I have read that several of you have loved ones that have been in reception for 5 months or more. I was wondering if they are allowed telephone priviledges at all during reception? If not, how have you managed without speaking with him. I think I will go nuts, he has only been there two weeks and I miss talking with him so much. So, any info about phone usage would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi There,

My Honey Has Been In Reception For 6 1/2 Months, And There Are No Phone Privlidges. I Am Not Going To Sugar Coat It And Say It Is Easy Because Its Not, Its Very Difficult At Times. But Through Writing Letters Keeps Our Bound Strong. You Can Visit, Once You Have A Visiting Pass , And It Is One Hour Behind Glass. This Reception Time Is By Far The Worst Off All, But Keep In Mind This Time Shall Pass. You Will Have Good Days And Bad Days, Lets Say Its A Rollercoaster Ride. I Hope That Your Man Is Not In Reception To Long. Just Keep Strong And Remember There Is A Light At The End Of The Tunnel. Take Care - Heidi:)

Thanks for the info, I was afraid of that. Over the last 18 months we have grown closer through our letters. It is amazing the things you learn about someone when the only way to communicate is through letters. So, I will endure. I just hope he has started to receive my letters so he does not get too down. Thanks again.

Don't worry, just keep writing. My boyfriend was at NKSP for only 6 weeks before he went 'mainline'. He told me that the letters i sent him gave him something to look forward to. I wrote him a little letter everyday just to let him know i was thinking of him. Not everyone stays in reception for so long - it depends on the inmates security level & sentence time. My boyfriend is a Level II and his sentence is 2 years so he got sent to a Community Correctional Facility (just down the street from NKSP).

Hi my boyfriend has been in delano(nksp) for maybe a week and a half and like all of you i am to going crazy i miss him so much.He wrote to me and for some reason hes not getting his letters i sent to him?i write everyday.He has a 2 year sentence so i dont know when ill be able to visit him what does it depend on???Thanks for all the help!!


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My husband went mainline in 2 months at KVSP. He was able to call me within days of arriving there. The mail was messed up for about a week, but as long as you list his housing, he should get your letters with 6 to 7 days. Not putting his housing on the address will cause mail to take weeks to get to him. Hang in there - it WILL get easier. :)

I have to agree with the others who have responded.....both of you have to really put the effort into writing each other to keep the communication going. My boyfriend has been at NKSP reception now, for 8 weeks. Prior to that, he was in LA County Jail and we were used to talking SEVERAL times a day!! Always!! But because of this website, I prepared him for how reception was going to be. I now get 2-4 letters from him a week. It's great......we write questions back and forth to each other, he's described what his day is like, etc. etc., you know, to give me a picture of what it's like in there for him.
Also - he was in dorm living in the county - and he was ALWAYS being distracted by guys in there wanting his attention!! I tell him he's a "guy magnet". He's one of those kind of guys that other guys always want to be around. So since he could call me in county - he never wrote me from there - and I used to complain about it cuz I wanted a letter or two! Well now - he's once again in dorm living there at NKSP. And he said he's really working on setting aside time to write me, since we have no phone calls.....but he said it's even harder there, cuz there's hundreds of homies rather than just a few that he's housed with, and someone always wants to talk or clown!! So I keep giving him all this positive feedback about how much the letters mean to me, cuz I know he's really trying to make time for me, almost every day.....But I do write to him pretty much every day and make sure I mail him the stamps, envelopes, paper, etc....because the mail is all they have to look forward to. I learned from this site, that reception is the hardest time - and it's true.....it drags on - they're in a holding pattern, especially once they've seen their counselor and have been recommended to to - they're just waiting to go......and you can't talk. They have just gotten around to entering me in the computer for visiting - and told me today, that it will be at least another 5 weeks before I'm approved or denied, so I haven't visited him, either.....
So - the moral of this long story is......HANG IN THERE!! :)



I have read that several of you have loved ones that have been in reception for 5 months or more. I was wondering if they are allowed telephone priviledges at all during reception? If not, how have you managed without speaking with him. I think I will go nuts, he has only been there two weeks and I miss talking with him so much. So, any info about phone usage would be appreciated. Thanks

Thanks Jordanrae for your words of encouragement, I really do appreciate them. I have been receiving letters from my Honey 2-3 times a week. We too were used to the daily phone calls and lived on those for 18 months. This time has been very difficult but since he is so good with words and writes me everyday as I do him which helps a ton. I know we will get through this. There is too much at stake to give up, our future is far too bright. Although I can not believe how long it takes to get approved for a visit! All I want is to talk with him but I shall wait patiently (as possible). I sure hope it does not take months and months.