my boyfriend will probably be going to donovan sometime soon. I was wondering how long does it take to get approved for a visit. Are family visit wait times long? How often am i allowed to go? I was reading that you make an appoitmend for no contact visits but what about the contact visits? Im also pregnant is the dress code the same for preg women? Can you wear make up? Is there a limit on what you can put on as far as make up ?just asking cause it seems like they are very strict about what you can wear.I live about 1 hr away but what time is the best time to get there? would it just be better to get a hotel? if so which is the closest without it being to creepy to stay in by yourself and your kids. What are the family visits like? when you go for a visit is your man waiting for you or do u gotta wait for him? do you have to stay the whole time? if anyone has stayed till 3 what is traffic like?Is the staff rude and mean? If my daughter miss behaves can my man get in trouble for her behavior? Thanks for any info anyone can give me.

Some prisons are different but here is some info that pertains to most California Prisons:

The visitor(s) shall adhere to all institutional procedures and departmental regulations while on institutions grounds. Participation in the Family Visiting Program is restricted to immediate family members, unless a legal foster relationship exists. Immediate family members are defined as legal spouse of the inmate and the inmate's legal stepchildren.

Required Documentation Needed for Each Family Visit:

Proof of marriage shall be established by the inmate’s assigned Correctional Counselor prior to family visit being approved. A certified marriage certificate shall be required and presented to the Family Visiting Officer prior to each visit. A marriage certificate is required for both stepparents and the inmate’s wife. No Photostat copies will be accepted.

You must bring positive identification showing a photo for every visitor 18 years of age or over. Positive valid identification shall be one of the following. Drivers license, DMV Identification Card, passport, USINS card, military I.D. or other piece of governmental identification. The inmate's brother, sister, children and grandchildren (minors and adults) must present birth certificates prior to each family visit. Grandparents must bring verification of relationship prior to the family visit. This can be done presenting the inmate's birth certificate and the inmate's parent's certified birth certificate (the grandparent's child) to show family lineage. An inmate’s minor children visiting without their natural mother, must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor. Who must present a written notarized approval from the minor child's natural parent or legal guardian.

All certificates must be obtained through the county recorder's office and must be embossed or have inked county seat.


Authorized Property for Family Visits:

Visitors are authorized to possess the following items while participating in the family visiting program:

* One bag of clothing per visitor in paper, plastic or canvas duffel type bags. No suitcases are permitted.

* Soft bound books and magazines only (not to exceed ten)

* The visitor must provide washcloths and dishtowels. Bath towels will be provided by the institution.

Visitors with Children:

Disposable diapers only, baby powder, baby food, and formula may be brought into the institution in factory-sealed containers only. Children's toys shall be simple games, coloring books, colored or regular pencils, or crayons. Only searchable toys will be allowed in.

Food for Family Visits:

The inmate, through the institution, purchases all of the food for the family visits. All food items not consumed on the visit must be taken home with the visitor or disposed of in an approved manner. Nothing may be taken back into the institution by the inmate.

Special Note: Only prescribed medication will be allowed. All medication must be accompanied by the current prescription and is subject to prior approval by the Chief medical Officer (CMO). A letter from your doctor listing your medication must be returned with your confirmation. Any person(s) visiting the California Men’s Colony (CMC), on a family visit, who needs narcotic medication, or life sustaining medication(s) or life sustaining apparatus, must have prior approval to participate in the family visiting program. Approval can be obtained by having your physician submit a letter to the CMO or CMC to explain the extent of your medical problem and be in approval of your overnight visit to the prison. Failure to have prior written approval will result in your visit being denied upon arrival at the institution.



A REMINDER: IT IS ILLEGAL TO BRING WEAPONS, AMMUNITION, TEARGAS, ALCOHOL, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES OR NARCOTICS INTO A PENAL INSTITUTION. NO SMOKING ALLOWED.

Clothing:

The same dress code applies for family visitors as regular visitors when entering and exiting the institution. Undergarments must be gender specific.

The following items are NOT allowed:
Clothing for inmates, garment bags, or hangers, blue denim jeans or jackets (male or female), sweats or jogging suits.

Cosmetics and basic hygiene:

The following cosmetic items listed are limited in quantity as to what is necessary for the duration of the visit. All items must be able to be searched with a limit of (5)

1. Makeup foundation 2. Blush 3. Eyeliner 4. Mascara 5. Lipstick

A spouse shall be permitted to bring into the institution a maximum of (10) commercially sealed condoms. All unused condoms shall be retained in their sealed containers and taken out of the institution by the visiting spouse. Under no circumstances shall an inmate be permitted to possess condoms outside of the family visiting quarters.

***NO ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND NO AEROSOL CONTAINERS***

The following items must be factory sealed or in clear containers with clear contents (one of each) and must not contain alcohol and cannot be flammable:

1. Shampoo 2. Conditioner 3. Facial Cleanser 4. Toothpaste 5. Toothbrush 6. Bath Soap 7. Deodorant 8. Feminine hygiene 9. Lotion

All the items listed above depict those items that are authorized. Any items not listed above shall be considered unauthorized and will not be admitted into the institution.

CONFIRMATION

ALL PAPERWORK MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE FAMILY VISITING COORDINATOR AT LEAST 21 DAYS PRIOR TO THE VISIT. PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT CASHIER'S CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS. ALL FUNDS SUBMITTED FOR FAMILY VISITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. MAKE CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO THE INMATE.

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From our PTO member Cysreese:

My husband sends me the food list just in case I want to add or change something and so that I can send all paperwork together.

He sends the Exemption Of Family Visit/Temporary Community Leave Funds from Restitution Fines/Orders. It has the amount of money you will send for the family visit, put an x where is states "these funds are to pay for food during a Family visit (FV) At the bottom you will sign and date it.

Family visit menu order form for the food. Then there is a white slip that has your husband's/son's name and CDC number and all those that will be visiting. It has the dates of the family visit. It also has on the paper two boxes for you to check. The first one says you will arrive as schedule between whatever times is on the paper and the second box says you will not arrive and to please cancel the visit.

He also sends a pink form which is his trust account withdrawal order form with his info and he signs and dates it. When I am done looking over everything I send it back to the address provided on the paper with all visitors names on it.

White form- Names with visitors on it and if you will be attending the FV.
Pink form-Trust fund paper
Yello paper- Exemption Of Family Visit/Temporary Community Leave Funds from Restitution Fines/Orders.
White paper- Food menu


Contact Visits
Visitors may visit with the inmate in the visiting room or in the visiting patio area where approved. The
number of visitors is limited to no more than five visitors per inmate, including children at the same time.
Groups of visitors in excess of five may be accommodated only once per visit by means of rotation
through the visiting area. Such a rotation shall be considered a single visit in the event it is necessary to
terminate a visit in accordance with Title 15, Section 3176(a)(9) and (10). No time limit is imposed on
contact visits except when the visiting room reaches capacity. Visits may be terminated to make room for
other visitors as they arrive. The "first in, first out" rule is applied in this case.
Non-contact Visits
Non-contact visits are conducted in non-contact booths. The number of visitors is limited to no more than
three visitors, including children at the same time, for each inmate due to the limited space in the booths.
Groups of visitors in excess of three may be accommodated only once per visit by means of rotation
through the visiting area. Such a rotation shall be considered a single visit in the event it is necessary to

Here is some info on regular visiting :) Hope the info helps. On my family visit my husband is not already out and comes out afterwards and we walk together to the trailer but this might be different where your man is.

http://www.corr.ca.gov/Visitors/docs/InmateVisitingGuidelines.pdf