My baby just sent me a letter asking me to "set him up" I guess he wants all his toys ( t.v., radio, fan etc.) I want him to be comfortable and not suffer more than he has to:) .
But seeing that he still is in reception and has a few more months to go to get to his " final destination ", how much should I send him and isn't it more logical to get all your goodies once you get to wherever you will be serving your sentence? I'm debating over sending him $100 to survive for now or sending him more to " set him self up." Any advice anyone?

Monika~

i don't know about California, but here inmate accounts are pretty much inaccessible in intake, unless you incurr a cost they feel you must pay. (like an overweight letter). maybe in caliifornia commisarry is available in intake. I think it's reasonable to provide for your loved one while they are in, but i also think they have a certain responsibility not to be abusive in their requests. what can you afford? does it create a hardship for you to send that much? i know i sent $100 dollars to my friend after arriving at the penitentiary, and he went through it pretty quick, not that i blame him, 9 weeks of no shampoo, toothpaste, or soap or anything else for that matter must have been a long time. he quickly bought up what he needed and pretty much zeroed his account. he didn't buy a t.v. but a portable radio. i think he was very happy to be able to take care of basic comforts! so I don't know about intake but $100 dollars seems reasonable to get started off with. i think if he wants more to start with it could be hard on you. ken has lots of view on this one. i really liked hearing what he had to say. everyone has a different point of view.

I don't know anything about the money issues during the "reception" Monika, so I can't help you out there. I do know that I ordered Jacc's TV and CD boom box, but he had to send me a request form and it could not be for over $300. I also had to order it from a contracted distributor - Walkenhorst. Other than that, all you can do is put money on their books for them to spend at the canteen. You can order CD's and books through Amazon.com later, but I wouldnt have too much sent right now as it might get lost if they move him. Mail can take forever in the prison system to catch up to a transferred prisoner. I would think that it would be better to wait until he is permanently placed before ordering all the other goodies because each prison has their rules about what they can have, etc. (even though they are all supposed to be alike). It would probably be best to send him a $100 money order for now so he can get his hands on some edible food and maybe some real toiletries. Hope this helps. Maybe someone else can help you with the reception period. KConner are you there??

yes, ken may know more-

i know that whne ron has been transferred-some items he could not take and had to mail home- my thoughts would be send money for the essentials and then when he gets to a spot he will be at for awhile- send more-

Can someone tell me how much is not enough? I don't really have alot of money but I want my Honey to be okay in there? So how much is enough???:idea:

I know in California if the inmate has restitution they take out 55% of what you send him. I have him fill out and send me the order form from SecureAccess and I send it in with a check or money order. If they do it like I said they do not get all the money. You might want to look into that. My boyfriend is in CCC Susanville. Good Luck. StacyMy baby just sent me a letter asking me to "set him up" I guess he wants all his toys ( t.v., radio, fan etc.) I want him to be comfortable and not suffer more than he has to:) .
But seeing that he still is in reception and has a few more months to go to get to his " final destination ", how much should I send him and isn't it more logical to get all your goodies once you get to wherever you will be serving your sentence? I'm debating over sending him $100 to survive for now or sending him more to " set him self up." Any advice anyone?

Monika~

I don't know where your loved one is in Reception, but when my son was at DVI Tracy for Reception, he didn't get to go to canteen for the first 30 days. He could not receive any packages at all in Reception, beyond the mail I sent with writing materials and stamps in it.

Once he was mainline, then, as someone said above, he sent me an order form for a "special purchase" package for the things he needed like sweats, shoes, radio, etc., and then I ordered from the vendor, Walkenhorst.

Special Purchase packages must be pre-approved.

Once mainline, he can get a quarterly package (not pre-approved) that you can order from the vendor as well, for the basics like food and toiletries.

Once mainline, he can go to canteen once a month and buy things from the prison store. My son spends about $50/month in canteen, but he chooses to get the majority of his stuff in his quarterly package.

Beware, that any money you put on his books, does get a percentage taken from it for restitution. It's 33% now, will become 55% in January 05.

Hope that answers your question.

It depends on how much he eats... Its not funny!!! But I know that $50.00 amonth could be quite reasonable (only if he works and specially in the kitchen) Thats if he also receives packages and has already had previous store orders. I know that my hubbys first store order was a bit high since he had to "stock up"...

If you can afford $100 then do. But I started only sending $30 to $50. He did not expect it but he appreciated it. He knew that he got himself into this mess so he did not expect anything from me. If your honey is a smoker that is where the money adds up. Soledad finally just stopped allowing care packages. The inmates now have a catalog they can choose what the want and then sent the wish list to you. A can of bugler is about $10 from the catalog and about $12 to $13 at a drug store. My honey's number 1 request is Bugler and coffee. Do what you can and feel comfortable with. Remember once he gets tired of writing your phone bill can make you go broke.


Good Luck

Just remember you need some to live on as well. You got bills and all. Dont' send more than you can spend.

I think $100 is plenty of money. You cannot send them anything in reception. I would wait until he gets to where he is going to stay because each institution has stipulations on when they are receive so wait to see where he is going before you buy him a TV or whatever. My husband thought he would need a TV but he ended up being put in a Gym and they already have a TV in there so he does not need one.

My husband is in Ironwood and he spends about $80 - $90 a month depending if he runs out of things I also send him quarterly packages from Access but they only let you send 30 pounds and he goes through that really quick. He really like getting the package from Access because I can buy him the Chili Lime Shrimp Top Ramen which he likes and he cannot buy from the store there so when he gets his package all the people in the Gym he is in bug him for his.

I was sending him extra money each month because we tried to get as much money accumulated on his books before they starting taking money for his restitition. They just hit him this week with 30% restitution so the $150.00 I sent him they took $45.00.

Laurie