Hi all im a newbie here & i have a penpal in donaldson & i would really like some info on whats it like as im so far from my penpal..
so if others have friend or love ones there i would love to hear from you
regards Melissa:p

Welcome to PTO Melissa....Hopefully some of our members will come by and post about Donaldson, as I do not know alot about that facility...

Hello and welcome to PTO :)

Welcome to PTO and especially the Alabama forum family! :)

We have not historically had a lot of folks that have had much experience with the Donaldson facility here, but maybe someone will pipe up soon...

My husband is at Donaldson, don't know how much I can help you out but if you would like you can e-mail me at (personal information removed per PTO Policy)

hi ladyluck you have mail:) :thumbsup:

I have no clue how you read mail on here, I haven't spoken to too many people on here and I'm not really sure what to look under for mail.

I have no clue how to read mail on here.

hi ladyluck when i said you had mail i ment i emailed you at the email address you gave me cheers Melissa:thumbsup:

what exactly would you like to know about Donaldson? my husband has been there over a year. it is considered a maximum security prison. it is no better or worst comparing to any of the alabama prisons i have been to. prison is a world in it's own.

Hi Ladtluck
thanks for your email i just sent you another email regards Melissa:thumbsup:

i don't wonna make you worry but my uncl has been their for 13 years it isn't no joke i work with an attorney and been to servel place's nothing like that place the old saying to the prison "gang banger prison" no one thir is looseing any thang most are their for life but in ratings it is one of the worst to be in "in the state of alabama" and when you go to visit it is awfull what you go threw to get in and the guys down there don't care if your 9 in a female they are checking you out it sickings me my uncle is on his toes when we go and his daughter comes but if there is anything you need to know about the pinpal or anything let me know my uncle knows just about everyone their he's like grandaddyed in most likely that is spelled wrong

Thanks Heather
i sent you a pm regards Melissa:o
its so nice to find othesr out there. who are so helpful thankyou

hi heather anything you can tell me about donaldson would be great. here is my email address for you regards Melissa:thumbsup:
e-mail address removed per PTO policy

hi heather anything you can tell me about donaldson would be great. here is my email address for you regards Melissa:thumbsup:
e-mail address removed per PTO policy

the email address was blank

It took me a while to find you guys in this forum, but I am here!
My friend has been in 20 years (Donaldson 6 years now) for putting a bruise on someone's neck. He was paroled May 1st, but not out yet. Family issues are keeping him in. His EOS at 10/07 worst case.
Anyway, I have only been in the picture seriously Since 4/2006. I have visited 3x now. Long lines, witing..., and then the metal detector, being padded down going in and going to the restroom. I was shocked at what you go through just to visit. Last Sat it started raining. I hadn't even thought about standing out in the rain.
I have known him for 23 years.
I have asked ? in line with the other ladies waiting in visitation since most of them have been coming longer than me.
Since it is maximum security, mainly lifers or 10+ offenders are put there. Its no picnic, but I heard either Easterling or Elmore is worse. Can't remember which.
The prison just changed wardens with different stories on why. I have been sheltered from this life for a long time now. I was horrified to know what they go through on a day to day. My guy still want tell me hardly anything because he knows how I am and he had rather forget when he gets out I am sure. I heard the last time they had a murder was in Jan I think. That poor guy was paroled and ready to go home.
That one is still being investigated.My friend is the jailhouse attorney of sorts, so I guess they leave him alone incase they need help. He hasn't been in a fight in 9 years or so and considering his mouth that is a good thing.

I wrote the governor last month about the AL prison conditions and how I was ashamed to live in this state and pay taxes after finding out how our state treats them and my treatment as a tax paying citizen. I received a response today, mainly passing me onto the prison commissioner, saying he had created a prison reform task. Has anyone seen anything good come out of the task force in the last year? My guy says nothing has changed. Do they have any accountability?
I mean, the whole time I was reading his response, I was thinking, YOU ARE THE GOVERNOR.

The Parole Board is 6 months behind on hearings and they tell you that on the phone as you are waiting, so that is creating a backlog. Who wants to know they are serving 6 more months in he**
just because the state is back logged? They have 3 employees in that office is what one of them told me.
Anyway, I am going to put together a petition of some sort to send to he commissioner. More voices better then one.
Has this been done recently in our state?
Any ideas on what we should say representing the AL prisoners and their families?
I want to include something to the effect that our prisoners of war are treated better then our prisoners in this state. Which is true after what has been on the news.

I also want to say something about the fact they have no air or heat. This weather 99-102 degrees has been awful. I can't imagine being in a brick building with no air.
I have no problem going to see Bud Cramer (Dem -Congressman)and sitting in his office. I thought it would be better if I could show him I am getting no response.So I guess that will be the last step.
Need help from the veterans in this group!
I appreciate having a place to come and share since I also am a newbie.:)
Tammy

I hope your friend gets out soon. Did he have a home plan? Why isn't his parole officer helping getting him home since he has been paroled. About the letter your received from the governor, that is him passing the buck to someone else...I have also wrote to the governor, task force, etc...

Raymond's wifey:
He was paroled May 2st. Its July 21st.
He did have a home plan- his dad. He was denied- why? No one knows. I call and get different answers fro the parole board.
He heard it was because his dad is retired and draws social security. The parole boards says ss is okay, but not SSI or any government assistance. Neitehr one of us thought his dad was on any governement assistance, but neither one of us knows for sure.
He wrote his dad and sasked him to call the parole officer.
Then they say he needs a job plan. I called two weeks ago and found out the job plan was put as his home plan (their mistake), so they had to correct that and send it out again.
I called the parole officer, left message twice, and received no response.
He has written his parole officer, parole board, and anyone else he can think of.
He filed a suit last week. I have just accepted he will be in until EOS 10/2007.
I have a lettter to be sent to Mr. Segrest adn Richard Allen.
I am also sending another letter to Governor Riley in response to him passing the buck.
This has been a nightmare. The worst part is he has 3 siblings in town and none of them will take him in, not even his own MOm.

Hi all i am going to be visiting my penpal later on down ther track but i would like to know what i have to have with me like when going to visit him & what can you & can't you wear also how long are the visits at donaldson for special visits as i live in Tasmania australia.
how far is wake robin Eclectic AL from DONALDSON PRISON :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :p

hope someone can help!!!!!!!!:o

Welcome to PTO!

southergal, Keep writing letters...I hate that his mom and his siblings won't take him in. I don't see how they can hold him legally since he was paroled or even how the social security of his dad plays a part. It shouldn't matter that his dad is on SS. I am hoping you and him get out of this nightmare very soon. I am just a PM away if you need me.

mystical, You can't wear any white, no shorts, no flip flops, no sunglasses, no tight fitting clothes, you have to wear a slip with a dress or skirt. You have to wear underclothes. You can only take your car key, drivers license, and change in with you.

how far is wake robin Eclectic AL from DONALDSON PRISON :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :p