I am looking for info. on the COLLINS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, upsate NY. I have a friend who calls collect regulary. Is there some other way he can call, maybe we can prepay his calls. Any info on the facility would also be apprec. Thanks in advance.


JS

There is no other way that I know of, he can only call collect. My b/f is there. I go there every weekend. I was there yesterday, it was freezing, below 10 up there. So far it seems to be a good facility. I've heard mainly good things about it. Pm me if you need more info.

I have read you can prepay MCI for collect calls, but he still has the amke them collect....there is no other option that I know of.
Caprione

call mci and see if you can set up a prepayment program with them. the number is 18002310193

Here is some more info on Collins taken from another site:

Collins is located about 1 1/2 hours south of the Buffalo Airport. Collins is part of a 3 Prison complex consisting of Collins I, Collins II, and Gowanda. The visiting hours are weekends and holidays, 8:30am - 3pm. My husband is in Collins l. The processing was speedy and efficient, with a minimal amount of waiting. Compared to Great Meadow (Comstock) this is beautiful.

The CO attitude is generally mediocre, with only one incident. A CO in the visitors center seated us right in the front (which I don't mind) and spent the day staring at me, eyeballing, staring at my body, etc. and every time I passed him, he gently shook his head. Unbelievable!! To this day, I have never gone through that. He even went so far is to try to bully my hubby, right infront of everyone. This guy definitely had some unresolved issues. He got his way, and at the end of the day, my husband was issue a ticket. He was so obvious, he was disgusting. The only reason I didn't file a formal complaint, was on the request of my husband.

There's a small play area, but it's often not big enough to accomodate the children who are their, so the kids can often get loud. They do have a TV for the children, or weather permitting, you can take them outside.

You can go outside to smoke, and theirs picnic tables out there

The prices in the vending machines are less than I've seen at other facilties, but the actually vending area is cramped and stuffy.

The restrooms are fairly clean, but could use some attention. The actuall visiting area is also clean.

Across the street is Collins ll, I've been through the processing for the FRP over there, but never on a visit. It seems to be ok, nothing so far to speak of.




Collins II is about the same as Collins I, only larger. The CO's are usually pretty decent - every now and then you get an A-hole who wants to show his authority (like if you have on an underwire bra, he will ask you to remove it and put it in a paper bag), but if you stand up to them (make them use the wand) they usually back down. I've never had to stand up to them about a bra or anything, but I've seen it done and I noticed that when confronted, they have backed off and let it go.

As far as the vending machines go, they are about the same as Collins I -- buy early or there's nothing left.

You can take pictures in a booth (Poloroids) when it's working (which is rare). They only cost $2 and you can only get head shots, but they're better than nothing.