Ok we are open for business :) lets hear your questions. Barb

Thank you, Barbara...& David!:D

It's been a while since I first had to search around for "newbie" info. I don't remember what all of those things were. But I'm sure there are plenty of people that aren't as senile :confused: as I am and ask, or post, some of the specifics our new "sisters & brothers" in the struggle will need to know.
Some issues everyone new to Planet Prison always wants know about is visiting information, phone call info, mail info, and generally what to expect.
Since this can vary from prison to prison, I thought it would be helpful to start with those prisons that function as a reception center.

There are currently 11 Reception Centers:

CCWF - Central California Womens Facility (Chowchilla)
CIM - California Institution for Men (Chino)
CIW - California Institution for Women (Corona)
CTF - Correctional Training Facility (Soledad)
DVI - Deuel Vocational Institute (Tracy)
HDSP - High Desert State Prison (Susanville)
NKSP - North Kern State Prison (Delano)
RJD - R.J. Donavan Correctional Facility (San Diego)
SQ - San Quentin State Prison (San Quentin)
VSPW - Valley State Prison Prison for Women (Chowchilla)
WSP - Wasco State Prison (Wasco)

All reception centers have glass visits only. That means you can only visit for a set amount of time, usually by appointment only.
But first you'll have to be approved to visit your loved one.
As of May 2004, all visitor application forms have to be signed and mailed by the prisoner. A prisoner can get the form (CDC 106) through his/her counselor. An alternative is to mail a blank form CDC 106 to the prisoner, since sometimes they run into a problem getting the form from their counselor.
The form can be downloaded here. (It's attached to this post-look below.)
The average time to be approved (or denied) for visiting is anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. However, it can take longer if a prison falls behind in processing visitor requests, or loses staff due to vacation, sickness, etc.
It's important to complete the form truthfully. Even juvenile arrests that turned out to be dismissed will show up during a background check.
If ANYTHING on file with DMV or the DOJ (Department of Justice) is not listed on the form, you will be denied!

All mail to prisoners has to have their CDC number in the address.
All prisons will return mail to the sender if they cannot identify the inmate.
Mailing addresses to each prison can be found on the CDC website (http://www.cdc.state.ca.us/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/default.asp).

Prisoners cannot call out or receive calls while in reception, unless there is a family emergency (death) and the family has contacted the inmate's counselor or chaplain. The prison will usually allow a prisoner to call home during such times.

Prisoners cannot receive packages while in reception.

Hope this helped to get us started :)

Heidi

I would also like to add that you should call the prison mail room to find out what you can send to them while in reception. There is no consistency within the prison system. Your first priority should be to send your loved one the supplies he/she will need to communicate to the outside world. Paper, pens, stamps, envelopes, and money. Ask specific questions about each item such as; how much paper, what kind of pens, prestamped envelopes, etc. Photos may also be sent to some places. Make a list of questions before you call so you don't forget something simple. I don't think that any place will allow a wire spiral bounding, but others won't even allow cardboard backing to paper.
When you place a call to a prison, press O right away to get a real person that can direct your call.
Do not assume that the visitors form will be processed within a time frame. Call the visiting Sargent to check up if you have gone beyond the normal approval time. Be sure to tell your loved one that they are responsible for getting the form back to you, and must follow up for you by requesting an inquiry about the status. If your wait time appears to be beyond the norm, make a phone call and inform your loved one to inquire for you also.
Call your local telephone provider to inquire about receiving collect calls from inmates. They differ from area to area. I read in another post that ATT has an 800 rate that may be approved by a prison for your loved one to call. Don't sign up for anything until you know your loved one's final placement and their protocol for collect calls. MCI has some prison call collect system that can be opened up by calling them. Make the phone call to them to be prepared. They will instruct you about future calls.
Welcome to our support group. Tam

ok here is my question. I am approved for visits since 1999. Do I have to renew my visiting form? I was approved at Ironwood, and he is at CRC now. It should follow him right? I haven't been to see him since 2002, does the form expire or follow him till his release which is God knows when cause he got something like 15+ years

Once you're an approved visitor, you will keep the approved visitor status even if you haven't visited in a while. Most likely the visiting staff will have you complete a new visiting form, prior to processing, in order to update their records.
All visitors are required to update their information periodically. Depending on local procedures, its usually either one or two years.
You should be okay!:)
Heidi

*Note: Title 15, Section 3172.1(g):
Any visitor approved for visiting at one institution/ facility shall be approved to visit the same inmate upon transfer to another institution/facility provided the visitor’s approval status remains unchanged.

Also, folks...I cannot stress this enough...if and when you call any institution about any question...document your call. Write down the time/date/officer's name, etc. And NEVER take visiting for granted. I have seen people drive for 3 days to visit a loved one, only to be told their loved one is on lockdown.
Best,
Wendy

For those of us that have loved ones that will be getting released from our
wonderful CDC here in Ca alot of questions are asked about parole transfers.
#1. Prior to release, at least 2 months in advance, contact old parole officer
if he/she has one and request a transfer. If the inmate is in a reception center
more than likely has a counselor but won't see them because they haven't been mainlined into the general population, the loved one must make the first
steps to get the job done.
#2. Contact old parole divison where you would like him/her transferred too.
#3. Remember folks, transfers usually are for immediate family members only.
Girlfriends/Boyfriends/ Fiancee's don't count in the eyes of the state, unless
they have children with the inmate.
#4. Contact either Regions 1,2,3,or 4, Reg 1&2, Northern/Valley and parts
of Santa Barbara, Ventura
#5. Region 3&4, southern Ca.
#6. Keep bugging the parole unit that they came out of prior to their commitments.
#7. Inmate must have immediate family, employment, and housing in order
to recieve a transfer, and the region in which you are seeking must still be
open for parole transfers. If the region in which you are seeking for transfer
is closed, then there isn't much you can do about it.
#8. contact the re-entry division at the prison where your loved one is at.
Keep on them. They will tell you anything to keep you at bay. If you feel that
you have been jerked around enough, contact the assistant warden's office
at the prison, and explain the problems you are having with re-entry through
the prison. Answers are more quickly resolved this way.
#9 Nothern Ca for parole is Oakland Headquarters. Southern is Diamond Bar
Parole headquarters. With these two units, Oakland ask to speak with a PA2
for answers. They are very helpful.
Diamond Bar Parole Region, ask to speak with either Liz who is in Records, or
Amy that is with re-entry. Both of these ladies were very helpful to me.
#10 If you run into serious problems and feel that you can't get anywhere
with either the parole units or the prison, contact CDC in Sacramento, ask
to speak with Margot Bach, who is a information officer, she should be able
to direct you in the right area to get the information that you are seeking.
One of the most effective ways to get what you want with the state, is constant follow up phone calls. BUG EM' BUG EM' BUG EM'...
#11. 2 WEEKS prior to parole, call the prison in which your loved one is at,
and make sure that all his/her paperwork is completed and ready to go..
CDC is known for dragging there feet, paperwork for parole should always be
ready to the inmate that is being released. That includes warrants, and holds.
Finally in the event that the day before the release do a follow up with the
prison, if they should tell you that his/her paperwork is not quite completed
advise them with "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD A INMATE ONE DAY PAST
HIS/HER RELEASE DATE, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW...DO NOT TRY TO LET THESE PEOPLE INTIMIDATE YOU OTHERWISE, THEY WILL TRY TO POSTPONE
GETTING HIS/HER PAPERWORK DONE WHEN HE/SHE IS READY TO PAROLE.
DO NOT ALLOW THE STATE TO CONTROL THE SITUATION. CDC HAS ENOUGH
LAWSUITS PENDING FROM VIOLATING THEIR OWN SET OF RULES IN THEIR
D.O.M. MANNUAL ON RELEASE. DON'T QUIT, BEAT THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY GOOD LUCK TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU, THAT
HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS......LOVE, SUZI :thumbsup:

Thanks Suzi, now what can you tell me about transfering out of state? Richard wants to go to Oregon where we also have family. Barb

In reception at CIM I was allowed to send pencils,paper(loose sheets),pre-stamped envelopes. I was not allowed to send any money since they can't go to canteen while in reception. I didn't have to call for an appointment to visit. Visits were limited to available space. The dress codes were still in effect even tho' the visit was behind glass.

In reference to your question Barb, even tho Richard has been out of the parole
unit's control, I would suggest that you contact his last parole unit's office. Ask for
information on a out of state parole transfer. If moving to Oregon would help him from
returning to prison, then by all means work the system. Family, employment, housing,
the 3 keys to successful parole. Parole says that they want their parolees to succeed.And if Richard leaving Ca to go somewhere else where he would have a better
chance at life and parole I would say, GO FOR IT...Suzi

Hello I'm new to all of this, and I have alot of questions I just dont know where to start, But where can I find legal help, is there anything that can be done to shorten a prison sentence, my husband took a deal can any thing be done about that to shorten his sentence? is there any one I can talk directly to get this information I realy dont feel confortable going in to detail of his case. I realy feel that our justice system betraid us. Well if there is any way that any one could give me some direction thanks

Most likely he made a deal to avoid taking his chances at trial. Once the deal is made, its about etched in stone.

Hello, my loved one is in North Kern State Prison-Delano, CA. He is in reception right now, and I was wondering if anyone can answer any of my questions, I would sure appreciate it!
I sent money to him......will he get it and be able to use it while in reception?
He has already sent me a visitor's form........can he get visits while in reception?
He did not sign anywhere on the form......was he supposed to, before he sent it to me to fill out?
What can you send by mail, outside of paper, envelopes,and photos?
Can you send things printed off the internet, as long as the content is suitable?
Can you send greeting cards?
Thanks to anyone that can help answer my questions!!!!!

Hi and welcome!
Yes, he can get:
money, 1 hour non-contact visits (after you're approved), things printed off the internet, greeting cards (with no glitter, sitcker, glue etc)...

I think Dleano still uses the old visitor forms where the inmate doesn't have to sign -- you tell if there's no place for his signature, then it doesn't need it. Also here's a tip -- I sent the form straight to the visiting office, I think it got approved a little quicker that way. But it still took a month.

Hope that helps... :)

Thanks for the reply qwerty! I called the mailroom and asked for the correct address to send a visitors form, and they told me to send it to my man's address and whe they open it they will take the form out and process it. I'm not sure I have the visiting office address.

Well, if that's what they're telling you, I'd go with that...

Thanks for the help.......I sure appreciate it!

can u send pens to wasco and can i fill out the visiting form while he is in county and mail it back before he goes to wasco and he can give it to them already filled out? and is there still weights in the california prisons

No weights although they are considering reinstating them thanks to Arnie. The visiting form has to be initiated and signed by him from the institution and then he mails it to you. They tell you to allow six weeks but I have gotten a couple back in less time. Also, I don't know if it is true in every facility in the CDC, but at CMC pencils only to write, no pens.

thank u for the infor i thought that since i downloaded the form 106 i could fill it out and send it to him but i guess that wont work i was trying to make it easy but thats the california system makes everything more difficult than it has to be

THANK YOU MUCH I spent hours searching for the form instead of waiting for my fiance mail me the form. He violates his parole... & so... I'm all new to this.

THANKS AGAIN for the form.

God Bless You.

Sweetymerlot :)


Thank you, Barbara...& David!:D

It's been a while since I first had to search around for "newbie" info. I don't remember what all of those things were. But I'm sure there are plenty of people that aren't as senile :confused: as I am and ask, or post, some of the specifics our new "sisters & brothers" in the struggle will need to know.
Some issues everyone new to Planet Prison always wants know about is visiting information, phone call info, mail info, and generally what to expect.
Since this can vary from prison to prison, I thought it would be helpful to start with those prisons that function as a reception center.

There are currently 11 Reception Centers:

CCWF - Central California Womens Facility (Chowchilla)
CIM - California Institution for Men (Chino)
CIW - California Institution for Women (Corona)
CTF - Correctional Training Facility (Soledad)
DVI - Deuel Vocational Institute (Tracy)
HDSP - High Desert State Prison (Susanville)
NKSP - North Kern State Prison (Delano)
RJD - R.J. Donavan Correctional Facility (San Diego)
SQ - San Quentin State Prison (San Quentin)
VSPW - Valley State Prison Prison for Women (Chowchilla)
WSP - Wasco State Prison (Wasco)

All reception centers have glass visits only. That means you can only visit for a set amount of time, usually by appointment only.
But first you'll have to be approved to visit your loved one.
As of May 2004, all visitor application forms have to be signed and mailed by the prisoner. A prisoner can get the form (CDC 106) through his/her counselor. An alternative is to mail a blank form CDC 106 to the prisoner, since sometimes they run into a problem getting the form from their counselor.
The form can be downloaded here. (It's attached to this post-look below.)
The average time to be approved (or denied) for visiting is anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. However, it can take longer if a prison falls behind in processing visitor requests, or loses staff due to vacation, sickness, etc.
It's important to complete the form truthfully. Even juvenile arrests that turned out to be dismissed will show up during a background check.
If ANYTHING on file with DMV or the DOJ (Department of Justice) is not listed on the form, you will be denied!

All mail to prisoners has to have their CDC number in the address.
All prisons will return mail to the sender if they cannot identify the inmate.
Mailing addresses to each prison can be found on the CDC website (http://www.cdc.state.ca.us/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/default.asp).

Prisoners cannot call out or receive calls while in reception, unless there is a family emergency (death) and the family has contacted the inmate's counselor or chaplain. The prison will usually allow a prisoner to call home during such times.

Prisoners cannot receive packages while in reception.

Hope this helped to get us started :)

Heidi

Oh, so I can't mail the form in? After downloading the form, I was happy...now I just read your message :-( thank you much for the info :-(

Hello, thanks for helping us with our questions!!!. My boyfriend is in Susanville, Ca. Can I put stickers on the outside of his envelopes? Inside letters? I have read girls talk about it but, I'm just not sure. I hope you know the answer. Thanks again, Stacy:confused: Ok we are open for business :) lets hear your questions. Barb

No Stickers! The only sticky on an envelope should be the stamp:-)
I don't know of any prison that still allows stickers on their mail.
Sorry:-(

Well, my question is thanks to Barb I finally figured out how to post a thread, but now I can't figure out how to re-visit it..LOL

How do I get back to this sub forum also...Once I leave wherever I am I can't seem to figure out how to get back! Good thing I can laugh at myself..

Jeanne:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

I got a visitors form from my hubby @ CIM..where do I mail it back to??????thanks, Daryl