:idea: Okay, I so want to know the date! My husband put in this application Thursday so how long do I have to wait until I get a date? Will I have to approve the date given? I so need help on this one. I have been to Cen and after the app, I got a date like 2 weeks after and then I have 1 week to send in the menu and $. Can any one help with the program. Damn! All the prison run so damn differently.

Okay, this is what happened for my son and dil at CSATF.
It took several months for the first application to get approved. They kept kicking it back for little things. Once it was finally approved, they gave him a date of about 4 weeks out and gave him the paperwork to send home. He filled out the menu and turned it back in 3 weeks before the visit and sent the rest home.

The paperwork is a paper about the menu money not being used for anything but the menu and being exempt from the % they take out normally. You sign it and it goes back with a money order. The other paper is your confirmation that you will be there. Both have to arrive 3 weeks before the visit.

He put in for their 2nd visit the Monday after the first visit and got approved in 2 weeks, with a date 4 weeks out. But they screwed up sending the paperwork to him to send home the second time, so now they might have to reschedule.

That's how it's worked for them so far...hope it answers some of your questions...

I have questions! I am getting married at SATF soon and I have a ton of questions. What can you bring such as blankets, pillows, things like that? Is the food on the menu like the food in the visiting room?

You cannot bring pillows, but they provide them to you as well as blankets. You must bring your own sheets (1 set Queen and 2 sets twin of you have kids) and your own towels. I did see one woman bringing a comforter in for her visit, but they tell you nothing stuffed or with batting or anything (places where you could smuggle stuff in I guess.) and I don't know if they let her take it in or not.

The food is the stuff from canteen...nothing much nutritious except for milk and juice and they do have fresh fruit (whatever the kitchen has for fresh fruit that week). Basically, it's cooking boxed and canned stuff stuff like macaroni and cheese and beef stew and eating lots of junk...chips and stuff. Oh, and I think they did offer fresh eggs. One day the kids did have corned beef hash and eggs for breakfast.

They have pots and pans to cook with, but you bring your own paper plates and cups and plastic utensils.

This is amazing to me. Every prison is SOOOOOOOOOOOO different!
At OF, we have to wait 90 days in between visits, can't bring ANY linens, except for towels, and our food is from a grocery store...which is NOT what any normal person would get btw...we have a menu to select from, but the choices are horrilbe. :)
Wendy

That was what I wanted to know. But my husband told me that the money needed to be there before the app was sent in. So I sent it out. He need tried to send it in a few weeks ago but they sent it back to him stating that the funds need to be there before the app is received. I guess, I have to look forward to sometime in May(late). So I have to bring in my own sheets and towels. Do they sent you the approval notice with instructions on time, what to bring and all that good stuff? My son (20 months) is so excited,as well as myself. So when I just hurry up and wait. Thanks again.

Sounds like there is a huge difference just between the 2 corcoran's.
We don't have boxed food to cook at Corcoran 1, just tv dinners and instant rice. Fresh fruit?? Is that the stuff in the cans? :) We have a full size bed instead of queen....
Are you all allowed to buy sodas from the machine to take in?

Amy1,
Yep you can buy sodas and candy bars in the vending machine before going in. They stand there with you as you do it and put it in a clear plastic trash bag. No tv dinners, and yes, FRESH fruit..whatever the kitchen got that week is what you get. You can also get canned fruit, but yes, you can get real fresh fruit too. It is kind of funny because when you order the fresh fruit you have no idea what you will get..apples, oranges, bananas or pears...you know? I guess it is whatever was cheapest for the CDC to order for the kitchen that week. Weird. The milk, eggs, and fruit all comes from the prison kitchen, the rest of it comes from the canteen.

MaryJane,
As for the money being there first, ...that could be true. My son has money on his books so maybe that is why it goes through okay. We still choose to pay for the family visit food separately and not have them take it off his books because they can't take their percentage for restitution on money used for family visiting. Just a little way to get around the screws CDC puts to us as family members.

My husband called me and my date is May 21st. I should be getting the form to sign and send in now any day. It should list the things in can and can't take in but I just one silly question. Do you know if I can take in anything "sexy" to wear?:)

Yep, sexy stuff is allowed.
My daughter in law called and asked that question before her first visit and the guy told her she could wear whatever she wanted or nothing if she wanted and they didn't care. Just be dressed according to the rules going in and have that sexy stuff in your bag.
Congratulations!!!! :)

Hi, Crstdrvn,
I just wanted to thank you again for your help on Sun. I also wanted to ask you your sons name, i was talking to my pastor and we like to pray the name aloud, personalizes prayer. I feel so blessed that we met on Friday. I pray you dil's visit went awesome:) P.S. my hubbys name is Rick for prayers we all need all we can get.
God Bless and Love and Prayers
Chantel and Kids:)

yes maryjane they allow the sexy stuff, just got home and Thank God for family visits:) It was so awesome to spend time with him and be able to hold him and be a family for a blessed weekend. It was over before it began it seemed like. I am already looking forward to next:)

Chantel,

It was really awesome to actually run into someone from PTO...and even more awesome that you are a Christian.
Hmmm...let's see....family visiting at the same time, with family members on the same yard.... What are the chances of that????

HA! Not chance---it was a God thing. It never ceases to amaze me at how He loves us and takes care of us.

I have already shared Rick's name (you mentioned it) with several people and we are praying.
My son's name is Chad.
I'll PM you later (have to go to work right now...)

Take care and God Bless You!
Cheri

Thank you, have a blessed day at work. :D Thank you for the prayers.

God Bless and Love and Prayers
Chantel