Good morning friends!

I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to the classification system in Michigan.

I received a letter from my son who is presently in the intake process in a Class V prison..

He writes that he is going to a Class I, so I can assume that the classifications are:

Class I, II, III, IV, V

What does this mean, I am hoping this is the least restrictive environment but I am not sure...

I have not been able to gather this information from the MDOC website..

Thanks in advance to anyone who has the answers..

Hugs,

Jodi

Is class the same thing as level? I am pretty sure there are 5 levels in Michigan, with I being the least security. Is your son at RGC in Jackson? Thats where my boyfriend is currently waiting to go to TRV in Coldwater. I think RGC is all levels since all prisoners go through there. How long has your son been waiting?

CLASS IS THE SAME AS LEVEL..... SO GLAD YOU GIRLS ARE POSTING IN MICHIGAN..... FIND OUT ALL YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR STATE DOC AND POST IT HERE.... IT WILL HELP MANY.

LOVE YA
DONNA

Hi, Jodi.
I am so sorry that your family is going through all this. My bf is in MDOC's TLC right now, so I've done a lot of research. I'll just share with you the way I understand it works...but any of you, please feel free to correct me if you've had experience differently.
All Michigan male prisoners go to Egeler in Jackson for receptions now, and while there it's decided what level prison they'll be sent to, Levels 1-6. After a level is assigned, supposedly MDOC looks at the prisoner's educational and other needs (alcohol classes, etc.) and determines which of the facilities in that Level will be best for him.
There are only one L 6 and six L 5 prisons. Levels 4-6 are basically treated as seg, with one hour a day allowed for yard. L 3 is being eliminated. L 2 is often used for nonviolent prisoners just because they have a long sentence, and it is the step-down from L 4 for those prisoners getting ready for release; it can be bad in that some of thoe step-downers are violent, but good in that they have two men to a cell, as opposed to L 1, which always has six men in each cell.
There are actually two levels within Level 1. Some Level 1 prisons are just plain Level 1 while some are also tagged Secure Level 1; sex offenders can only be housed at Secure Level 1 and above (though Secure L 1's are certainly not just for sex offenders). Here's a list of L 1 prisons.
LEVEL 1
Chippewa in Kincheloe, Region 1
Marquette Branch Prison in Marquette, Region 1
Saginaw C. F. in Freeland, Region 1
Bellamy Creek C. F. in Ionia, Region 2
Ernest C. Brooks C. F. in Muskegon, Region 2
Carson City C. F. in Carson City, Region 2
Lakeland C. F. in Coldwater, Region 2
G. Robert Cotton C. F. in Jackson, Region 3
Gus Harrison C. F. in Adrian, Region 3
Macomb C. F. in New Haven, Region 3
LEVEL 1/SECURE LEVEL 1
Hiawatha C. F. in Kincheloe, Region 1
Pugsley C. F. in Kingsley, Region 1
Straits C. F. in Kincheloe, Region 1
Florence Crane C. F. in Coldwater, Region 2
Deerfield C. F. in Ionia, Region 2
Mid-Michigan C. F., Region 2
Pine River C. F. in St. Louis (Gratiot), Region 2
West Shoreline C. F. in Muskegon, Region 2
Cooper Street C. F. in Jackson, Region 3
Parnall C. F. in Jackson, Region 3
Parr Highway C. F. in Adrian, Region 3

You probably already know that you can track him on OTIS every day to see if he got moved, at: http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2.html

Your son can receive mail, pictures, books, etc. while still in Receptions--when he's moved any mail will be forwarded. It's good that he's going into the lowest level; he'll have more freedoms and visitation that way.

Sorry about the length of the message--hope it's the info you were looking for. My best to both of you.

Hey! Great info!!! I have a question now. :)
I talked to my b/f today, he is still at RGC, should be transferred to Camp Branch either this Thursday or next (thank GOD!) and he told me that the DOC is changing all the prison phones over to Sprint. Now, what is that going to mean for us? My long distance carrier is MCI, and I have heard horror stories about Sprint. Does this mean that once they are all Sprint, that I will have to pay for a certain amount of time before he calls, and then once that time runs out, I get blocked until I pay more? I am kind of confused about all of this! Thanks for your help!

Marquette is also a reception centerlike Jackson, but is mostly for folks from the U. P. My experience with MDOC is that they cannot get books and can only get pictures if they are not poloroid and are no larger than 4 by 6.

In answer to the telephone question go to the Evercom web site and check out Correctional Billing Services. Sprint is contracting with them for Michigan now and is slowly taking over all the prisons in Michigan if I understand it right.....This web site will tell you about the services they offer---keep in mind that Michigan only does the pre pay thing or our phones get a block on them. I wish we had the calling card or our husbands could call us on cell phones. That's be really nice and cheaper.

Deb

Hi. I didn't realize there was another reception center in the U.P. That's good to know, Debi.
I'm on the prepay deal with CBS just to be safe, Jeni--Ameritech tells me no one will HAVE to do the prepay thing. Ameritech is a "billing agent" for the prisons, they say, so they are always willing to bill you no matter which long distance company is contracted with the prisons, and no matter which long distance provider you choose. Of course, it's entirely possible that if I called back someone else might tell me something different, so you might want to call them yourself and get an agent's name and extension # for your records. I definitely suggest no one switch to one of the new cut-rate local providers popping up all over--even though I'm sure Ameritech has its share of problems, at least they will DO that billing for the prisons, while all those other new ones won't touch it and will force you to go to CBS and do the prepay thing.
I've sent lots of books that got through ok, both at Receptions and the regular prison. At the level 1 my bf's at they can even receive hard cover books. I've heard the same as you about not being allowed to send in polaroids, Debi--though the polaroid pictures they take in the visiting room may be brought back to the prisoner's cell.
Again, this is just my own experience. I'm interested in hearing about all of yours.

Thanks so much for the great adivce!!! Justin is up at Marquette Branch Prison for his intake..... He hasn't made it into the online tracking system as of yet but I keep on checking. I am going to check out the phone stuff... Thats crazy.... I live in Wisconsin...and where I live WE DON'T HAVE SPRINT so I guess he won't be able to call at all...

I reveived a box in the mail yesterday from the prison where they took all his photos away from him (and his addressess too).... I guess he can't have anything right now... BUMMER..

GRRR

Hugs,

Jodi

Carisa, I already posted another question about the phone billing methods in Michigan, and then I read this post. You answered my question because I think that I am going to be ok with Ameritech. I talked to my boyfriend today, and it was a Sprint call, and I didn't have any problem getting it. So, I figure as long as I keep up with my phone bills, I should be alright. :)

Jeni, My long distance carrier is A T&T but it doesn't matter. You need to call Correctional Billing Services and find out if they have given you an account with them. The prison will do this and not tell you or your man. This is what they did to me, I had no idea I was under an account with a limit of $150 until I went over it and a block was put on my phone. Then I only found out there was a block on my phone because my husband tried to call and couldn't get through and then wrote me a letter telling me he thought there was a block on the phone. This had nothing to do with my regular phone bill being paid, because it was paid up to date. I had to call all around before I finally located what the problem was; this limit on calls by Correctional Billing. Their number is 1-800-844-6591. Good luck!

Carisa, You certainly are knowledgeable about all of this. Perhaps you are an MDOC employee?

ROTFL ~ Not in a million years, girl! (no offense to .38) :)
I'm just sharing what I've been through because I needed that kind of help in the beginning and had a hard time finding anyone who could tell me what they'd learned about the Michigan system. I don't think anyone from Michigan was around here when I first posted under Prison Profiles back in May, cause I didn't get any responses to my own questions.

Hey Isadora. Thanks, and I am going to call CBS to find out. Dealing with all of this is hard enough without having to put up with phone problems. That should be the easy part! :)

Well I've found that there is no easy part when it comes to prison. They make everything hard on you and the inmate. Let us know what happens when you call CBS!

HI :)

I'm not a Michigan resident but I am a former employee of the Monopolized Phone Company in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana Wisconsin and Ohio...Ma Bell Ameritech.

Ameritech has NOTHING to do with collect calls. These are determined by the carrier from the prison, not your local phone company. Ameritech/SBC is not a long distance provider (less you be in their beta testing zone which I believe is still only parts of Texas), so they can't say "sure, no problem" in regards to anything other than local calls. Even if the prison is accross the street, Ameritech does not have the right to say a thing about these calls unless their operators are putting through the calls to your line. 9 times out of 10 they are not.


They will tell you ANYTHING to get you off the phone! Believe nothing when they say "you won't have to change anything" Call the prison directly, get the name of their collect call provider and call them directly to find out what you will have to do to recieve these calls. Remember that Ameritech employees are allotted a certain amount of time for each customer.

Maybe things have changed since I worked there not less than 2 years ago, but from what my friends who still work there tell me...no, no they have not.

Thank you, Silver! It's great to get the "inside scoop."
Take care,
Carisa :)

Ok, well, I have Ameritech, and CBS just showed up on my phone bill after my b/f went to prison. So, I didn't really think I had to do anything but pay the bill. And, it went fine for a while. Then, the prisons switched over to Sprint, and I am not sure what to expect. I called the CBS number Isadora gave me, and they said that my line is clear, but they said that the last call made was back on July 15. Well, that's not right. I have had many calls since then. So, maybe I am being billed by Sprint? But, Sprint is not my long distance carrier, so, if CBS doesn't have a record of the last few calls, then who does?

Hi Jeni, Did you ask CBS what the limit on your account is? That is important to know so you don't accidentally go over it and get a block put on your phone. All calls from the prison are on the CBS account. They told me that they are 30 days off on their billing, which means that the other calls perhaps just didn't show up yet. I would call CBS and ask them.

Ahhh, that would explain it then. When I called, I got the automated system. If I hang on the line, will I get an actual person? The number that they give you, in terms of money, is that what I owe or how much I am allowed? I can't remember what they called it, it wasn't line status, but, damn it. I can't remember. I think I may have to call it again. lol :)

Hi, I'm new here... but I have a question.. I have a friend I write to/talk to that is in Baraga, Mi. They went through the whole changing long distance thing, but thus far, it hasn't affected him calling me. My question is, are they going to put a limit on my phone? Don't they have to tell you if they are? He calls like twice a week, but we haven't ran into any troubles YET!
Thanks,
Jodygirl

Hi, No they don't have to tell you! They just do it and you find out after you have exceeded your limit and a block gets put on your phone. That's how I found out about it. Jeni there is a way to talk to a person there, just listen to all of the options on the recording. I did talk to a live person there who took the block off of my phone right then, after we had a 3 way call during which he listened to me pay my CBS charges to Verizon via Visa card. The whole thing is unbelievable to me; how they can give you a CBS account with a limit and not tell you, and then block your phone after you unknowingly exceed your limit! Jeni, he probably said your 'account status'. The amount they say is your limit, when you go over that a block gets put on your phone.

my son has been in prison for the last two years. The classification system is level one through six, one being minimum security, two being the next . . . six being maximum security.

can only get pictures if they are not poloroid and are no larger than 4 by 6.

Deb

I've learned that if you have a computer and can scan pictures, it is much easier to print to paper. They will allow you to have any size picture if it is on paper. At least, they have allowed mine to go through.