My husband is in Grimes for the time being. He was just moved there last week. Thankfully, his medical classification took him out of the hoe squad, but the new anxiety meds they put him on are not working. I'm 800 miles away and don't know anything about whether I can advocate for him with anyone about the meds (I so do not want him to be retaliated on by the guards); visitation (is there an application online?) and when and how long visitation is there. He may be moving back to the diagnostic center because of his medical issues, so I need info on that facility as well.

Does anyone live out of state and know what the phone charges are? When he was in county they were $17 for 15 minutes.

It's really hard now that my income has been cut in half, yet I still need to put $$ on commissary and pay for phone calls (it sounds like, from the boards, that I don't want to do the pre-paid thing from GTL) and it costs me about $500 to go visit. Needless to say, I've only seen him once since the fist of October and I miss him so.

I'm glad you folks are out here. At least it doesn't feel too alone this way!

I don't believe Grimes has visiting forms online. I think he will have to send them to you in the mail. Depending on the his classification, he will have either every weekend visits or every other weekend. Depending on the first initial of his last name, he will have visits on saturdays or sundays. The visits start at 12 noon and last till 4 pm. You need to get there earlier because there is a line in the car checkpoint line and also inside the prison where you sign in and go thru the metal detector. You will have to use GTL advance pay because as far as I know, that is the only option in Arkansas prisons. I know for a fact, that is what you have to do at Grimes. Now GTL will may let you have the first month or so billing thru your local telephone service, but then you have to do the advance pay. It runs about 6.60 for a 15 minute call. Thats not the exact price but pretty close. That is for the in state calls. I know nothing about the out of state calls. Yes you can advocate for him about the meds. I have done this and been successful with no retaliation toward my son.

Yes you can advocate for him about the meds. I have done this and been successful with no retaliation toward my son.

Who do I contact in regard to his meds? The nurse? The chaplain?

First of all, welcome to out community. It has been very helpful for me and I hope it will for you too.

You can speak with someone in John Byus' office about the med's. Good luck. The medical is contracted out and the guards and in general, the prison staff have nothing to do with it other than arranging transportation for medical visits, etc. Mr. Byus is the medical director for the system. You can reach him at 870-267-6330 or john.byus@arkansas.gov. He will not reply via email though so that route is pretty worthless. There will be no written record of contact with you. The lady's in his office can be quite helpful and are very nice to deal with.

If you have not already been to the ADC website, there is a online family guidebook that is worth reviewing.

Good luck and welcome!!

Welcome to PTO!!
I live out of state and the calls generally run a little over $10.00. If the phone is in your name and GTL deals with them as long as you talk to GTL and approve them billing the phone company you won't have to do prepay and also limit the number of calls coming in. I can only get 8 calls from the 13th of the month to the 13th of the next month. If I go over that I will have to do prepay again and they won't change it back. I hope this helps.

I am so thankful for finding this place where others have been where I am and have gotten through it (or are getting there). It helps to hear things from your perspectives because it seems at times he is given so little information... o then I have even less!

They are contemplating sending him back to diagnostics because he uses a breathing machine at night and supposedly shouldn't have benne sent to Grimes in the first place (they say they can't accomodate that health issue... you think they would have figured that out before they sent him there!). He has been sleeping in the infirmary every night where there is an electriclal outlet.

Being so far away makes it worse. I have a great job and support system here, which makes it hard to leave and move to a stste where I wouldn't be making the money I am making, and having no support system in place.

Welcome to PTO!

I hope they get your husband to where he needs to be. I know how hard it can be with little or no information. But, hang in there. There are a lot of helpful and wonderful people on here. And, it does help to vent once in a while.

I sure hope they are able to get him to the proper place so they can take care of his health. I know you can be scared because you have no information. My husband just got out of county not too long ago, so I understand.

I'm out of town as well and I haven't seen my husband since late Oct. I'm in college and trying to work all I can to take care of everything and still have enough to send him. It can get hard, the income being cut in half as well, that was a real shock. At least you have the support of people around you and you always have PTO.......we are all here to listen and help in anyway. Hang in there and try to take it one day at a time.

Keep me posted!:)


I am so thankful for finding this place where others have been where I am and have gotten through it (or are getting there). It helps to hear things from your perspectives because it seems at times he is given so little information... o then I have even less!

They are contemplating sending him back to diagnostics because he uses a breathing machine at night and supposedly shouldn't have benne sent to Grimes in the first place (they say they can't accomodate that health issue... you think they would have figured that out before they sent him there!). He has been sleeping in the infirmary every night where there is an electriclal outlet.

Being so far away makes it worse. I have a great job and support system here, which makes it hard to leave and move to a stste where I wouldn't be making the money I am making, and having no support system in place.