My husband just got to prison this week. How soon will I be able to hear from him? Can they use a phone in reception? How do I find out his release date? Can I send him packages? I haven't heard from him in over a week. That's the longest we've ever been without talking. Can I go see him if I'm on probation? Thanks for all your help.

Where are you located. Sometime it depends on the prison

Where are you located. Sometime it depends on the prisonI'm in CA so I think he went to San Quentin. I have called the CDC inmate information line but they say it takes 7 days to get information in there computers.

If your husband went to San Quentin, he would be in Reception until they
moved him to mainline at the prison. No, he may not call you while he is
in Reception. He can have visits, behind the glass only until he is mainlined
into the general population. He needs to send you a visiting form, which
you fill out and send back in. As far as visiting on probation, it all depends
on why you are on probation. Do you have any other arrests or jail time/ state
prison records? Depending on the nature of the charge, it is up to the prison
as to whether or not you will be approved for visiting. When you fill out the
visiting form, be completely honest. Any information that is untrue or they
catch you lying will bar you from visitation. You can send your loved one
1 non wire notebook, 100 stamps, 2 clear pens, black or blue ink, 100 prstamped envelopes too. You may also send him a money order made out to
him to be placed on his books to use at the canteen. Is he going to be having
a Morriessy hearing? Is he a parole violator? If he is having a Morriessy hearing
for violating parole, ask him to add your name for a witness. They ( the commissioner) will want to know why he violated parole if that is the case.
When you are approved for visiting, take your vald ID or Driver's license
with you. You will have to go through a metal detector. DO NOT WEAR ANY
UNDERWIRE BRAS, if you have one on they will either cancel your visit or give
you some scirrors and you will have to cut them out. No blue jeans, No khaki
colored clothing, no olive green, no orange solid colors, nothing in colors that
would look like inmate clothing. Also with the visiting form the prison will do
a background check..Approval takes anywhere from 3-10 weeks. It took me
10 weeks to be approved. That is because I have a old CDC number from when I was a minor. You should also send your husband a copy of your marriage license. This proves that you are his wife. However if your driver's license still has a maiden name on it, that is the one that you will have to use
when you sign your pass for visiting. If you have other questions please feel
free to ask. Hope this helps. Suzi :thumbsup:

I just got a lot of information here, but my question is how will I know where my grandson will be sent in California? He just got sent to San Quentin, and I will do all of the above. Will be be moved before I can go see him there? Thank you.

In response to your questions, when a person first arrives at a prison, they
are placed in Reception, that is where the Prison decides what group they
would go into. For example if your grandson is there for a parole violation,
chances are he would be kept at San quentin, I haven't heard of anyone on
a parole violation being sent to another prison. However if he will be down
doing a lengthly sentence he could be moved to another prison, but then again with all the issues of overcrowding in our California prisons, it all depends on whether another prison has room. I have heard of inmates that
are awaiting transfer that some of them have sat in reception as long as 8
months. Like I said, it all depends on whether or not another prison here in
California has room for another inmate or as they call it another bed avaiable.
I would assume that as soon as your grandson sends you a visiting form,
and you get it back to the Visiting Sgt asap, you would be able to visit him.
Your grandson has to notify you whether or not you have been approved, how
ever I was notified by San Quentin when I was approved before my husband
Eric new. The prison's are funny sometimes about who can visit and who can't. Sometimes a person can be on parole, and still visit at a prison, but that has to do with getting permission from the Warden at that prison. The
same goes with probation. I do know that several people that had b/f's and
husbands at San Quentin that were there for child molestation were transferred out to Lancaster. As for your grandson not knowing the time frame
or the conviction it is hard to say. But for the most part if another prison
has a open bed available, they will ship him out. But not to worry, I haven't
seen anyone who is in reception getting shipped within weeks, San Quentin
is very behind in paperwork, and transfers, so my best guess is you will be
able to see him. Good Luck, and Welcome to PTO,,were glad your here!! :) Suzi :thumbsup: