ok to send books from amazon.com?

Amazon has always been OK in the past.
And about hotels, it depends on which way you're headed. I used to stay in Sacramento and drive he 25 minutes in. There are a couple motels on Power Inn Road, which was right on my way. Or on Folsom Street.

you are coming from Fresno? In my opinion, take the 99 to the 88 towards Jackson and stay in Jackson coz it is real close to the prison and the hotels there are nice. Then drive the real short distance to the prison.

You know I'm excited for you as if I am visiting myself.

you are coming from Fresno? In my opinion, take the 99 to the 88 towards Jackson and stay in Jackson coz it is real close to the prison and the hotels there are nice. Then drive the real short distance to the prison.

You know I'm excited for you as if I am visiting myself.

babypam-Thank you!! Everyday I get a little more excited I cant wait to see him. Time just seems to drag when I cant see or talk to him. I think once we are able to see and talk to each other on a regular basis it will make time go buy a little faster. Yes, I am coming from Fresno so I will try that route.

Ok I have a two more questions:confused: ....they never seem to end! Does anybody know if I need to have an account set up with MCI to recieve calls? and can I send him thermals and sweats as a special package? and is there a limit on special packages that they recieve?

I dont have a phone so I can't answer that question.
I've never sent a special package just a quarterly package. I don't know if they can get both in the same quarter. I always thought they could get one or the other in the quarter and only 1 package per quarter. I could be wrong.

I send food and clothes and cds in the same package. Usually from access coz they have chorizo and my man loves that and his refried beans. (I'm laughing)

Then again I'm new to this thing so other ladies will clarify this.

They can get one quarterly package.... which can be whatever the company you use offers and I think they can get one special package, I know atleast once a quater, maybe once a month. I've used Amazon and Bud plant to send the special packages.

:fb: :yay: I called today and my husband is out of orientation!!!! I am going up on Sunday with my daughter and his mom. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!!! I can't wait to see him. :fb: :yay:

As far as MCI? I had to set up an account with them. I was told it depends on your regular phone provider. I had an independent company, but I think SBC bills you directly. Maybe someone else will know?

Have a FANTASTIC Sunday! Good Luck! :)

Ok so I was able to receive calls just fine. I had a toll block on my phone and once I got that removed there was no problems. But what is up with that damn recording coming on every few minutes. Is that REALLY necessary???? And when did that start? I dont remember that from before. I mean come on we all know that that the call may be recorded!!!

That recording has been there as long as I can remember and has irritated me for that long.

On the MCI account issue. Just be aware that at any time they can place a block if you are not there when they call you to set up an account. It's best to not have an account with them because they place a $100.00 limit on your bill. FYI: I got around it by changing my number. =o) Not that I want him to go over that limit, but you never know when there is going to be an emergency and $100.00 is really nothing 16 calls if you are lucky. Good Luck!

Wow I never thought about it that way....16 calls is nothing. I think may already be close to that and he has only been able to use the phone since this past Friday!:eek: I swear everytime that guy comes on to say we have 120 seconds left I am right in the middle of a story!!!!

yeah that guy is really annoying. He makes us have to repeat what ever we were saying. Plus the connection on the phones is bad. =o( See you on the 12th. Have you already started getting ready for your next visit? When he was far away I remember preparing to go see him. It's still exciting don't get me wrong, but it's just different. I guess I'm getting tired and I just want him HOME! =o)

Wow I never thought about it that way....16 calls is nothing. I think may already be close to that and he has only been able to use the phone since this past Friday!:eek: I swear everytime that guy comes on to say we have 120 seconds left I am right in the middle of a story!!!!


:D That's why I don't have a land line. Can't afford it in the little situation I'm in. You know how you both agree on the amount of calls a month. Yeah right huh? We all cave in and run up that phone bill.