Got my court order to see my son and he got transferred today.

Anybody know anything about Phillips. I got on the GDC site and querried the prison. I'd like to know why they sent him to Philips.

Hey Cheryl...
That really stinks that he got moved before you could go see him, but I am glad to hear you got it cleared up. Maybe you can go see him at this new prison once he is settled in. I did a search on www.google.com when I read your post, I just typed in Phillips State Prison Georgia and a bunch of articles came up. But I will be honest and warn you that you are not going to like what you read.
I hope you hear from Justin soon. I haven't heard from Chris in over a week now. One of the guards at Jackson took his ID last week on Monday and so he couldn't go to the store to buy more stamps without it and he used his last stamp then to tell me if he didn't write for a while that was why. He also said he had been told he would be moving soon, so maybe. Every time I see a post about Justin I wonder if Chris got moved, too. They did leave county together afterall, I guess I will call to check on Chris on Monday...the lady I just spoke to told me I had to call Mon - Fri from 8-4 to get inmate information.
Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about the bad timing and I hope you get to see Justin soon.
Take care!
Patience

Hey PJ --- and you know I did that search. I didn't like it much at all and it pretty much called an end to my day.

The reason I knew he got moved was because the guy at Jackson had called me to say he was getting ready to put the court order in the system and discovered he had left for Phillips that day (Thursday). He also said it was likely we would hear from Justin that night, which we did and thank God. What a relief.

He was unsure but felt pretty comfortable. As I'm sure you read that Phillips has a heavy MH population with some serious problems. MH carries its own set of problems and throw in the prison invironment with guards not MH trained people and it can be dangerous. Any way he is not part of that population. I sort of knew that there were others there. Justin might have been sent there for one of several reasons. Its close to home and he told them his dad has no business driving and his mom is not a good driver. LOL They also could have sent him there because he showed management problems in the beginning. However, for the last month at Cherokee and the time at Jackson (9 weeks) he did not get into any trouble. In fact, one of the guards at Jackson said he was pleased with his behavior because word had come down that Justin could be a problem.

When I got to talk with Justin, he said he was in with a bunch of lifers and that they were pretty cool. His cell mate was older, a lifer with no parole and was helping him out. Justin also said he thought it was only temporary. He said there was even a kid in there with a drug charge. He has a classification interview next week and he could be moved to the annex. Meanwhile, he has to submit a list of people and we go through approval and then get to see him.

There are classes there on anger management and life skills which would be good for him. They also have vocational training. Its not everything he wants but he did say there is auto mechanics and they help with job situations afterwords. I don't know all that happens but at least its promising and he knows if he wants to get training he has to improve his security level.

Any way thanks for the post. How's the baby? Has Chris been measured for uniforms yet? We got a letter from Justin about a week ago telling us they had measured him and he said they usually ship you out a week after that. Don't know if that is exactly true but that is what happened.

ADDRESS:
2989 W. ROCK QUARRY ROAD ADULT
BUFORD, GA 30519 TEL.: (770) 932-4500
FAX : (770) 932-4544
ADULT MALE FELONS
CAPACITY: 1036
CONSTRUCTED: 1988
OPENED: 1990
SECURITY LEVEL: CLOSE

HISTORY:
To house prisoners who have had management problems at other prisons or centers, and those who could pose a risk if housed elsewhere. Provides all levels of Mental Health service to include Level IV Crisis Stabilization. A supportive living unit for Level III MH probationers is provided at the Phillips SP annex.

HOUSING:
Consists of ten living units each with two dormitories. The number of units with two-man cells is seven and a half while the remainder are a combination of two single-man cells. The combination two-single man cells houses MH/SM inmates. There is a total of 100 isolation/segregation cells. The PSP annex consists of 150 beds and 50 beds for Level III MH/MR probation detainees.

RESIDENT WORK ASSIGNMENTS:
All outside work details are provided by Phillips SP annex. A total of ten details are provided to surrounding cities and counties. Additional details work on the outside grounds of Phillips SP. Work details also provide support to the GCI print shop


PROGRAMS: Academic: GED, ABE, Special Education, Literacy, GSAMS
Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse Education, AA/NA
Counseling: Domestic Violence, Corrective Thinking, Vital Issues, Violence and Substance Abuse, Victim Impact, Lifers, Toastmasters
Recreation: General Recreation
Religious Activities: Worship Services, Scriptural Studies, Confronting the Self, Pastoral Care/Counseling
Vocational/OJT : Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Welding, Small Engine, Woodworking, Food Preparation, Printing

DIRECTIONS:
From Atlanta: I-85 North to Hamilton Mill Parkway (Exit 120). Exit and turn left. Turn at the first street to the right (Sardis Church Road). Go one mile, then turn left onto West Rock Quarry Road. Phillips SP is approximately 1/4 mile on the right.

I have a friend in Phillips and he needs to take some kind of classes to help pass the time, how do I go about getting info on how to get him in a class. I already now what they offer I just don't know who to talk to to get him started, can someone help?:confused:

Start with his counselor, then the warden. If that doesn't help contact DOC. (I can PM you with the phone number of the department you will need to contact.) If there are other classes that he is interested in taking, ask DOC what prisons offer what classes. Hope this helps.

As I'm sure you read that Phillips has a heavy MH population with some serious problems. MH carries its own set of problems and throw in the prison invironment with guards not MH trained people and it can be dangerous.
Actually the officers who work in the MH units are trained to deal with MH inmates, they are required to attend specialized MH training, and then yearly there after to maintain that certification. While they are not MH counselors or MH professionals, they are trained on how to deal with special situations that do arise from dealing with MH inmates.

But I know you said your son wasn't in a MH unit so it doesn't matter but I thought you might like to know that the officers there aren't just sitting blind with that.

Also check the dates on any of the things you read about Phillips, I will tell you that for several years that place was a free for all and out of control, but a year or maybe a little more than a year ago they got a new Warden and have done a lot of major over hauling of many of the problems they were having there, and it is a lot better managed now than it was at one time, and isn't as bad a place as it once was.

Who know anyting about what happend at Phillips