Hi all,

I just wanted to introduce myself on here. My loved one has just been transferred to Cleveland Unit a few months ago and it would be lovely to get to know other people with loved ones there.

My 'loved one' is my penpal Michael - quite possibly the nicest penpal in the world, but then I am biased of course!
Michael was transferred from Luther Unit to Cleveland for the PEP course and judging by his letters, he is really enjoying it.

I actually have a couple of questions and any help would be gratefully appreciated. My main question is about mail! Are the rules at the unit really strict or are they a bit more relaxed? I've known prisons where even the number of pages you were allowed to write was limited.
I have bought Michael a really lovely xmas gift but now that it has arrived at my house I am not entirely sure if I will be allowed to send it to him. It is a 'friendship certificate' and poetry mounted on a piece of card. I don't really want to have to fold it to put in into a normal sized envelope and was wondering if I would be allowed to send it in an A4 envelope?

And my other question is about money etc. I am in the UK so there isn't a chance that I can go for regular visits or anything to take him money or gifts or food if they are allowed such things brought in, but I would quite like to be able to send him something to cheer him up. Any ideas?

I can't wait for Michael to get out, it will be sooooo much simpler to send things then :)

Ellie x

Hi! I'm afraid that I can only give you some basic info as I'm not familiar with the Cleveland unit.

Here is a link to give you some good info on the unit itself -
http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=305328

Please take note -

Items You May Send to the Cleveland Unit


You are allowed to send letters and cards to offenders. Subscriptions to magazines and newspapers are also allowed. Books can be sent from a book store but not by you personally. If you are in doubt about what is acceptable in the way of books, magazines or anything else please call the unit mail room and ask them if what you want to send will be allowed. It is better to call and be sure than to spend money on something the offender might not be able to have. You may send envelopes and writing paper from an approved vendor but not from you personally. Something you might want to remember is that when you send envelopes the offender is required to put his name on each envelope when they are given to him. If you send 50 then he will be expected to stand there and write his name on all 50 of them. Most things that are printed from the Internet such as word searches and puzzles are allowed.


Items You May Not Send to the Cleveland Unit


You may not send any personal items, clothing, pens or pencils, stamps or stamped envelopes. You may not send altered photos. Any time you are in doubt about what you want to mail please call the unit mail room and ask.

I hope this helps you some.

Janice

Yes you can use a A4 envelope. There is not a restriction on how many pages you can send. Believe me, I sent over 200 that I had printed off the internet. As for money, you can use JPAY.com. I found that it was the easiest and most reliable method.

My son, Paul moved to Cleveland on Thanksgiving Day. He is enrolled in the PEP program and I am very excited! He is thrilled with this unit, as he spent about the last year in Briscoe. We were very happy to hear about the PEP and his inclusion in it. Does anyone else have someone enrolled, and can you tell me a little more about it than the website?

Thanks!
Sandy

ellieminx,

if you don't mind me asking who is your penpal, I know a Michael that is there and in the PEP class. and when i saw your post i just had to ask. hope you don't mind. have a great day.

jgathings








Hi all,

I just wanted to introduce myself on here. My loved one has just been transferred to Cleveland Unit a few months ago and it would be lovely to get to know other people with loved ones there.

My 'loved one' is my penpal Michael - quite possibly the nicest penpal in the world, but then I am biased of course!
Michael was transferred from Luther Unit to Cleveland for the PEP course and judging by his letters, he is really enjoying it.

I actually have a couple of questions and any help would be gratefully appreciated. My main question is about mail! Are the rules at the unit really strict or are they a bit more relaxed? I've known prisons where even the number of pages you were allowed to write was limited.
I have bought Michael a really lovely xmas gift but now that it has arrived at my house I am not entirely sure if I will be allowed to send it to him. It is a 'friendship certificate' and poetry mounted on a piece of card. I don't really want to have to fold it to put in into a normal sized envelope and was wondering if I would be allowed to send it in an A4 envelope?

And my other question is about money etc. I am in the UK so there isn't a chance that I can go for regular visits or anything to take him money or gifts or food if they are allowed such things brought in, but I would quite like to be able to send him something to cheer him up. Any ideas?

I can't wait for Michael to get out, it will be sooooo much simpler to send things then :)

Ellie x