I was thinking we could all write one nice thing we have experienced at our loved ones prison. I remember one guard in particular when I first went to visit Robert.
I was waiting to be taken to go in, when this guard asked me why Robert was still listed on the computer as a level V. (He had just come from receptions). I told him that Robert had been at a camp, and then taken back to receptions. The guard told me to get in contact with "whoever" to change his level on the computer cuz it would effect how many visits he got a month.
If that guard hadn't told me that, I never would have known, and never would have said anything to Robert. And it probably wouldn't have been changed for months, and our visits would have been screwed.
So, I thought that was cool. At first I was mad cuz I just saw the MDOC as being really unorganized, which at times I still think they are, but that guard didn't have to say anything at all. So, hey! Cool guy right? :)
Anyone else gotta cool story?

A female CO scrounged up a tampon for me when mother nature struck during visitation.

A couple of months ago, my son and I hadn't seen my husband for about a month and we were two of only three other visitors and when my husband came into the Visiting room he allowed my son to sit on his dad's lap and let us stay an extra forty minutes, extremely nice and I told him how much we appreciated that...My son just rubbed his daddy's arm the whole time, so happy to just touch him and hug him.

I just got off the phone with a "real person" at Chino,she went beyond the call of duty and did everything she could to tell me why my son was still at Chino and hadn't been moved yet .She was very kind and helpful.

Once when I wore a sleeveless top (not realizing that no tank tops meant no sleeveless tops), a C/O gave me a T-shirt so that I could still visit. Some very nice C/O's have also let us visit longer than the 1 hour we were allowed.

I have to say that most of the CO's at Mahanoy are really nice to the visitors. But while Var was in county , after he was sentenced, a guard came up to him while his mom and I were visiting and patted him on the shoulder and said he couldn't imagine him getting that harsh of a sentence. He told us he is nothing but cooperative so he must be totally a different person on the streets. He laughed with us for a few minutes and told Var he'd better not see him come through again and said how sorry his was about the time he got. It was nice to know that not every guard sees our loved ones as just criminals.

When my daughter went in labor we had no idea what hospital they would take her to. (The hospital they had a contract with had canceled the contract about a month before.) So when we arrived in Texas I made a phone call to the prison. A new counselor went out of his way to find out where she was, was she and baby ok, was it a boy or girl, and how soon we could see her and baby. He called me back at least 4 times with this info. Once to let me know he was still working on it. He was very, very nice to me. I had all the info in about 20 minutes. Some do have a heart.

It wasn't a Co but when i was trying to get my marrige license this Cop called all the Judges in the courthouse to see if any of them would sign it. She was on the phone over 40 mInutes. Also after 12 years of not seeing him and hiring a PI to find him he was in court and I showed up to surprise him and the cop there let him write me a letter and he gave it to me. That was real nice.

My son is still in the regional jail, he hasen't been transferred to doc yet. Just this evening, one of my son's friends went to see him and the co told him he wasn't on the visitor list. So, he called me and I called the jail to check on it because I knew he had changed his list last week. She said the change had not been made so she couldn't let him visit. So, my husband and I rushed up to see him before visiting time was over. He was pretty upset because they have messed up his visitor list a few times this last year. anyway, we talked to the co when we were leaving, she said that she had talked to our son serveral times and that he was a nice kid. That she would go pick up his visitor change before she got off so it could be fixed. In conversation, she shared that her fiance was charged with accessory to an armed robbery and that he's been in prison for 8 yrs. That he just came up for parole and was denied. She's been raising her 4 kids alone. I guess she was so helpful because she's been on both sides and knows how things are. I wish we had more intune co's.

i've had plenty of great encounters with COs and others at the prison, but these past two weekends have been really neat. i unfortunately got there right after count started last Monday. the COs know me (although some play the, "and who are you" game with me every time) and the CO in the control center said, "count has started, but...it's not like there isn't a guard sitting on his butt somewhere, i'll get you in." then, this Saturday we were the last ones in the visiting room and when it came time for our goodbye, the three COs all turned their backs and gave us an extra long hug time. the funniest part was that aaron said when they did his strip search and made him lift his tongue the guard was hassling him about whether my tonsils were in aaron's mouth after the long goodbye..."um, impossible," aaron replied, "we have decided not to kiss yet." :) sweet COs, they really make up for the crappy treatment we sometimes get.

There was a lady counselor at Western Ill who told us a good place to stay next to the prison, and when there was a problem, and after a month we still weren't on the visiting list in all the places, she fixed it and hand walked papers. Unfortunately when we arrived he was transferred 5 hours away and had to start all over with the visiting list! But she was very nice, and helpful. She made me cry, actually, after all the other things that had happened.

Finally, some good stories!
I have never had any issues or bad experiences with any of the guards where Robert is. (Knock on wood) I know there is always a "bad" apple, and I am sure I will run into one of them before Robert's time is up, but for right now, I have no complaints.
In fact, they always treat me with respect when I go. I know not everyone gets treated the same, and that really is a shame. So, I do feel pretty lucky.
I remember one time where the "director" of the camp Robert was in personally called me at work because I had sent an email with some concerns that I had, and it ended up getting to him. (To this day I have no idea HOW he got it) He wasn't SUPER friendly, but he did take the time to call me and try to answer some of my questions. THAT shocked me for sure.
So, there are definitely a few who do care.

Recently, my husbands and my visiting privileges were "permanently revoked." (see my previous posts for details). This ruling was extremely harsh for the violation. One of the COs who used to be in charge of visiting went over and talked to my husband and gave him guidance on the appeals process; she told him that the penalty was way too harsh, and that felt good to hear coming from a gaurd. She also said I could call her if I needed to talk, which I did, and she was so nice. We are in the process of our appeal, and according to several guards who have heard our story, the feel like we have a real good chance of winning. I know they have no decision making power on our fate, but it is just nice to hear that some of the guards support us, don't think we are horrible people because we made a mistake, and hearing something positive has given us some hope.

I am wheelchair bound and on Oxygen. My Daughter-in-law took me to see my son, Chad but, as we were being checked through, she was told she would have to remove the tank top under her long sleeved shirt because of the cross-back. The Visiting Sgt. kindly took me to see Chad and let us have 2 instead of the 1 hour allowed. To back up a bit. It's a 4 hour drive to the Prison and because of my medical condition and lack of transportation, I've only gotten to see him once in 4 years. This time he was in PC because he had been attacked so we had to make an appt. to see him. I was very nervous, and concerned we may get there and not get to see him. This same Sgt. assured me he would be there to make sure I'd see him. And, he was. I really do believe there are very few "bad apples" in the system and, it is sad that those are the one's we hear about the most. Thank you Jeni for starting this thread.
Wishing You Good Health,
A Happy Heart, & Love
Donna K

That was a great story Donna! I too believe that even though some Co's can be horrible, the majority are just normal people doing their job. :)

My brother was still in a cnty jail, and the inmates were allowed a contact visit a few days before they leave. My brothers contact visit was on a night I had to work and I called to the jail and left a message for the guy head over the jail to call me back, I was real suprised when the Sheriff himself called me back and he worked with me to rearrange the contact visit for early the next morning. That was very nice and very much appriciated of him!

Hi Everyone,

After one bad visit we had with a female CO. I came home and was cussing my butt off on the phone with Joe in anger about her and how she treated us.

The next time I showed up for visit another CO who is very nice told me he was monitering calls that night. He asked me if I was feeling better and that he had deleted the call for us when he heard it was me going off. They all know about that particular CO's attitude and behavior, they have to work with her.

They really have some decent CO's there, ones who don't look down on you or who still see you as human beings. Or maybe they just know that at any given point in time the tables could turn, and they could be on the other side (this happened to a friend of mine). And we all know Karma is a b*tch! :-)

Mrs. Joe

I WENT TO SEE TERRANCE WEDNESDAY AND WHEN I GOT THERE HE WAS IN A LEGAL VISIT. THE LADY CO SAID WE WOULD GIVE US OUR FULL TIME SHE WALKED ME TO THE BOOTH AND PUT ON THE SHEET THAT I WAS TO GET LIKE 15-20 MINUTES EXTRA BECAUSE HE WAS ON A LEGAL VISIT WHEN I GOT THERE.

At the CCA facility my fiancee is in, we have had very positive experiences with all the guards. The one this morning even told me, "Have a great visit with him!" when I went in. I talked to her when I left and told her I would be writing a letter to the Warden to tell him how positive our visiting experiences have been and how friendly they all are. I know too often it's the bad that they hear, not the good.


BG

I emailed someone in Tallahassee with a general question about Justice being up for review, and the next day, she was at his prison!!!

She got one of the big cheeses at the prison to speak with Justice personally that day and ask him what his issues were. The result: our issue got resolved like quick and way better than we thought!

Gillian

Just today, my Mom and son went to visit my husband and my son was sad and started crying and my husband asked my mother to ask a guard if my son could sit on my husbands lap to hug him and he said, I wish I could let him but there are cameras in here and we could all be in trouble, but he can get a chair and sit next to him and then he came to the table and talked with my son to try and make him feel better...That was nice and he didn't have to do that.

When I went to visit my guy last weekend, someone didn't have the quarter for the locker. The female CO lent the person the quarter. Her only request was that the person return the quarter to her just in case someone else needed it. I thought that was so considerate.

When James was in reception, I was still living in Florida. He had been in reception for over a month and I was finally able to get to California to visit, but when I arrived, I still had not been approved for visiting. I called the prison and one of the visiting C/O's approved my application while I was on the phone, so that I could come visit him that day. I was extremely excited and thought that was very thoughtful of her.

How great! What Prison was that? I think it would be nice if we would memtion the Prison. It may make those who have loved ones there feel better to hear about the good things.
Donna K

Hey guys-these stories are great!!!! We all know how bad it can get in there, so it is really nice to feel good once in a while. And these stories definitely make me (for one) feel good! Keep em' coming!!! :)

when my husband was first sent to prison from county it was time for his first visit (mind i tell you before then i hadn"t seen my husband for 2 months) well i called the prison to see when his visitation was and the head lady told me that his case manager had not sent his list in and that the lady was out sick for two weeks well after talking to the head lady of visitation she called the case manger supuvior and they hurry up and sent my husband a new form to fiil out so i could see him that week and when i got there i finally met the lady that went out of her way for me and i thank her for that so no all of them are bad.

My husband had joined the softball team when he first went in and had a game Saturday morning so I went to see him later than usual. They processed me and were getting ready to search me when they called me back to the control room to tell me that they were getting ready to transport my husband as he had broken his leg while playing in the game. One female officer instructed me to go into the bathroom and "kill" some time and I would be able to see him when they took him to the van. I couldn't talk to him, but I could see him. She went out of her way to try and comfort me as I was in shock because of the circumstances. The rest of the guards were just afraid I might create a "scene". Thankfully, I have had an opportunity to personally thank this officer for her kindness and compassion, rare in the Florida doc! There are quite a few decent officers at this facility and I have the utmost respect for them. They even feel the way we do about the "bad" ones, although there is nothing they can do without jeopardizing their jobs. I have found that there is some good in every situation, you just have to be able to see it!

Yesterday afternoon there were about 15-20 fanily members on line and about an hour and a half of visitation time left, when the COs announced. "The visiting room is full; you will be allowed in by number as people leave." Everybody knew better than to argue but you could feel the dismay in the air as people wandered out to smoke or sat down on the bench.

You could see the desk guys doing things on the phone; then, WITHIN ten minutes mind you, they had convinced whoever needed to be convinced to open up the other visitng room, and they whisked us all right on in there. I feel like writing a letter in appreciation- it was such a clear cut case of recognition of just how important those visits really were.

I don't think it would have happened if anybody had pitched a bitch- it would have given them something else to focus on and wrecked the mood. Our peaceable acceptance of the situation probably did more to change it than any protest ever could have.

I work in a Federal prison and I try my hardest to treat every person with respect. Of corse depending on what the inmate is in for (child molestaton especially...seeing as I'm a mother as well) may determine the way people treat you/them. I have worked visiting as well as the front lobby which is the two areas that deal with the public.
We all have bad days and I'm sure a few people have said "what a bitch she is", but I will treat every person with respect because I EXPECT it from every person I encounter. If you treat me poorly, that may not be your best idea. When working housing units, I speak to the majority of the inmates I encounter. Not only does it help pass the time, but it also makes it a human experience.
I understand things are tough for those who have loved ones incarcerated. Treat prison officials with respect and I can ensure you that you will be treated with respect. And once you are respected, people will remember you and go out of their way for you.

StefP346- nice to have you here!
I agree that if you treat someone with respect, then they will treat you the same way. Now of course, there are always going to be people who are rude no matter what. But all in all, it's a rule that should be followed.
Having a loved one incarcerated can be devastating for a family. And very scary if you haven't gone through it before. It's a wonderful feeling to go into a prison for your first visit EVER and be treated like a human being, and NOT the scum of the Earth.
I appreciate all CO's and such who treat the family of inmates like they would treat someone that they met at a party or something like that.We are no different then anyone else, just like you.
Thanks for being here and I hope you stick around!

Thank you for being here StefP346. Since my son, Chad was attacked and raped 3 months ago, I have talked to many C/O's and with the exception of a couple, they have all been VERY patient and understanding. Chad really freaked out when this happened to him and was put in PC for his protection. Well, PC is not a good place but, it's the only way they can be protected from anyone who would want to make sure he didn't talk. He was also taken off his anti-depression and anxiety medication because when an Inmate is moved they have to have a Doctors report. One C/O even let Chad call me to assure me he was ok and to let him know I love him and am here to support and assure him this was not a sexual issue but a power one. I did make it in to see him that following weekend. (Not easy for me as I am very ill and it is a 4 hour drive). But, he did calm down and his next letter was more coherent. But, you cannot deny there are some really bad C/O's working in our prisons. And, they make it very rough on the 99% of good ones. Let's here more good things :~).
Donna K

I've actually had several pleasant experiences and found many caring people who've gone out of their way...to date, the person I've found to be most helpful is Lt. Thorson (Visiting) at CVSP. Not only is he kind he actually returns phone calls AND takes the time to listen to concerns and explain procedure! :D

There is a few good ones where Tommy is, but there is one who stands out, she is always very nice and makes you feel good about being there, and she likes to joke around
There was one situation there the last time we visited, a inmate had got up and moved out of one seat into another, and she noticed, she asked him if he had moved and he got smart with her, she could've terminated his visit right there, but she simply took him outside for a few minutes talked to him and let him come back for his visit a very nice co

I need to correct something I said in my former post. I mention speaking to many C/O's. I have not spoken to any C/O's (Correctional Officers. I've spoken to many Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, and other official's and the heads of other department's. I also strayed off-subject in my post. I was responding to the post from StefP346. This is the Forum for talking about the people in charge at the prisons that have gone out of their way to help and make your visit nicer.
Anyway, I'm really sorry.
Donna K

I am a slimy SOB who took my wife down with me. When we were on con-air, a US Marshal, moved my wife to the back row of women prisoners and me to the front row of men prisoners so my wife and I could look at each other and be sort of close. That meant alot when it was the worst time of our lives. We wouldn't see each other again for three years. Since then, whenever I had the opportunity I always cut slack to Marshals...

My husband is a liver transplant recipient. The transplant team told me that due to prison conditions and the liklihood of exposure to all kinds of bacteria, he would likely not survive his sentence of 5 years 8 months at 85%.

Cowboy has been at CMC East in San Luis Obispo for three years next month. The medical treatment he has received has been unbelievable! The doctor monitors him constantly and even sends his blood screens down to UCI where he had the transplant done for their professional opinion. The transplant surgeon says his "numbers" are as good as a normal person! He was recently exposed to TB and put on a very expensive medication as the results could be deadly if he actually got a full on case. So far, so good.

The doctor has gone so far as to call me at home to advise me of my husbands condition when at one point I was particularly worried and Cowboy had told him so during his appointment.

If Gray Davis had had his way, inmates wouldn't receive anything more than an aspirin. The doctor at CMC has made Cowboy a personal project to see he survives his term. What a guy - I say a special prayer for him every night.

Since discovering this site, things forgotten are now returning to mind.

I was in this totally scuzhole county jail for ten months prior to going onto the chain. Let your imagination run a bit on what the 'food' was like and you won't be far off. One day I had to appear in the AUSA's office to do my 'acceptance of responsibilty' thing. Two FBI agents came and got me. One of the Feds was the main guy on my case. I have nothing against him as he got me fair and square. (he was one of the old breed who didn't lie, cheat, or steal) To keep the jail happy, they put on the cuffs and chains and leg irons and took me to the Federal Building. On the way back to the jail, the Fed says to me that I looked about 20 or 30 pounds lighter than when he locked me up. I told him that the jail was sort of an enforced weight loss center. He told his partner to drive us to a McDonalds drive-thru. He said, order what you want. I did. We drove to a parking lot and he undid the cuffs and chains so I could chow down. It was wonderful.

While on the chain, the bus dumps me off in FCI Petersburg for who knows how long. By now, I've been on the chain for days and look and smell like it. After taking a bunch of hours to get processed, a CO walks me a cell. At one end of a hallway are rooms with a half dozen bunkbeds in each. At the end of the hallway there is a wall mounted TV. There's a basketball game on with the usual yelling and screaming by the viewers. The CO walks me past all of this to the other end of the hallway . The CO tells me I'll be here for three days and points me to my 'cell'. Actually, it's more like a big room with a regular door with frosted glass and inside it has a real slide up and down window, but with heavy mesh on the outside of it. The 'cell' has two cadillac beds. The man in this 'cell' is a real old timer. Later, I find out he is one of the old Mafiosos from Detroit. He got the Detroit newspaper Fedex'ed in everyday. This guy was great. He gave me a towel and soap and disposable razor and showed me the showers. When I got back, he opened his locker and said take what you want and to pay him back whenever I could. I ate two zingers and some BBQ chips. He mixed up some Tang for us. I hadn't listened to a radio for months and months and he said to use his. Pure heaven. He said he liked to hit the sack at 8PM. No problem as I was worn out. At 8PM he took a steel rod from his bed somewhere, walked to the door and whacked it on the frame. The noise from the TV area instantly disappeared. It was quiet. If you are a con reading this, you know how rare that is. It stayed quiet all night except for the counts. I wrote his name and ID number on my leg and later my wife put some money on the books for him (he didn't need the money, it was just a matter of honor) as well as sending a note with my thanks and her thanks. Later, I heard the old guy was transferred to FMC Rochester where he died. May he forever Rest In Peace.

Offpaper- How crazy that the Feds drove you to McDonalds!
What did you order??? :)

Jeni,
Two Big Macs, a Coke, and Chocolate Shake. God, it was good.

i always get nice things done for me, the cos love me there, but once he goes to legit prison, i dont know if its going to be the same cause it sounds more stricter

During one visitation when I was locked up, my husband brought my little son, who developed a fever while there, and fell asleep in my arms. The rule was that if the family bought food out of the machines, they had to leave it at the gaurd's table and you had to go get it. But the CO brought my food to me, seeing that my son was asleep.

I just returned from my conjugal visit at CMC Saturday. When I arrived this past Thursday there was a woman and her children standing outside of the main reception doors. I didn't think anythingh about it other than she was first one in line for the Thursday afternoon visiting which starts at 1:00. I entered via the side door as we are supposed to when reporting in for a conjugal. The officer mentioned that the third party had not yet arrived and went ahead and checked us in. At the end of our visit we inquired as to whether or not the third visitor had ever arrived. The officer told us yes but that she had gone to the wrong door and stood there as she did not speak English. Although time was up for late arrivals he finally figured out that she was the third one and allowed her a visit anyway. As he pointed out, he didn't have to, but he did. We told him it was very cool of him. I hope the rest of us telling him it was really cool of him to let them have the visit makes a difference and he will be one to bend the rules in a good way again sometime.

I can't remember who said this here, but I really think that if these CO's received nice letters every once in a while, they would be pleasant much more of the time.
I have never had a problem with any of the guards at Robert's prison. They might not smile at me and tell me to have a wonderful day, but they have never been rude.
So, I dunno. I am tempted to write a letter to the one guard who realized that the computer still had Robert listed as a level 5 when he really was a level 1. But, I don't want it to seem like I am trying to "butter" anyone up.
(Plus I don't remember his name! lol)
But, it's a thought!

I witnessed some CO's being kind enough to be willing to bend the rules a little this weekend while visiting. My guy's new prison is pretty laid back for the most part, but you know one of the big no-no's (as I'm sure is pretty much everywhere) is not bringing in any cash, i.e., bills... the visitation yard is coins only (as was at the previous prison).

Well, these two families came together to visit their incarcerated loved ones and I guess it was their first time there, 'cos all the money they had was in bills. They'd tried to get change at a couple of local places but couldn't find any (it's a REALLY small town) and had hoped maybe there was a change machine at the prison but there's not. So when they went into the visiting yard, they had NO money, and there were about eight people at the table plus the two inmates they'd come to see.

Well, one of the inmates had asked my guy if we could spare some of our coins and his family would give me a $5 bill when visitation was over, and we obliged. Then they were trying to get another table to trade with them the same, and one of the CO's on duty noticed and asked them about it, and they explained what had happened. Two of the CO's arranged for one of the people to go ahead and go back outside to the car and get the bills, and go ahead and pay back those of us who'd given them our coins. Bills being such a humongous no-no inside, I thought that was awfully kind of them to bend the rules on what is usually such a huge infraction.

Actually have nothing but nice things to say about all the CO's who usually work visitation there - they got rid of the one who was a jerk and all the rest are extraordinarily pleasant and been really nice and one of them is really good with the kids who come there (and eight-hour visitation sessions are pretty long and boring for kids). Very laid-back and easygoing environment, I have zero complaints.

That is so nice to hear. Co's are human, even if we don't always want to see them that way.
I bet those families will come back with nice attitudes because they were treated that way! That's all it takes right?
On a different note, I can't believe they don't have a change machine there! Yikes! Would I have been in trouble on my first visit! :)
But then again, I was so nervous on my first visit that my hands were so sweaty all my quarters stuck together. When they asked me how much money I was bringing in I told them ONE BIG QUARTER. lol
That's great to hear Lys.

A CO once told me NOT to have my people on the outside write letters for them. The higher up staff thinks that if a convict's family and friends say something good about a CO, then the CO isn't doing his job. Dysfunctional thinking, but that's what I was told.

There's a post from a CO somewhere on this site, I'd be interested on what she has to say.

There must be some way to give public praise and recognition to the good CO's.

Interesting, offpaper. Says a lot about the dynamic of this whole thing. Sad! I too would like to know what our CO members would say about this.

Another couple of CO's I wanted to mention--from when I was in the county jail awaiting transfer. I was pregnant and my baby died in utero at 19 weeks. I was transferred to the hospital and labor was induced. I was so scared and of course my family could not be with me.

The CO was one who I had not much cared for, but in that environment she was transformed. She held my hand, told me stories of her own baby problems, and held my baby when he was born. She even came up to my cell in her street clothes after I had gone back to jail to tell me that she felt that the baby's spirit was nearby, and what a deep experience it had been for her as well. Another CO, who stayed with me at night at the hospital, was very kind, hugged me, helped me up to walk, got special permission for me to call my husband, and brought me food. These two ladies meant a lot to me and I wish I could thank them.

KWolf

The Chaplins on the units I've had to deal with in TDC have been great.My Best friend her husband was in prision when she had her Baby.I called and asked if he could speak with her,it wasn't 5 min. he was on the phone getting to hear his wife and listen to his baby crying for the 1st time. Then I had to move a 9 hr drive driving a truck by myself I knew my husband would be worried so I called and asked the chaplin just to let him know I made it safe and sound about 20 min later my phone rang.It was my husband he let him call me.That one made me cry....No not all experiences are good but sometimes someone touches your heart.

My son was allowed to call me,he's not normally allowed to make calls.He didn't even call collect, it was a direct call from the counselor's office. It was great to hear his voice and a big surprise for me.

wonderful stories!

I was sitting 8 days in jail in February of 2002, first time I'd ever been locked up. I was pretty nervous about it, not knowing what to expect, but the worst/best part about doing that little bit of time was my husband was in the men's cellblock not far from me. I tried and tried and TRIED to get them to let me see him, but no go, that violated every rule in the book. Very strict policy on gender separation there, married or not. *sigh*....so, I went in with some cash to put on my books (I'd turned myself in) and the next morning when we had canteen, I requested that half of the money on my books be put on my husband's, I knew he had nothing. The CO was trying to give me some kind of song and dance about not being able to do it, when another came along and said "oh yes you can, let this lady give her man some money for cryin out loud."
They let Eddy send me a message thanking me and praying I was okay....I sent back that I love him and I'm tough, it's a short 8 days, I'll be fine.
I still wanted to see him really bad, at least give him a message that I was alright or SOMETHING. At rec, we went down to a basement that had books and weight equipment and a pingpong table, and a desk covered with dust. I wrote in the dust "I love you babe and I'm doing fine don't worry about me". The CO came in and caught me doing it and I thought that was IT...but he just smiled and let it stay there. Eddy wrote back during his time at Rec. We quickly ran out of dust, so this one CO goes, "well....you're not supposed to talk to each other, but my hearing is only so-so....."and the next time Eddy went by on his way to Rec he said HEY HONEY I LOVE YOU!!!! hearing his voice was WONDERFUL....the day before my release, some other CO who wasn't aware of the bend in the rules heard Eddy call out to me as they passed the female's block and went ballistic..Eddy lost Rec that day....we both almost got in trouble, the nasty old bat. Eddy threw a fit back in his cell, I could HEAR him through the air vent...yikes...
Then one night, during the olympics, I was watching the finals in ice skating and the CO let me stay in the day room and the TV on an hour past lockdown.
When I was checking out of that little hilton, I asked the nasty old bat CO if she'd PLEASE send Eddy a message. She kinda hesitated, then said okay it can't hurt......I said "tell him I love him, I'm with him, and will wait, however long it takes....I'll see him in my dreams every night". She kinda rolled her eyes at me and sighed....I thought she probably blew off my request, but I found out after I got home that Eddy got the message, verbatim.

Now Ed's in State and he's told me most of the CO's are decent people...they follow the rules, but it's apparent to him that the catching flies with honey is a true thing. He is actually respected by most of the personnel and his requests are almost always immediately granted, because he's never given them a lick of trouble. I just pray they're this good to us when I take the kids to visit, this facility is NOT at all family-friendly....*sigh*

There are a select few and I do mean a select few at USP/ Atlanta that has went out of there way to make sure my visit is a good one and though I can\t mention there names they knw who they are :D

Eddyswife,
Your story reminded of something I'd completely forgotten. My wife and I were on the chain in a brand new county jail (I can't remember which one - geography became a blur after the first few). I was playing the non-slam it on the table version of checkers with this guy doing thirty days for unpaid traffic tickets. I asked him if he knew how I could see how she was doing. He said no problem. We walked up to the mezzanine cells and he explained my situation to a guy in one of the cells. This guy took his plastic covered mattress off the steel plank and used it to pump the water out of the toilet. Then he asked me my wife's name. He then yelled down the toilet and asked for her. As Dave Barry would say, I am not making this up. Sure enough, within a few minutes I was having a distorted sounding conversation with her. Somehow the plumbing was connected to a cell in the women's block two floors below.

Great thread Jeni! Good things come when we focus on the positive. I submitted a visiting form and was waiting to be approved to visit my soon to be son-in-law. In the meantime, I would go with my daughter on the four hour drive to visit, for the company and also to share the driving. I would wait with her to be processed and then I would come back after visiting and pick her up. One time when she was filling out the paperwork, I asked the guard how long does it usually take to get approved? She asked my name, said hold on a sec, and when she came back she told me that I was approved but I was not processed yet. She said I will process you right now! That was a nice surprise. The visit went great, and every time we see this guard she is always helpful and friendly.

while visiting john this past thanksgiving weekend, one of the CO's (dorreen) said she was going to speak with the head councelor about getting john moved downstate.

sande

I havent posted anything in here because my belief was that there werent any decent CO's that I had met. Well I met one on Thanksgiving Day. He was truly an angel. A visitor was hurrying to be the first in line for the front seat of the van (the bus had broken down). I had my 2 girls with me and was lifting my youngest up (age 5), when this woman rushed past me. I was going to ask her what the hurry was..Maybe she thought I wanted that seat? Anyway, just as my daughter was almost up the step the lady slammed the front door van on my daughters finger! I didn't see it and my daughter wasnt screaming, at first. I heard the guard shouting "wait a minute" just before it happened. I wasnt paying attention. Well when she screamed I looked at her like.."whats wrong"! and this guard rushed at me and opened the door because apparently this woman realized that something was jammed in the door (duhhh..my daughters fingers), and was attempting to open and close it again.

When I saw all the blood I screamed too! I thought for sure her finger was decapitated! and I wanted to deck that lady even though she was older. The guard picked my baby up and rushed her to central infirmary...turns out my daughters finger was swollen and bruised, but ok. I was so relieved but I was still upset. This woman kept apologizing the entire time but she didnt understand, I just wanted to comfort my daughter right then...The guard was upset at her because she was in such a hurry and wasnt following Prison rules (no visitors are to open/close the van doors).

We went back to visiting and this guard was awesome! From his professional ways, to his caring attitude, he showed me, showed all of us in visiting, that CO's can be decent when they want to be. My daughter was eating it up. He went to put her in a chair and she clung to his neck so he held her longer. He gave us ice for her finger, gave us a free Thanksgiving Dinner which was on sale at the Donovan Cafe for $7.00. He gave her icecream...

I was wondering when my fiancee was going to come out and he personally went and got him for me. Throughout the day he came to our table to make sure my daughter was ok. Later on a Sgt. and Lt. came in to check on her also. I was so happy that my daughter was ok, and that I didnt have to spend the day in the emergency room. That guard made my family's Thanksgiving Day a memorable one.

I didn't look at this CO as a guard, I saw him as a human being. He treated us like humans...and for that I will always be grateful...


Yasmeen

Yasmeen- that is one of the best stories yet!
It really makes our time not SO hard when good things happen.
Thanks for posting this! I am glad something finally happened to change your mind just a little bit. :)

Yasmeen, now that I've dried my tears for the pain your little one suffered, I want to thank you so much for sharing this story. I've already posted one and I know there have to be many more. The Sgt. in charge of visiting at Corcoran State is always going around speaking to everyone and the one time my son got in trouble for getting so angry because our hour visit was cut in half because I was not taken back on time, went to see my son and apologized. He also got the complaint from the Guard who wrote my son, Chad up for being insubordinate disregarded. Of course, the Guard found a way to take it out on Chad. In the long run though, Chad got moved to a better place and is doing much better. The messages on this Forum give us all hope and we need all we can get.
Thank you all.
Donna K

Well I must say almost every single encounter I had with any of the CO's on up to the Warden were very positive...I went to see a friend of mine and he was in a pissy mood since he had just gotten turned down for parole and refused the visit...A CO told me to go talk to the Warden since I had traveled with someone else and there was no sense in her having to cut her visit because of what happened with me...Anyway, I explained the situation and told her I had other friends there too and she let me call one of them out even though I wasn't on their visiting list...Turned out to be one of the best visits!!!...We just had a great time!..(well as much as possible under the circumstances)...LOL...Then when I went to see my BF there we were treated better than we probably deserved...Our table seemed to be a popular place to be in the visiting room...LOL...The inmates and CO's would stop by and all walked away with a smile on their faces...I am still shocked we didn't get asked to keep it down, or our visits terminated!!!...We somehow managed to not let a bad situation keep us from being who we really are...

Take Care...

As often as I get on here and complain I do have to offer props to one very anoynmous guard at the jail Michael is in. michael got arressted when our daughter was 4 months old. He had a court date when my daughter was 6 months old and I just sat through it balling because there was so much of it that was lies and he kept looking back at the baby. Well when the baby woke up ( almost all the way through the trial she just giggled) they made us leave.
So when the guard was bringing Mike and the two other guys out he stopped the line and let Michael hold his daughter. I had been on the phone all dy trying to arrange a contct visit for my daughter and he had overheard me when he came out to smoke. So he arranged a short one of his own!!!!

BLESS ALL OF THOSE WHO CARE!!!!
Vada

I let Brian wear his wedding ring when we are at visits together. He misses it, and I enjoy seeing it on his finger again. We ALWAYS remember to switch it back about 1/2 hour before the end of the visit. Well, about 2 weeks ago we had a visit terminated for overcrowding, I forgot to get his wedding ring back. The CO on duty at the desk was very nice and concerned, she went right in and got it back for me, no problems, no write ups, nothing. It was great!! Also, my ride didn't get there for 3 hours after I got terminated, and Brian was still in the visiting room, so we still got to "talk" and communicate, and no one said a word, it was great!!!

Michelle

My boyfriend has been in MS, CO, and AZ. In every facility he has been in, except the on in MS, the co's have been fantastic !

They've always been EXTREMELY helpful and have gone above and beyond the call of duty. After reading some of the horror stories on here I just Thank GOD that I have been so BLESSED to come in contact with not only great co's but just great people in every place that I've gone to visit.

You know, I can actually say the same thing. I'm disabled, in a wheelchair, and on Oxygen for a lung disease and they are always so kind and helpful. I'm just curious as to if your boyfriend can say the same thing?
Donna K

You know he never really talks to me about what goes on inside of there....If I ask, he'll answer but other than that he doesn't volunteer information. I myself try not to ask too many questions ?

Because I worked in the prison system, Jackie can't call me collect (it's a really long story). Occassionally, one of the CO's or another staff member will let him call me, on the prison's dime ;). Now the calls are VERY short, but at least I get to talk with him every so often. & it's always a surprise because he never knows when they'll say "Hey, got anyone you want to call?" so he can't tell me when he will call.

What a great thread.....Got me to thinking about one time when my husband introduced me to the Lt. in the visiting room and he said to me: "This is a good man you married; I've known him ever since I been here and that's about 12 yers. He doesn't belong in here anymore; he needs to be home with you." I was speechless and couldn't stop crying whenever I thought about it. Another time, when I was there to get married, I was escorted to Centrol Control by a Captain and he said "You're marrying a good man today M'am" and it really helped make the day more special and then on the way OUT, the CO who checked us out of Central said "Have a good day, MRS. Gentry" and really emphasized it ~~it was sooooooooo cool for her to do that.
My [favorite] cousin's son is a CO here in a Wisconsin prison and its fun when we're at a family reunion or just hanging out because I like to remind him that the inmates have loved ones who might appreciate acts of kindness that he can do! He's a pretty cool 'kid' and I've been told he is well liked. (So much better than finding out he is one of the insensitive or downright mean ones that's for sure!)
Care

that was a nice story. The CO's at SVSP on B yard are pretty nice . the last time I was there I was waiting for a longtiime for my fiance to come out One of the nice lady CO's came over and told me that my fiance was taking a shower and will be out soon. They are good about telling you things. Oh your story was a good one. take care girls

Beth

Finally...I have something good to say about a CO at my guy's prison, a she CO checked me in during shift change (1-1:30) when they usually don't do any visitor processing, and I was the first one in at 1:30, and other people were ahead of me! :) (They probably weren't happy about it though.)

I met a couple of COs on my last visit who actually came up to me and introduced themselves, and shook my hand. They said that Tony was one of the good guys and that they were glad he now had someone in his life who cared about him and would stand up for him if anything happened. I must say I was really touched by this as I've met some really nasty pieces of work there. These guys had known Tony when he was on the Row and they seemed very different to everyone else. Perhaps they had more compassion from working with the death row inmates.

My first ever visit I was terrified but there was a lovely woman CO on duty at the electric eye who took me through the whole procedure step by step and really put me at ease.

So, there are some good ones inside the walls, they just don't seem to get promoted to positions where they can influence the running of the prisons.

Rose

So, there are some good ones inside the walls, they just don't seem to get promoted to positions where they can influence the running of the prisons.

Rose
This is so true! I just wish they could speak out against those who are really corrupt and cruel which could "possibly" make some changes inside the walls. But, I suspect to do so would not be in their best interest.
Donna K