When I self surrender to a federal prison camp, should I bring my prescription with me? Will they let me bring my own or will they have to fill it themselves? Should I have my doctor write a letter? I will only be in about a year, should I have my doctor prescribe a year's worth of refills? I have know idea how this works.

What is the medicine for? Is it something that you MUST have within hours of arriving (say, like insulin) or is it something you can do without for a day or two...

They will probably order the prescriptions themselves, because they worry that the "meds" you bring in, might be heroin (or something) in disguise, but if it is an urgent thing like insulin, they may take it from you, but at least they'll have it on hand until the prison doc arranges for you to have what you need.

Menolly

faeriegirl,
Yes, I would bring your medication with you, including a note from your doctor, especially if your medicine is something you need quite often. The B.O.P. will end up writing and filling further prescriptions for you, but like Menolly mentioned, if you need it right away, bring your own. Also, if it's a stimulant, you might face problems.
If you don't mind me/us asking, what is the prescription?
David

It is a prescription for a steriod skin ointment that I have used almost every day since I was about 11. It is for psoriasis. The cream keeps my skin clear--free from hives and itchiness. If I go without it for more than a couple weeks, I start having severe hives and I wake myself up scratching! Pretty horrible and gross I know, but my medicine keeps my skin completely clear.
So, it is nothing life-threatening at all. It is for comfort, and also to keep it from becoming so bad I scar. Will the BOP fill a prescription for something like that? How much does an inmate have to pay? Thanks everyone!

I'd still bring some of it, if I were you. Worst that will happen is they say you can't have it.

Bring in a brand new, SEALED container if you can; one they won't suspect has been tampered with.

But don't be surprised if they A) take it away from you, and B) don't consider your condition serious.

They're pretty cavalier about inmate's health issues, at times!

Here's an odd recommendation...

Some prisons allow PLANTS to be grown, either in a cell, or out in the yard. Look for some herbal things for your condition. For a house plant in your cell, I'd go with an aloe vera. I always have some of these in my house.

If you burn yourself, or cut yourself, you just snip off a tiny piece and rub the gummy sap on your wound, and it clears right up. That's why Aloe is now in every skin care product on the market. At times it seems miraculous.

Oh, and by all means get a doctor's letter. Documentation of any kind helps, if you ever have to file a complaint!

Good luck, sweetie.

Menolly

Menolly is exactly right. Because your condition isn't a severe medical condition they might give you a hard time about it. Bring a new unpoend supply, & a copy of your medical records & diagnosis, & a way for them to contact your doctor. Doing all this is no guarantee, but it may help. You may also want to try & make what ever arangements you can with the prison before you get there. Contact the medical staff or anyone you can, & get names of all you talk to & when you talked to them.--------Ken

Thank you all so much for your help. I will definitely bring letters and prescriptions with me. I hope I will be able to have it.
You guys are the greatest for the caring and help. This website means so much to me and my family.