My oldest son, Joey made it back to Pelican Bay after all his court and stuff for his charges within the prison at CSP (Sac). He's on mainline in the A unit. I wasn't able to see him the wknd before he left cause I was told he lost visits completely for a year and window visits for a year after that. That is about the third story we've heard about that. They told my son the time was over for losing his visits completely so all he had left was window visits for 2 yrs. That is what they had told me the day before I went down to Folsom to see him and was declined a visit. They had given me a paper stating that but didn't give him his paper so for all that time he thought we just didn't try to go see him! That makes me feel bad because it was like we didn't care! The following day he was back on the bus to Pelican Bay.

Now....for my youngest, Bobby! He was supposed to go to some kind of meeting a few months back but the CO's didn't give him the meeting papers til 3-4 days after the meeting! He figured he would just be staying at Pleasant Valley til his release. I wish he would cause he's been there the majority of time he has been locked up and is all settled and everything. He is always so positive (or acts like it with me so I don't stress so much). Says he could use a change. Does anyone know if they allow cassettes in from correspondence schools at Avenal? That is where he will be going and the correspondence school said they already sent out his next class material. What a waste of money if Avenal won't let the cassettes in! If he can't have them then maybe we should just have him give them to someone taking the same classes at PVSP, but I would like to find out first!

Bobby was telling me the other night how most of his friends at PVSP are lifers. He made me feel so sad. Said that most of them doing life don't have anyone outside and never get anything. Made me wish I could do something for some of them but it is hard enough supporting myself and daughter at home and taking care of my 2 sons in prison. He is going to give his t.v. to one of them. Knowing him, he will give them his books and everything else I have bought him to different lifers that have know one also. I am proud of him for that!!!! Shows me he STILL has a heart and is caring no matter what the courts and Pub Def have said about him! I think my next crusade out here will be to see if I can get people to write to these guys!

Does anyone know what Avenal is like? The visiting routine. Do you need to make an appt like PVSP to get in faster? I'll still be staying in Coalinga but does anyone know approx how long it takes to get from like, Motel 6 in Coalinga to Avenal? My daughter and I drove by there once awhile back for something to do when we were staying down there and it seemed like it took forever to get there!

I've heard from different people (here in town that have been in prisons) that when an inmate gets close to getting out that some people try to stir up trouble with them. Is that true? I'm worried about this now because Bobby is transferring with so short time and he won't have the friends there that he has at Pleasant Valley.

Thanks for any information!
Teri

Hey Jus.... Did I answer this question in another thread. I think it was the thread about the CO's. Anyway.... Avenal I believe is a level 1 and 2 prison. I was talking to my mom about your situation with not wanting your son to move, and she said the same thing, you don't hear much about Avenal and that could be a good. As I told you before, a lot of the inmates always want to transfer to Avenal once their points drop. I would imagine there would be more trouble in PVSP with him being around so many lifers, because many do become very jealous when someone gets to go home. This move could actually be good for him, especially if a lot of his lifer friends already know how much time he has.

Well.... I'm sure your son already knows because it's sort of like an insiders rule.... you don't talk much about going home or how much time you have left, because yes.... people do try and get you in trouble. He'll already know that the best thing to do once it gets really close, is to go low-key. More time spent inside than out on the yard.

When are they planning to move him?

I think Avenal is a maybe 2-2 1/2 hours from Coalinga. I can't be positive, since I am always half asleep driving up north!! LOL ( And I actually miss it now!!) But, I believe it's a mile or so before or after ( depending on which way your coming form) the Tracy I5/205/580 split. You know that lovely area that is bumper to bumber traffic on weekends and holidays? Yuck!! LOL
I am sorry, I know nothing about Avenal. But yes, I have heard the rummors about people trying to screw up guys release dates. Years back it used to be more of an inmate to inmate thing. Now, I am hearing more and more of CO screwing with inmates and getting more time that way.

Take Care :)
KellyA.

Cheetos....yes, you were definitely asleep on the drive, because Avenal is nowhere near the 580 split. LOL Avenal is approximately 20 miles south of Coalinga. See..... that's why I never fall asleep when someone else is driving. I have to know exactly where you taking me, and how I got there. LOL

Ok, my bad!! LOL :p I swore it was near there!! LOL

KellyA.

Avenal is very near the lovely burg of Kettleman City, CA, on I-5. I had the pleasure of staying there a month ago and there is basically only one motel and a truck stop. And yes, it is close to Coalinga and not much else!

All I know about the prison is that they take appointments for visits, which seems very cool. There are a few threads on this in the Cali forum.

Cheetos -- All I can say is..... Stay Awake On the Drive!!!!! LOL

Thanks Everyone!

The only thing I really knew (know) about Avenal other than what you, NuBeginning, posted in the other thread, was that it is about 20 minutes from Pleasant Valley.
Cheetoes1, so sorry I have to agree with NuBeginning...you must have been awfully tired!
I just got back from seeing my son an hour or so ago. I had mentioned to him what I had heard about people messing with him once his time was short. He told me he hasn't had problems like that. Says most of his friends are lifers and they are just that..friends. Also said he was surprised that the lifers were the most easy going people in there, that he has only seen one get mad about something with someone but that even then he wasn't all riled up or anything. He told me that after they accept that they aren't going to be getting out they adjust better than the ones that are....this is in regards to the lifers that he knows and has dealt with, he wasn't speaking for all of them I'm sure. -The mother and sister of the guy doing life that my daughter and I rode with today is in D yard at PVSP. They seem to think he is doing pretty well with his adjustment also. But he is still hoping there are changes made with the 3 strikes so he will have a chance of getting out.---Now, that is all at PVSP. As far as Avenal goes...he said he has talked to some guys that are there at PVSP that came from Avenal and all but one wants to go back there. I guess the one person hit a CO or something like that, he doesn't want to go back there! The others didn't realize how much better it was at Avenal and do want to go back. So, guess it can't be too bad! A friend from the streets of my older son started at Avenal before transferring not long ago to Soledad, I'm going to write him a quick letter and find out a few things later.
Thanks again! Teri

Jus Mom -- I think he'll be alright; I've heard no complaints about Avenal, and like I mentioned earlier, there were guys always wanting to transfer to Avenal when their points dropped low enough. Your son appears to adapt to change fairly well, by the fact that it doesn't appear to bother him that he'll be leaving behind the bond that he's formed with his lifer friends. He has the ability to detach and move on, so the transition may not be an issue for him, and that's a good thing.

My son used to have to go to Avenal (the town, not the prison) to play in football games and there is absolutely not much to the lil town. I went with him once, and vowed never to return to the one-horse town again. LOL After 2 years of being in the "cow town" I live in, I'm still trying to adjust from my L.A. and Bay area life. I hate it here, and fought for 15 years not to come here. My entire family moved up here one by one, and I flat out refused for a long time. My mother was always telling me how I could afford to buy a home here, and it would be much better enviornment to raise my son. I guess she was right, because I can definitely keep a better eye on him here. If he goes north, he'll hit a farm; if he goes south, he'll hit a farm. He's very limited as to how far he can go. LOL

Cheetos --- You said you miss driving up North. Where do you drive to now?

:ha: Yes, I'm sure he will adapt to Avenal quick enough. But....he will definitely miss the people at Pleasant Valley that he has spent these last 2-3 yrs with! The first couple of hours in visiting today he spent talking about different friends (inmates), funny little things that they did messing around in there, how he was glad so-and-so got a visit today cause it's been awhile, a spanish speaking alarm watch that one of his friends has. Many, many thoughts and memories of these friends and even others that he knew but not quite as well as the others.
The next couple or so hours the topic was the CO's, teachers, his boss at his job at PVSP, and people like that. He told me a story how one CO told him and a couple others how his dream was to become a CO and 'make a difference'. Then went on..telling how it seems to him (the CO) that the people he wanted to make such a difference with 'all seem to hate him'. It was sad. I guess the guy couldn't even work for awhile after getting beat up in there but went back to try again.
-Then there were the jokes that he got from either the staff or his friends!!
The very end of visits he let me know what I need to do about making sure all his loose ends with school, etc. are taken care of. And then more or less 'whatever'.

It was in his eyes as he talked that he will be missing quite a bit there at PVSP!

Teri

[/QUOTE] that it doesn't appear to bother him that he'll be leaving behind the bond that he's formed with his lifer friends. He has the ability to detach and move on[/QUOTE]

Thanks for sharing your visit! As I assumed he has the ability to "detach" [accepting within yourself that you are moving on, even though you're leaving someone or something dear to you behind] by the way he reminisced about the positive things he's encountered while there. His sharing those stories with you was his process by which he acknowledges that he'll be leaving behind people that he's formed a bond with. As I read all the things he shared with you, it brought a smile to my face, because his "detachment" process took place with someone who is a comfort for him. His Mom!

My apologies JusMom.... I just read my quote you posted. "Doesn't bother him" was a bad choice of words. I should have used "that he's accepted" Even though a change bothers us, we have the ability to accept the change. Ok, let me stop psycho-analysing. LOL So, how long before your oldest son can get visits again?

He really does think in high regards of all the people he spoke about. And to think that some of these guys are/might end up doing life (if nothing is done about the 3 strikes!) He sure made me stop and think about getting on the ball with the petition. -I heard that there are enough signatures already to get the 3 strikes change on the Nov ballot, have you heard, or do you know this to be true? I'm not sure that I signed it. I've signed so many petitions. I'm going to call tomorrow anyway and see if they can still use more sigs, if they can I'll walk it around town if I have to to try and help them out! Wonder why for some of us (yes, me included) things don't seem quite as urgent until something smacks me up beside the head (like my son talking about some of the people that are doing life because of this stupid law and putting some actual faces on the blank faces I pictured in my mind before).
I am glad you explained, "Doesn't bother him". I didn't take it bad, I just didn't want you or anyone else to feel he was rock-hearted! He has always been a good son to me and rarely has problems with anyone. He likes and gets along with anyone that likes and gets along with him. Thank you for explaining! Thank you for your posts!
<quote>someone who is a comfort for him. His Mom! There was a recent thread where a mom told about her son sending her a sweet letter.... Bobby had just done this not long ago also. It was a 'Thank you for being my Best Friend!' card.....It made me feel so good! And, now you did to by what you said! Thank you!

As far as my older son, Joey...it depends on who we talk to as to when he will get visits! He is supposed to be having his counselor check on things. They told him right in his meeting that because of the length of time it took from the incident until he had his meeting the 'no visits' time was done and he would have 2 yrs of non contact visiting. I've tried to see him and was declined the visit and called a few times but heard a different story each time so I am having him do a little work on it from within the prison now. If they don't give him visits at all for a year I will start on getting on them about the 'within 45 days' they were supposed to have given him his meeting (just hope he didn't sign anything waiving this time period! From speaking to the Lt. at CSP, right now it is looking as if he won't have any visits at all until Feb 23rd of 2005. I haven't told any of my friends or relatives about anything to do with the trouble, losing visits or anything. Might just have to go out of town for the wknd every once in awhile so they don't start asking me questions. When we were declined the last visit I just told everyone there was no reason for him not getting a visit so it must have been because it was crowded that day (he had called my mom at the same time we were trying to get in so they know he wasn't locked down). I don't like being this way with people but I don't like them making some of the remarks they have made in the past either so rather than add more stress to myself (and them) I just don't say anything to anyone but the most understanding and caring people I was so fortunate to come in contact with ....our PTO family!!
Teri

Ok, the fog has cleared!! LOL I was confused with DVI. And don't worry, I am now making the half asleep drive to Lancaster!! LOL

Take care!! :)

Kelly

The overturning of 3-strikes law is an issue that should be aggressively pursued. While I was still working at PVSP, a family friend that I hadn't seen since I left home approaced me on the yard. I didn't recognize him, but when he called me by the name my family uses, I realized that this must be someone who knew me as a kid from my old neighborhood. Anyway, he began to give me an update on his family, and told me that he had life. The first thing out of my mouth was... "three-strikes?" And he said, yes. He said that he wasn't even the one that did the crime, but someone he was with. So, here he is in prison on a 3rd strike because the guy he was with robbed someone. I know someone else who may be reading this post might say, "Yes... that's what they all say." But whether he was telling the truth or not is not the issue. The issue is that many are now serving life sentences for a law that was never intended to put someone away for the crime of "eating a twinkie in the store without paying for it." It was intended for people who had committed three serious violent crimes. From what I've read of the law, those crimes had to have been serious and violent and involve a victim. For instance, if a person was convicted of breaking and entering, it should have not constituted a strike. However, if there was someone on the premises when the breaking and entering occured, and a weapon was used then it would become a strike. The use of a weapon, which involved a person made it a serious and violent crime.

But, we all know that there are thousands incarcerated for life for crimes they committed that were not serious and violent all because it was their "3rd strike". And for this and other reasons I oppose the 3 strikes law, because it has been erroneously applied by judges who know exactly what that law says. And now the courts are overloaded having to review all these past 3 strikes cases, because of their own error. They bit off more than they could chew when they instituted this law, and created the biggest problem in the justice system that this state has ever seen.

Cheetos -- Girl, I'm glad you're awake now and not snoozing on the ride to Lancaster :sleepy:

Avenal Is About 30 Minute Drive From Colinga. I Visit There Every Weekend. Make An Appt. At 1-559-386-7473 They Take Appts. On Mon And Tues From 10:00 To 1:00. I Forget The Times On Fridays. Dont Be Late If You Are More Than 15 Minutes Late They Give You A Numbered Pass And Wont Start Calling Those Till 10:00. Yard 1 And 2 Share A Visiting Room So If He Is There Make A Latter Appt In Hopes You Will Not Get Booted Off Your Table Or Worse Terminate The Visit Due To Crowding. So Far The Visiting Guards Have Been Cool And They Treat You Pretty Well. There Are Alot Of Lifers At Avenal Also. The Dorms Leave Alot To Be Desired And Many Of The Guards Have The Opinion This Is A Level 4 Or 5 Facility. Medical Is Awful There And Getting Packages Is A Nighmare. All Of Avenal Is Level 2. Hope This Helps If You Need Any More Answers You Can Pm Me. Have A Good Visit

Thank you for the information! Once he gets there, if I need to know anything else I'll let you know!!! Thanks again, Teri