I called the Diamondback unit in Oklahoma and asked some questions about the situation there (just in case).

Here is what I was told:

They were set up as a Medium/high Medium Yard, not a minumum yard, but the are making some changes for the AZ minimum security inmates they are housing.

They have 2 man cells as opposed to open runs or dorms.

It takes a minimum of a week to be able to visit, even if you are on the visitation list.

Visits are Sat & Sun from 8:30 - 4:30

Phone banks are inside, and they can make two 15 min calls per day.

Not much education other than GED and some "Life
Skills"

The Yard is about 3 miles from the town of Watonga and about 70 miles from Oklahoma City. There are a couple hotels in Watonga.

I forgot to ask about contact. I guess it should be the same as AZ (One kiss/hug beginning and at end, and able to hold hands) I will call again and ask (Unless someone else wants to and posts it :idea: ) I do not know if they are those tables with stationary chairs or if you can sit a little closer. I also forgot to ask about food, outdoor/patio areas, and smoking.

If someone else wants to call and ask, the number is:

580-614-2000

The CO I spoke to was more than willing to answer questions.

Please post if you get any other information. I will do the same.

Thanks for the post ...the last time I spoke with Luis (Sunday 4/4) he told me some more guys arrived from Tucson (santa/rita unit) and they told him the unit was practally empty now and that most of the guys are in Oklahoma and Pecos ...Luis goes up for reclass in June and that is our only hope ..that his score lowers and they send him back to where I dont know ..but its got to be closer than Newton ..the not visiting is a killer and very sad and hard some days ...my only hope is June ..thanks for the info ..just in case he gets sent there and not AZ ...have a good one ...

Hey, Thanks a lot for the info...I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, hoping he won't be sent out of state...he's already so far away

It doesn't sound as if they will not renew the contract with the Newton facility if they are still transferring people there. My friend at Newton is still in a cell, supposedly until they find a space in the dorm for him. He has a clemency hearing in June so I'm keeping my hopes up.

I heard the same thing about Newton ..but its true if they are still sending guys there...????and thats not fair ..did you see how the other two prisons get charter bus and video visit ..hello why do the guys at Newton get that ..I wrote the warden and of course he never wrote back ...I am probly just another fly on the wall to him ...something to be shoooshed away ..but you cant fight city hall...just take it with a grain of salt

I have more information on Oklahoma.

They did say that you DO have to be re-approved to visit, so have them send the forms ASAP if they get moved

Also the entire yard is non-smoking this will be hard on smokers if they get sent all of a sudden, but they will provide help in quitting (the gum or maybe the patch)

Contact during visits is about the same, but there is no outdoor area You will need to check on the dress code, for one thing no sandals ever and no shorts but dresses are okay if long enough.

They told me that it is a medium yard, but I pointed out that the Arizona men are minimum security, but they said they "have to run the whole yard the same" so if your guys are used to a min yard, this will be harder.

I don't think this is the way it was portrayed on the adc website. I am worried that they will get sent and have to stay a long time. Being in 2 man cells won't be easy either if they are used to open dorms. I sure wish AZ would let some of these men GO HOME!!!!

Hello all. Sorry to hear that you may have loved ones going to Diamondback. I can tell you from personal experiance that Diamondback is not a good yard. It is not a good thing that these guys that they are wanting to send there are Minimum and Diamondback is a Med yard. Truest me, the staff there will be nasty about things. And as for the Visitation room, it is a big room that they setup long tables and then put chairs on each side of the tables. Inmates have to sit on one side and the visitors sit on the other side. Children are allowed to sit on the inmates lap if they want to. Other then that there is not much else in there. I use to work at Diamondback so if anyone has questions feel free to ask. I still have friends that work there, but trust me they dont know that I am on this website. I was so happy to hear that they moved the Oklahoma inmates out, my fiance is very happy that he is out of the CCA ring. But even more happy that he is off of the Diamondback yard. The staff treat inmates like they are trash. Sorry to sound so gloome about it, but trust me, if your loved ones get moved there you will hear it all from them soon enough. Good luck and God bless.

I also have heard nothing good about Diamondback...My fiance was there a few years back. When he was in Davis Corr. in Holdenville they moved around 120 OK guys to other prisons around Oklahoma to make room for out of staters. We have heard through the grapevine thats Diamondback is having trouble at the moment with gangs.
Good luck to all that have to go there!! and God Bless...

Just to give you a little insight into Diamondback, the main reason that the Oklahomans were moved from there is that Diamondback failed test put out by the OK DOC. That is why they had to move the Oklahoma inmates to other facilities.

My man was moved to Diamondback about 2 weeks ago, I still have not recieved a letter from him. I just put money on his books today.. Have any of you had this problem?

Welcome to PTO!!! So glad you are posting some good information for us..
Thanks and look forward to reading your posts.

Just to give you a little insight into Diamondback, the main reason that the Oklahomans were moved from there is that Diamondback failed test put out by the OK DOC. That is why they had to move the Oklahoma inmates to other facilities.

Hey Littleoneinaz, I would call them (580-614-2000) and ask about what is going on. Rumor has it they "went off", so they could be locked down? I am sure they would tell you if you call.

They did say you have to be re-approved to visit, so he won't be able to call until that happens. It doesn't seem fair to put them through that as you were approved before the move.

Please keep us posted.

Well, he finally got the transfer. I spoke with a few people in Oklahoma today. Obviously we are all getting different information. All three people I spoke with today said that if you are already approved for visits, then you don't have to be re-approved.

Dress code, no orange or light blue shirts. You can wear a shirt that is below the collarbone as long as we don't show any cleavage.

And each visitor is allowed to bring $10.00!!

So that's the info I have so far, I'll be visiting soon, so I'll keep everyone posted.

Mel

I called Friends and Family Liason in AZ yesterday and they were going to check into the approval situation. I hope they have gotten it straightened out.

Please help keep everyone updated as you learn information.

Sorry to be the one to give bad news but like I have said before, DIAMONDBACK thinks that they are there own world. I dont say these things to sound nagetive, but to let you know ahead of time what is going on there. Now grant it, I worked for them when they had Oklahoma and Hawaii inmates but trust me, I cant see them changing because a differant state comes in.

As for the re-approving for visits, I would just tell you that I say plenty of people that were Oklahoma inmates and they had visitors that were on their visiting list from another Oklahoma facility (sometimes even another CCA facility) and when those visitors came to visit they were turned away because they had not filled out a new visiting form. And guess what, they had also called in to DB and were told by a nice person that if they were on the inmates visiting list before the move then they did not have to re-apply. Again I am just telling you, I know we delt with alot of mad families (and rightfully so) but it did not change the fact that they could not get in to see there loved one. And some of them had traveled far.

As for the security level of the prison (if that is what you want to call it is security) first of all it is a joke. But they do run it more like a max yard. You can only go out when they call "work & education" or "chapel" or "chow" and by god you best better be in class for education or on a work crew if you go out during that time. You are not allowed in any housing unit that is not where you live, this encludes the walkway or padio to that housing unit. If you are caught they will write you up for "Red Lighting". After chow, when you leave the chow hall you are to be headed to your pod, and they will frisk you at anytime and as a matter of fact it is maditory that each yard officer do pat downs during movements. I could not tell you how many times when I worked on the yard that I would get a call from a Capten or Leutenant or even an Assistant Warden asking me "How many pat downs have you done today". (By the way in this part when I say you I am meaning the inmates).

As for the dress code, it really depends on who is working the front desk, they do have guidelines but it depends on how they feel that day and if they like you. I know it sounds bad but it is true. I would suggest that if you are not sure of what you have on, take something that you think is VERY conservitiave with you to go out to your car and change if you need to. I saw them send a young lady out to change one day that was wearing a dress. And it was past her knees but the officer at the front desk made her change.

Well fellow chatters I am going to close for now. Hope things go well for your family members. I will talk with ya all later.

Deep respect and best of luck.