I spoke with the mail room today regarding my fiance in the SHU. I was informed that ALL mail MUST be delivered to inmates within (7) days. Then she says, "But it could take up to 30." What in the world does that mean?

Also, my man transfered from San Q to Corcoran (5) weeks ago and has still not received a single piece of mail that was reportedly forwarded. The SQ mail room said, "We forward mail every 3 days." They are so full of it! I think they really start to believe their lies.

They are full of alot of stuff.. actually prison mail isnt "Forwarded" Its called "Re-Route". It use to be mailed to the new location, but that was too expensive. So now they actually place the mail on the next bus going to that institution, and it takes upwards and beyond 30 days- Can you imagine???

When Guy was at Corcoran from 2000-2002, it would take anywhere from 3-4 weeks for him to get his mail from me......during the holidays it would take even longer. I know at one time it was almost 6 weeks. I hated that mailroom. I called, I begged, I pleaded, but nothing did any good. He's mainline at SQ now and mail reaches him in under two weeks.

Just keep on writing. He will eventually get it all.

I have to comment on the mail at Corcoran. I mail James something everyday without fail. He can goes weeks without receiving any mail and then get 10 pieces in one day. So to say the mail room is a major frustration for us is an understatement, but lately they have been much better. I mailed him a letter right before Thanksgiving that he didn't get for 3 weeks, but all of his Christmas mail that I sent he got in less than a week. We normally expect his mail to arrive 1 week after I mail it and on average over the last year that has held true. BUT I think they are trying with this holiday mail because it moved a lighting speed for Corcoran, so hopefully they will keep up the pace. Good luck to all of you guys and your mail. I know that it can make me crazy. Happy Holidays!

I can't say as I like the mail room at all in corcoran.
I have mailed my husband money orders so he can have "store" before his package arrives and lo and behold he does not get it until after his package.
AND I mailed him some pics and he has not gotten them at all and that was about 3 weeks ago.
I hate writing him because by the time he does get the letters we've discussed everything in them already at our visits or on our 15 minute phone calls.
I love the visiting on the level one yard....all the CO's are very cool and treat us respectfully. I really only have a problem with the mail. I truely like most of the people who work there. they have been kind to my daughter and I. And they treat my man well also as far as I can tell.
Hope you all have the same experiance with them as I have so far.

I spoke with the mail room today regarding my fiance in the SHU. I was informed that ALL mail MUST be delivered to inmates within (7) days. Then she says, "But it could take up to 30." What in the world does that mean?

Also, my man transfered from San Q to Corcoran (5) weeks ago and has still not received a single piece of mail that was reportedly forwarded. The SQ mail room said, "We forward mail every 3 days." They are so full of it! I think they really start to believe their lies.


I have a pal there and it always takes 4 to 5 weeks for them to recieve their mail. aggravting as all get out. They claim they go through alot of red tape. I have no idea what kind of red tape but that is what they told me.

My husband is at CSATF/SP he get mail fast, like usually less then a week. Now when he was at SQ in reception it took 2wks. I have been very happy with how fast he receieves mail.

Hey everyone I have a suggestion.
I have called the post office to complain about this issue and I suggest that each of you do the same. the more we complain the better our chances of getting a response to our problem here. The number is 800-275-8777 m-f 8 am to 830 pm and sat. 8 am to 6 pm.

As much as I also hate that fact that my letters take so long to get to my husband - I think it's important to remember how many inmates reside at Corcoran, and they only have 3 - 4 staff members working the mail room. These staff members have to go through each and every piece of mail that comes through. For every thing that qualifies as contraband (this includes individual magazines sent in that aren't from a vendor, construction paper, ect.) the staff has to write up a notice of contraband to the inmate. Then it's up to the floor staff to actually pass out the mail, and that only happens Monday - Thursday. Take into consideration the amount of mail that gets re-routed do to cell changes. Patience is a virtue that is severly tested when it comes to mail, but it's something everyone at every institution has to deal with.

Point well taken and you are correct.
I should have gotten more information on the number of people who actually work in the mail room and taken that into consideration before I made that call.
Because I really do like most of the CO's I have come into contact with while visiting my husband in Corcoran. I have heard a lot of bad stuff about corcoran from people on the boards and people in the car line but I have not had any bad visits yet...knock on wood...and I've been going a lot last month.
The thing that has gotten me most upset is the people who wait outside the gate instead of waiting in the car line and cut in line while we are driving. Some of them are new people but there are others that I see doing it often. but I do not let them bother me enough to ruin my visit. :o)~

Salinas Valley State prison- the mail there is also taking about 3 to 4 weeks- to reach my husband- I started sending him an express letter at least once a week- at 13.65, just so he'd get some mail once a week, to hear how things are going at home, because he isn't able to use the phone- the post office guarantees they will be there within 48 hours- it worked for a while, now those are not getting to him either. But- I get my money back, if he doesn't get them in the guarateed time... so, I am complaining to the post office, who is complaining to the prison.... I hope they will get farther than me. Because when I call the mail room - I just nothing but excuses- it is so frustrating!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question, so if not, then I apologize. I am trying to find out the situation with Corcoran mail and packages. My father is incarcerated there and I have had a difficult time reaching him. I moved at the same time he was transferred there, and I finally received a card from him last week. So my question is, what's the deal on quarterly packages? I checked out Packages R Us and it seems I can order him something, but I'm not sure what the A and B privlages mean? I know he is a Level 3? (not totally sure what that means) And I know he has a clerking job in one of the administrative offices. I'm assuming this means he has some privlages. Any ideas on how to figure out how to send him a quarterly package? Can I just order one and hope it gets to him and isn't turned away? Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated. You all seem so nice and supportive. Thank you :)

Well I don't know a lot about level 3 yard but I think they all get packages from the same place. it's called access securepak. I think he needs to send you an order form and you order from there. if you have his mailing address you can write him and request he send you a package form and what he wants and you can call them, or order online or do it the old fashioned way of mailing it snailmail which takes longer. Or you can even probably order online and he doesn't have to send you an order form. or you can probably call them too. If he smokes they are allowed the cigarettes.
1-800-546-6283 is their number.

Thank you! Do you happen to know their web address? I have not heard of that vendor so I definitely would like to check it out. Thanks for you help :)

www.californiaqp.com (http://www.californiaqp.com) Is their web address. Sorry I should have put that in my post as well. And you are very welcome.

Yes, ACCESS is an awesome way to get those quarterly packages sent. You just put in the name of the Prison and they have the form all set up for you. My son sends me the info needed and I just enter it. He hasn't been in a position to receive a QP for almost a year so, he had a huge order. I not only received a thank you card but also a call from them thanking me again and asking if there was anything they could do to make it easier to process the order. My son is finally out of Corcoran and at Salinas but, I have some ext#'s to get information you may need. First of all to get the basic info, one of the ways is to go to www.google.com (http://www.google.com) and enter Corcoran State Prison. The Public Information Office (PIO) is EXT.#6104; Receiving & Records EXT#5034; Mail Room EXT.#7759; Wardens Office EXT.#5000; Administration Segregation (Ad/Seg) or Protective Custody (PC) EXT.#6300; Visiting EXT.#5701(this one changes from time to time); Ombudsman Office (Ken Hurdle main office 1-916-445-1773) His Assistant, Linda Lake 1-559-992-7367. They are advocates for the Inmates who are being abused. In my son's case, he had been attacked and raped in his cell by 4 guy's and a Guard was involved and he was being physically and mentally abused in PC. Linda was very helpful in helping us get through this. During his 6+ months there, I made over 200 calls to the Prison and talked to many Depts. and wrote many letters including to the Warden. We finally got him moved to an Enhanced OutPatient Program (EOP) and then moved to a Prison closest to me. When you are not sure where to go for the information you need, press 0 and ask the operator. If you have any questions, please PM me.
Have a Blessed weekend.

WELL, never thought I would be posting to a Corcoran Forum. Looks like my son will be going your way for 20 months for something he is Innocent of. SO, he needs information about the SHU there. Paper, Envelopes, Stamps, what he can have and not. Clothes? Thanks!

Love
Kathy

Grammy & Little Boo --- Just wanted to say thanks for the great tip on Access! I checked out the website and ordered a package. Definitely a good site and very easy to navigate. Thanks for all your help!! Does anyone know if Corcoran is still on lockdown?

Call 1-800-374-8474 press 1 then 4 then 1 and that will take you to corcoran prison visiting information.
You have to know what yard your man is on to be able to understand it.
But there's the number and good luck.
Some of the yards are still on lockdown so it's just calling to confirm which ones.

I spoke with the mail room today regarding my fiance in the SHU. I was informed that ALL mail MUST be delivered to inmates within (7) days. Then she says, "But it could take up to 30." What in the world does that mean?

Also, my man transfered from San Q to Corcoran (5) weeks ago and has still not received a single piece of mail that was reportedly forwarded. The SQ mail room said, "We forward mail every 3 days." They are so full of it! I think they really start to believe their lies.

PrisonShrink are you still going to Corcoran's SHU? Please PM me!

Thanks
Love
Kathy

Kathy,
My son is not at Corcoran or in the SHU, he's next door at CSATF. So I can't really give you any info on the SHU.
The area I do know, God forsaken hell hole that it is....

I just wanted to say I'm sorry that this is happening to your son. That sux!

If you decide to go up there for visits, let me know...I've stayed in the good and bad motels and eaten at the tomain tommy's and the good restaurants. I can help you that way. And if nothing else, please remember: DO NOT DRINK THE WATER!

Hang in there Mom. :)

I am a stranger on this forum, since I am usually on the NC forum, but I gotta tell you, that mailing issue is a major problem. I honesty cannot buy the idea that because there are a few people working at the prison that it is cause to delay mail. I might be wrong here (and I am many times) but isn't this a state institution? If so, what is the problem hiring more officers? We are talking about a prison, so the FIRST issue is to have enough officers to maintain security. If that is a valid issue, it also means there should be enough employees to carry out the details of the prison. I say this as a former inmate who was incarcerated for almost 5 years, and I gotta tell you, unless this delay of mail is mandated in the policy and rules, there is something almost unconstitutional about that. For example, what if someone is waiting for a prompt, and let me say that again, PROMPT reply from a lawyer or judge pertaining to a legal case. No prison has any right delaying such information, and there is no excuse. The fact that they don't have enough help is not an excuse at all. That letter might contain information that might get that inmate freed, or reduce his time. Or what if it was a letter from his family about a death? How might that inmate feel if he got a letter about a family member dying at the beginning of the month, but he got it 3 weeks, or longer, after the fact. There are some serious issues involving the mail, and I gotta be honest in saying that if the employees of the prison cannot keep up with the workload, then the state needs to hire more employees. It is almost an abuse of the postal system to these inmates, and an additional form of punishment which I think should not be tolerated. Sorry if I sound a bit aggressive, but I have seen too many instances where prisons don't honor their obligations to the inmates, and in turn make their terms much worse than it should be.

Is everyone still having Mail issue's with CORCORAN? Just wondering!

I ordered a TV and if anyone can tell me how long it took for their loved one to get one, I would appreciate a post!

Also, how long is it still taking for your loved one to receive a letter!

I have joined the Inmate Family Council and will speak out on any issues you have!

AND if anyone would like to meet me at Corcoran one weekend, let me know!

Love Ya
Kathy
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