Hello to All!

I just received a phone call from my son who said he was catching a chain and going to TDC. He was housed in County until this day. He said he didn't know where he was going and don't know when he can call or have visits. One of the guards said they send the offenders to a diagnostic unit for a while before sending to a facility. How long will he stay at the diagnostic unit? I read in one of the PTO post, something about staying at the unit for 6 months because of an appeal. If that is true, can they have visits while in the unit? My son is classified as a violent offender. Does anyone know where they will possibly send him? When can I write to him? Who can I contact to get my questions answered? I have much more to ask. Thanks for all yall's help! PEACE!!

he will go to the diagnostic unit first, that is in abiliens, ( spelling) sorry, anyway, how long he will be there , there is no way to tell,, and there is no way to really know where he is going. this number here is the head of parole, 512-406-5229
936-295-6371

try those and maybe they can get you to the right number. if this dont help, please let me know and i will dig up the numbers or i can even call for you,,,

email me with all his information.

lulu66@netwest.com

HI! MY NAME IS LAURA J. COVEY. YOU CAN CALL TDCJ HOT LINE @ 1-800-535-0285. THEY WILL TELL YOU WHERE YOUR SON IS. YOU CAN START WRITING AS SOON AS YOU FIND OUT WHERE HE IS! HE IS IN DIAGNOSTICS AND THAT IS TO HELP THE INMATE ADJUST TO LIVING THERE. HE WILL BE OK. I THINK THAT WILL LAST FOR 6 WEEKS. THEN YOU CAN HAVE A NON-CONTACT VISIT AND AFTER 90 DAYS YOU CAN HAVE A CONTACT VISIT. GOOD LUCK! -LAURA J.COVEY

Thanks Laura and Lulu1

I talked to my son last night and he said due to the weather (Hurricane Lili), they cancelled the chain for this week. Which means, I get another contact visit this weekend. YES!! He also told me there's only two diagnostic units this county send their inmates to and that is Beeville and Huntsville. He is getting this information from other inmates so I don't know if it holds any truth. He doesn't have a TDCJ inmate # yet, so I don't think I can call anyone about his status yet.

I will keep y'all posted on everything. Again, thanks for the info!! PEACE!

Cyndie,

If you haven't done so, I suggest you read the information on the official TDCJ website. There is a tremendous amount of information available there that will benefit both of you. Good luck and I hope all goes well. I'm so glad to hear you get phone calls right now. I know those help.

IMO,

Jim

your more then welcome. i am happy that you got to see your son:):) any time we can help, please feel free to ask.

lulu

Thanks James-I plan on joining TIFA, and I would like to have my son join, but he doesn't have a TDCJ # yet. Once we get that, we will both join. I will also check out that TIFA website too. Take Care!! PEACE!

LuLu,

I have gotten so used to seeing my son every weekend to the point where I know it will be extremely difficult not seeing him as often when they send him away. He seem to be handling it okay. I will keep you posted. Take Care! PEACE!

Hello to All!

Just found out my son caught the chain today going to I guess a diagnostic unit. It's pretty sad around here. I have gotten so used to seeing my son every Saturday, I just don't know what I'm going to do this Saturday. I'm going to call TDCJ tomorrow to see if they can tell me something. Hopefully, they will be helpful and not rude. I found out some people treat you like scum, and show no care or concern for the family members of the accused/offender, and I am having a very difficult time dealing with it.

As soon as I find out where they sent my son, I will let y'all know. Take Care and try to have a good evening. PEACE!!

CYNDIE

LEGALLY, THEY CANNOT HOLD HIS MAIL IN OR OUT UNLESS THEY FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING DISHONEST IN IT. EVEN IN SEG, THEY GET TO WRITE. SO, IF YOU FIND OUT WHERE HE WILL BE, WRITE TO HIM. EVEN HERE, THEY ARE SENT TO A UNIT AT FIRST THAT DOES THEIR PROCESSING. THERE ARE TWO HERE IN NC. THEN THEY ARE SENT TO A PRISON UNIT, EITHER MAXIMUM OR MEDIUM. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO VISIT EVEN AT THE PROCESSING CENTER. I WAS ALLOWED TO VISIT BUTCH WHEN HE WAS SENT TO RALEIGH. OF COURSE, THAT WAS 12 YEARS AGO, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

I KNOW YOU MISS HIM... I HAVE NOT SEEN BUTCH SINCE JUNE 6TH AND HAVE ONLY TALKED WITH HIM TWICE SINCE THEN. WE WRITE LETTERS, BUT THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AS SEEING OR HEARING..

MY PRAYERS AND LOVE

DONNA

Donna,

Thanks for the information.

One of the nicer guards at the last facility told me she had a long talk with my son and he will be just fine. She also told me where they sent him. They sent him to the unit in Huntsville, and she also told me I can write him and he can call me in a few days. I feel a little bit of relief knowing he will be allowed to call. The guard at his last unit was so helpful and caring. I know I won't have open communication with any other guards at the new facility, and I am trying to prepare myself for this "rough road" ahead, but I know it is going to be difficult. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. I will keep in touch. Take Care! PEACE!!

I have tried the phone numbers y'all gave me and the numbers at the TDCJ website, and they are constantly busy or just ringing. I haven't heard from my son yet. His attorney said it take about 30 days before I hear from him. I am going crazy!! I need to know if he is okay. He wears soft contacts and it is time for another prescription. Before this all happened he had a dental appt scheduled for his wisdom teeth to be pulled. Will TDCJ perform dental procedures and examine his eyes? I can't get anyone to answer the phones to ask these questions. I think I am about to lose it! PTO family, help me please!! PEACE!

Hi Cyndie! I have experience with the eye exam stuff in TDC--there isnt any!! Stephen also wears contacts and it was hell just trying to get him solution to care for them...it took about 3 weeks all the while he used water to store them...I spoke to the nurse at the diagnostic unit he was at (beeville) and she said TDC will NOT give an inmate a new pair of lenses and they have to be in TDC for a year before they will supply a new pair of glasses (don't know how true that is -sounds crazy to me-but this IS Texas!) So what I did was call the unit and spoke to the person in charge in the medical department...I explained the situation and she said for me to send a pair of glasses (I went to the last place he had a prescription and got a new pair made) but Address them to HER and she would get them to him ASAP...so try and call the unit-Iwould say he will get his dental proceedure but when is another story-Tell him to put in I-60s to get it done...we have found that the squeeky qheel gets the oil in TDC--Squeeky not nasty though.-Also Stephen was at the diagnostic unit for just about a month but I heard from him after about a week--he was able to write after I sent him some money to buy stamps and stuff-because they didnt allow him to take much of anything he had in county with him to TDC...Have you called the automated system and gotten his TDC#..if you can't get through there just call the unit tell them who you are and the situaiton and they should give you his # (that is how I got Stephen's #) If there is anything else I can help with please let me know..I don't know too much -still learning-but will try and get you all the info I can...also let us know where they send him after Huntsville....Hang in there I am sure you will hear from him soon-have you written him?? here is my email if you need anything else grumpya78@hotmail.com

i know how hard it can be. these guys in there know how to stay in one state of mind just to help them get through what they need too. some times they never cease to amaze me. as i alwasy say, we do the time with them. :) any time you need to talk, please feel free to email time.

lulu

Thanks Amelia and LuLu!

I'm not sure if the #s I have are for the automated system or not. One number, I can't get anyone to answer and the other one stays busy. Maybe I don't have the correct #s. It has been two weeks now and I haven't received anything from my son. I really want to hear his voice right now. If I can't hear his voice, a letter would be great. I am not sure if he's at Huntsville. The guard at the other facility said that is where they send most of the inmates from this county. She wasn't !00% sure if my son is at the Huntsville facility. I am going back to the TDCJ website to verify the phone #s. I will keep y'all posted. Again, thanks!! PEACE!

Hi Cyndie, I'm Carla...Odiesmom. When my so was transfered from County to the diagnostic unit in Palestine, I had gone 2 see him on a weekend as usual, and during the check in process was informed that "they didn't have him" like he had never been there! I asked where he was transfered to "they didn't know" (Yeah Right) just to lazy or unconcerned to look for you. I also asked when I could find out where he went and was told "when he writes you". So I went home crying of course, and in about 2 weeks I got a letter from him telling me he was in Palestine. He was there I would guess less than 3 weeks (which I hear is kinda rare) usually it's 6 weeks are longer I've been told. From there he went to a state jail facility (where he had a wisdom tooth pulled...you were asking about health care in one of your posts). Even tho Dallas is closer for me than Palestine was, that place has NO redeeing qualities, if one gets rehabilitated there, it is surely by there own hand!! There is no outside time AT ALL...EVER!!! At least in Palestine he was able to work and go outside, and he's an non-violent offender...they just keep them caged up, and offer from what I gather the basics (like the classes you need 2 make parole). Anyway, that's been my dealings with TDC and why the majority of the workers there make the visitors feel like they've committed crimes is beyond me, must be some kinda power kick!! Anyway I pray for the day this f'n nightmare is over! Best of luck and I hope you get 2 see your son soon! Carla

Carla-My son was transferred to the Clemens Unit. So far, when I call to check on my son, the guards are helpful in answering all of my questions.

I am concerned about his commissary. Since he is on medium custody right now, he can only make commissary once every two weeks and he hasn't received his ID badge yet. Therefore, he can't write me until he buys stamps and envelopes. I had a visit with him on Sunday, and he said another inmate gave him a stamped envelope to send me a letter.

I am still waiting on that miracle to come our way!

Tell your son, to stay strong he will be okay! Take care! PEACE!

I am so glad to hear that you got to see your son..hang in ther it gets a LITTLE easier....:)

Cyndi, Odie has had alot of help from inmates when he first got there, what little money he had on his books hadn't caught up with him , but there's beeen several times that he's written to me and told me one of his celly's had given him a stamped envelope. Since he has begun to settle in, the group og cellmates he's with (about 50) seem to all co-exist pretty well together. I get to go see him Friday, I can't wait, it's been over a month and that's the longest I've ever gone without seeing him. Me and my daughters (who go when work permits) are the only ones to go see him. No grandparent's (on either side) or his father, but I guess he's better off, at least now we now where everyone's hearts are at. But it sure gets ya down sometime ya know? Later...Carla

Amelia,

It does get a little easier. My son does look very good too! In fact, it look like he gained a few pounds. He looks more like his grandfather (my father) lol. He said they feed the guys a lot of pork at the Clemens Unit, and they give you plenty of food.

I just wish he could start working on getting his high school diploma. Since his sentence is long, education for him is considered low priority according to the guard. I am still waiting on that miracle. I will keep y'all posted.

PEACE!

Carla---Yes, I do know what ya mean! I hate I can't talk to my son on the phone. I guess he will just have to brush up on his writing skills! I just hope he doesn't get any cases so he can attend school. We were told it's going to take at least 90 days to 6 months before they will consider school for him. Again, as I mentioned, school is low priority for him because of his sentence. I will keep you posted! Thanks for responding. PEACE!

I don't understand the reasoning behind the education factor, even if the sentence is a long one, it gives them something positive to do with their time, but I'm sure it all breaks down to money, as it seems everything does these days!! That's sad. Odie wants to get into something on the educational level, but like I said in an earlier post, the place he's at now is like a zoo for humans...just the basics no more no less. Odie (hopefully) has less than 2 years to go before he is eligible for parole. He had wanted to take a paralegal correspondance course, and we were going to pay for it ourselves, but when I talked to the lady at the school she said depending on his felonies he in most likelyhood wouldn't be allowed to work in that field, which blows me away, cause you have to be crooked to be a lawyer IMHO. But to make a long story short it was a 2 yr. program and was going to cost close to 3000.00 & he opted out, since he probably wouldn't have been able to use it when he gets out. He's now trying to decide what else would interest him. I want so bad for him to be moved as Dawson State Jail in Dallas should be called Dallas' 2nd Zoo. Carla

Cyndie -- your son can get a job while he is waiting for school that kept Stephen busy and there are many groups he can join..Bible study and many others...also if he really wants to go to school tell him to keep putting I-60s in requesting it..Stephen annoyed the hell out of htem and he got a job and into school pretty fast.....I am glad to hear he is doing well...I have noticed also that although you hear alot of scary stories the guys in there look out for eachother a lot of the time....Iam praying for your appeal....good luck....oh also if this is your son's first time in prison then he can apply for shock probation(it is early release but different than parole) IF you would like I can get some information on this or talk to your lawyer on this...if Stephen does not amke parole by early next year we are going to apply for shock.....

Have a great visit Odiesmom!!!

Amelia,

I don't think there are too many opportunties available to my son at this time. The guard said he would have to be "case free" for at least 90 days before he can enroll in any type of programs. He is at the "medium" custody level and he is limited to only a few things. After he proves to them he is not a threat to anyone after 90 days, the doors will open for other opportunities. In the meantime, he just have to remain "case free." My son can be pretty persistent if necessary, so I have to wait and see what happens! I will keep you posted. Take Care! What unit is Stephen in?

PEACE!

Cyndie, I plan on talking to Odie this weekend (I can't hardly wait) about other correspondance possibilities, he's too fills his time with what few programs they offer and church (which I AM SO THANKFUL for)
Amelia, would you explain to me about the shock probation, as Odie is a first time offender? I would be eternally greatful.
Oh just one more day and I get to see my son, I hope he recognizes me!! It has been a rediculously long time since we've seen each other...Stay safe All....Carla

Carla,

Hopefully, our sons will find something else to occupy them instead getting cases. Getting a case at my son's facility is really bad. So I stressed to him in my letters to stay out of trouble. So far, he is doing pretty good. I called the guard yesterday and she said he is doing good. I pray he continues. I just hope the appeal is granted, so we can proceed to the next step. Hopefully Odie will be able to do another type of correspondence course to keep him busy. Take Care. PEACE!!

Shock probation is something a first time offender can apply for..the trial judge has to grant it-so it is not soemthing EVERY first timer gets BUT from what I have found it is not too hard to get-even if you are a violent offender (although I believe sex-offenders are excluded-but I am may be wrong on that one) I have some info somewhere on my computer I will try and find it and get it to you...the offender has to be there for at least 6 moths before they can apply(county jail time counts for this time)...let me go see if I can find the info..

Amelia,
Please send me the info on shock probation, if Marcus doesn't make his parole then maybe something like that would help to get him out. Anything is worth a try...

Howdy;
Mike her from the Anarchist Black Cross.
You want to visit the TDCJ website and that should be answered there. It is not unusual for people tio spend up three or six months for transfer.
If memory serves me right I don't believe folks in reception can get visits. Again viist the website or ask the TDCJ Ombundsman.
Dare To Struggle, DAre To Win!
Mike
for the
ABC and Angola 2