Any advise to a first timer? I've been reading about people having to wait for hours. Having to arrive at 3:00Am. Being refused visitation. Strip searches? YIKES!
What is the normal visit? Thanks

Torrey:

I've never visited except in NC, but some units are worse than others. It's not too bad at some. There are usually long lines, especially if the unit has a lot of inmates. I try to get in line at least one hour before time for a visit so that I can get my whole visit time.

There is usually a dress code at most prisons. You cannot wear shorts at some. You will need to contact the unit you are visiting to see what their rules and regulations are.

I have met a lot of good people in the lines at visitation. Most of them are in the same boat we are and they all feel they are disrespected and mistreated, which at some time they are.

Each unit does have different regs. Find out what they are and make sure you do not violate those regs.


Donna

You have to make an appointment time? I thought it was anytime through the visiting hours allowed, from 9:00am till 4:00pm.

NO, THERE IS NO APPOINTMENT TIME.

HERE IN NC, THEY HAVE SPECIFIC VISITATION PERIODS FOR EACH SET OF ALPHBET... IE SAT MORNING 9-11... SAT AFTERNOON 2-4. SUNDAY 12-2 AND SUNDAY 2-4.... EACH UNIT IS DIFFERENT.

I AM SURE THEY HAVE SPECIFIC TIMES FOR VISITATION... WE ALL LINE UP AT THAT SPECIFIC TIME TO GO INTO THE VISITATION AREA. IN MEDIUM CUSTODY, WE SIT AT TABLES IN THE REC ROOM TO VISIT. IT IS A CONTACT VISIT. WE DO NOT VISIT THROUGH GLASS. IN CLOSE CUSTODY, YOU HAVE TO VISIT THROUGH GLASS WHICH IS BAD.

YOU CAN REQUEST SPECIAL VISITS AT TIMES, THAT WILL ALLOW JUST YOU AND THE INMATE, NO ONE ELSE, BUT THAT CAN ONLY BE FOR A SPECIAL THING.


I MAY BE CONFUSING YOU BECAUSE THIS STATE I AM SURE IS DIFFERENT THAT MANY OTHERS.

DONNA

Texas Visits are not that bad. Bring quarters most units do not have change machines and you are not allowed to bring in paper money. Also not shorts or see through tops. Be mindful they want you to dress conservatively. If you are not married you will not get a contact visit. Regular visits are behind screens or glass depends on the unit. In closed custody they are in cages behind the screen or in special area behind the glass.

Also the visiting times in Texas are 8 am - 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. You can only visit one day for 2 hours. Unless you are more then 300 miles away and then you need to set up a visit. I go see Anthony almost every weekend. Oh yeah they can only have 4 visits a month and only 1 per weekend. So make sure you don't go visit if someone ie, family members have already been that weekend.

You need to be there at least 3 hours prior to the end of visiting which is 2 pm. To ensure you get your full 2 hour visit. If you have any more questions ask me or call the warrden at the unit he is at. Where is he anyway????

I am not in your state but I know that there is no "regular visit"-what i mean by this is that all prisons have their own set of rules (written ones and unspoken ones)--Find out about the written ones before you go, and keep your eyes and ears open for the unspoken rules--this will make your visits occur with much more ease- Call ahead of time so you will know what you can and can't wear, can and can't bring, etc--I hope your first visit goes well

take care

sherri

Thanks for everyone's help. I will be visiting out of state at Oklahoma Mac . Alford Corr Cntr.
I'm confused about needing quarters. I will be traveling about 3 hours one way. Are you saying I cannot carry cash on me for the trip? Can I leave my wallet locked in the trunk? Or are the quarters to give to the person in prison?

the quarters would likely be for vending machines... if possible, the guys like to eat during visits... :)

I agree with everyone that you should call the actual facility you are going to. Each place has their own rules. Also just a word of advice, for your first visit. Don't give them any reason to turn you away. Wear baggy clothes, not to much make up, etc. Don't bring anything unnecessary like gum, cell phone etc. Bring your $ or change in a zip lock bag and your ID. Nothing else unless they say you can bring it in. leave everything else in the car. I learned if I give them no reason to think anything's wrong they are easy on me. Where I visit Marco it is the same people visiting every weekend. The officers already know us and have decided long ago who to give a hard time to and who to be easy on.
Hope your visit goes well and most of all try to enjoy it!
Michelle

Thanks for your help. I did call and I think I understand everything. One thing the person on the phone told me was that the prisoner will be strip searched after the visit. Is this a common after visit procedure for all inmates? No wonder he doesn't want many visits. ha!
Or was it a threat to warn new visitors not to try anything?

They always strip searched us in the Feds after visitation. They would give us a good pat-down on the way in.
At the Federal Detention Center in Houston they would strip us in & out... Just to let us know we were loved.. :p

They must love Marco alot,lol. He gets stripped before and after visits and patted down before he can used the bathroom. Depending on who's working they have even stripped him before using the bathroom.
Michelle

Marco is having alot of love like my husband. He gets searched coming in and going out, even when uses the bathroom. I tell him to go before he comes out so they don't get to see he an extra time. I told him I was jealous of them guards. He usually laughs about it.

Ok, someone please tell me what they think the prisoner is smuggling out of the prison? What could they possibly have in there that someone out here could not get?
How long are your visits that restroom use is necessary?

another question about a first time visit. I don't know yet in which prison Darrell will be. But I'm coming all the way from over Europe to visit him.I was told, if you come from far away, they let you see the guy all day long,within the visiting hours. I just don't want them to tell me I can only see him for like 2 hours, because it's the only reason why I come to the US...does anybody know if I should ask for a special visit settlement or something? Would I be able to see him 2 days in a row? I know it's not easy to answer this because we don't know yet what prison he'll be at, but maybe somebody knows some standard rules for someone who travels so far to see a prisoner?

by the way,I'll be visiting with his mom and brother (if the prison allows)

The biggest reason for any stripdown search in the prison system, is the DOC personnel want to make the outside world believe that inmates families and friends are taking drugs into the system. I have talked to many guards and office personnel and the answer I always get is this. My son has been in 9 prison units in the State of NC over a 12 year period. Drugs are abundant. If you don't have a drug problem when you go into the system, you will when you come out. Drugs are everywhere. It is not the families and friends bringing them in, its the guards and people on the outside who have connections with the units and can go unnoticed to bring the drugs in. The inmates pay the guards, etc. for the drugs and they make the money. What a racket.... So, we take the brunt of all the crap and so does the inmate because (the inmate is their captive)...


God bless us all


Donna

I understand the strip after a meeting but I don't understand strip search before a visit. What are the prisoners suppose to be smuggling out? What cculd a prisoner have inside that I could not find better biggr or for a better price on the street? That was my question.

I'm sorry but I respectivley disagree on your statement about family and friends not smuggling in drugs. Some family and friends do smuggle in drugs. It only takes a few to give most of us a bad name. I do agree that "some" prison personel are in on the smuggling. Something is not right mentaly with some of those guards. (That issue will be another topic)

I have never done drugs but I believe that if I was inside I would be doing anything and everything to help me cope with the life. An Altered state of mind would help me live like the animal they want me to be. That is just my opinion of course.
I hope I will never be tested on that statement.

Sometimes they even do a strip search on the inside also.... the answer is "JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN"" There are always shake downs inside and then they do strip searches.


Donna

soraya, do you know what state he will be in. Maybe you could start with searching out General State Legislation? Can you plan to arrive and leave the country so you could plan two weekends for visits?

Soraya-I dont know the standard rules but i would certainly find out who to contact as soon as you know what prison he will be at and put something in writing to them, explaining your situation and request that they return something to you in writing. I would explain your circumstances and that you are coming from another country and would like to arrange special visitation because of it. maybe someone else on here can give you some more specific information, but it seems like they should be able to do something to accomodate you

good luck

sherri

thanks Torrey and Sherri. I will definatly write the prison from the day I know where he's at. If they don't reply me, I will just keep bugging them with my letters! It's possible he'll be in North Carolina. I'm planning on staying in the US for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer.

Soraya-If you come to North Carolina, let me know. I'd love to meet and talk with you .

Sherri

sherri I will let you know for sure! sounds like a great idea!

Hey Call the warden when you know where he will be. Let them know in advance so they can set up your visit. It depends on the state as to how long you will visit so just make sure you let them know you want a special visit.

Thanks to everybody for the advise. y'all are sweet as sugar :D

We love ya girl/ Which state are you coming to??

well thank you! I love everybody on here too. It's not sure yet, but it will probably be NC...I'll let you know as soon as I know

Sounds good if you find out any info on there visitation post in on the site so other people can learn from what a special visit is like there.

A word of warning to first time visits to Fed land...I've filled out three visiting forms for different facilities. They go into great detail about the dress code. However, they NEVER mention that wearing khaki colored clothing isn't allowed! :-)

After the third call to find out information all three went into detail about short, see through clothing, low cuts shirts etc but the last phone call I was told Do not wear denim. or a white T shirt.
Don't these people answering the phones have a dam list to read to us? Why is that so difficult? sheesh.

And do women dress like hookers when they go visit? LOL

if they have so many problems with how the women dress, and such a long list of dress code things, why not provide 'visitors uniform' so everybody wears the same. they seem to like that anyway :D

GOod point soraya..haha! would hope it wouldn't be that dreadful orange they love to use!!:D

yeah, I know! but it wouldn't surprise me if they'd make the visitors wear the same as the prisoners. they'd probably get a kick out of it hahaha

I think that was why white t-shirts and denim were not allowed. We would look like the guys in that prison.

Maybe we should be veiled? Or how about a nuns habit?

Oh I just had a thought. What if we could trade places. Trade clothes and ID's. Would you trade places with the person you are visiting? Walk back into the bowels of hell and finish their sentence for them? They walk out clear and free?


I hear about the kidnappings in SOuth America. Last summer a young girl traded places with her kidnapped ill father. Sadly they did not pay the ransom and she was killed That was a very brave act of unconditional love.

Virginia doesn't have a color policy, my hubby has to change into a jumpsuit before visits. He has to wear his brown issue boots and can't wear his watch or sunglasses, etc. A lot depends on the guards on duty also. Last Sunday I wore the same white shirt I've worn a dozen times. The CO asked me if I had a coat to wear, cause she could see the outline of my bra. So I had to go and get my coat out of the car, which I promptly took off in the visiting room and didn't hear one thing about by the CO watching visits. It's just a power trip, cause they can!

It sure is.. Even when it is really hot in texas they do not let visitors wear shorts not even children.. Go figure.. Some guards trip with open toed shoes.. They are all different and they all have there own pet peeves..

Children have to follow the dress code too here in wonderful TExas??? Sometimes I feel this whole thing is so degrading...

You said it best, Shortie.. They all have their pet-peeves..
I doubt your gonna get in anyplace in your birthday suit but some let you make it on things... Others hate out-right on just about everything.

You know... the BEST information I have gotten has been from talking to other visitor's before being let in... Try to find someone friendly (although the friendly people will likely strike up a conversation with you...) They will be the best source of information about specific officers at that institution... (whose pet peeves are what)... You know.. to give you the "real scoop" on all the stuff that will never be written.... :) When is this 1st visit happening?? Hope we get to hear about how it goes!! :)