Okay do they still allow overnight visits in the state of california? And do they allow people convicted of 187 to have overnight visits? If someone knows please let me know

I know that at Solano State Prison in California you are allowed overnight visits if you are married. Every 90 days you and your spouse share a 2 bedroom apartment for 3 days, and of course there is a long approval process you must go through. Posting this question in the California forum may help with your answer too.

Inmates doing Life in prison aren't allowed to have Family Visits, but yes Family Visits are allowed in California.

what about serving 25 to life?

Hmmm, 25 to life...... I would say no, but you never know so I hope somebody comes along with the answer.

If the inmate has "Life" attached to his sentence(XX to Life, Life W/O Possibility, etc...), then the answer is no. He is a lifer and not entitled to family visiting.

Gate Keeper is correct. However the inmate would go to board and they would
determine if he was eligable for parole or not. But he must serve 85% of his
sentence first before he would be considered eligable for parole. That would
be 85% of the 25 years, but because he has life at the end of the sentence
time, it would all depend on the parole board.

My husband is at pleasant Valley state prison in california and we have been waiting for about 5 months and we just got approved this last week I know they have to check with their counselors first to see if they can get over night visits

It they have not changed those convicted of a 187 were allowed over nite visits.

He just has to have an out date- and no covictions for domestic violence.... and you should be good, for an overnight visit :)

Well From What My Man Told Me That The Only Way U Can Have An Overnight Visit Is If Your Married But I Don't Know If Inmates Convicted Of 187 Can Have Over Night Vists I Think They Do But I'm Not Sure Just Have Him Ask Someone Who Works At The Prison.

Kinda funny reading what everyone thinks about family visits. I did time in california and had family visits. I was also there when they took them away from lifers (any lifer) and sex offenders. Sex offenders and lifers still are not allowed family visits. Some lifers who get a release date from the parole board can be considered for family visits. That's it. They can refuse any inmate family visits who has a history of domestic violence also. Family visits are not just for your wife, you can have your kids, brothers, sisters, parents, and grandparents on your family visit. Any inmate who has a problem following the rules and recieves a 115 ( a write-up for bad behavior) can also have his family visits taken away for 6 months at a time. One of my old cell mates Charles "Tex" Watson , (yes he was a member of the Manson family and did committ murder) had been in prison for years, gotten married, had children, started a ministry, (a ministry that actually helps people with the money they get) to only have his family visits taken away. I hear from people about what a bad guy he was. That he doesn't deserve family visits. They all just seem to forget about his wife and kids. Why do they have to suffer? What most people don't realize, is that taking family visits from lifers and sex offenders has opened the door to taking them from everyone. While I was doing time it was understood by all the convicts, that it would be only a matter of time before they were revoked for everyone. Good luck on dealing with the system.

All the prisons in California that i know of, no they cannot have family visits. At the current time people in for murder, life, sexual offense, domestic battery and one other that i cannot remember has the rights taken away when it comes to family visits. My husband was in for 4 counts of attempted and his rights were taken away. My current man is in for kidnapping/ransom and they took his. If you type in AB 112 in search you will get more info. They want to also take family visits away for other things now. Read it pretty interesting. Sorry, if you find a prison that allows them please do let us now

[QUOTE=GardenerDude]Kinda funny reading what everyone thinks about family visits. I did time in california and had family visits. I was also there when they took them away from lifers (any lifer) and sex offenders. Sex offenders and lifers still are not allowed family visits. Some lifers who get a release date from the parole board can be considered for family visits. That's it. They can refuse any inmate family visits who has a history of domestic violence also. Family visits are not just for your wife, you can have your kids, brothers, sisters, parents, and grandparents on your family visit. Any inmate who has a problem following the rules and recieves a 115 ( a write-up for bad behavior) can also have his family visits taken away for 6 months at a time. One of my old cell mates Charles "Tex" Watson , (yes he was a member of the Manson family and did committ murder) had been in prison for years, gotten married, had children, started a ministry, (a ministry that actually helps people with the money they get) to only have his family visits taken away. I hear from people about what a bad guy he was. That he doesn't deserve family visits. They all just seem to forget about his wife and kids. Why do they have to suffer? What most people don't realize, is that taking family visits from lifers and sex offenders has opened the door to taking them from everyone. While I was doing time it was understood by all the convicts, that it would be only a matter of time before they were revoked for everyone. Good luck on dealing with the system.[/QUOTE } I think the rationale behind family visits is to encourage the family to stay together and maintain a strong bond with the inmate so that a support unit is in place when they get out. That seems to be the best factor in keeping them from reoffending and out of the system. It wouldn't make sense for lifers on that basis.

Currently someone serving a determinate sentence (i.e. has an out date) may be elegible for overnight visits BUT there is a new bill that was introduced Feb. 1st that would take family visits away from anyone convicted of a "violent offense." This is a very important bill to oppose by writing, calling, and emailing your elected representatives because it's just chipping away at taking family visits away for everyone. Please see this thread http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104290 and please please please make your voice heard.

Jessica

Inmates doing Life in prison aren't allowed to have Family Visits, but yes Family Visits are allowed in California.
I don't understand why any prison would prevent someone serving life from seeing their family. This is horrible. I don't care what they did, they still should be able to see their family. They are already being punished in the worst possible way. Can anyone answer my question? This practice seems so unfair and inhumane.:angry:

My husband has had violent offenses in the past.. but now he is just there on a parole violaion (abscounding)... do you think we will be eligable?

He can have them, it will up to the prison officials, they can say yes or no. Also a quick reply to "sickofprisons" sayiny you don't see why lifers should get family visits because it does'nt deter them from crime because they are not getting out. I heard the lifers with their children in the regular visiting rooms after family visits were taken away. It would break the heart of any human being to hear how sad they were and how much they missed their dad. Aren't the kids reason enough?

waiting4Paul: You probably won't get him to the mainline and get through the approval process in the time he has. I'm assuming he has no more than 1 year flat time. It can take months to get to the mainline and you can't even START to be approved until then. Just for your info: I'd send in a certified copy (the one from the clerks office, with the embossed seal) to his counselor for his file. He'll need it to qualify and you might as well get it done now, while you're waiting. My hubby did 27 months of actual time and it took us 15 months to get our first visit.

it is sad but take it from the prisons side. Family visits were taken away from murderers and lifers because of an inmate that killed his wife during a family visit. But then you can have someone in there for a less serious crime and he could still kill someone. Sorry, it sucks both ways.


I don't understand why any prison would prevent someone serving life from seeing their family. This is horrible. I don't care what they did, they still should be able to see their family. They are already being punished in the worst possible way. Can anyone answer my question? This practice seems so unfair and inhumane.:angry:

That was not the reason that family visits were taken away. Believe me it was all political.
There are certain States that do still have family visits for lifers. So the security issue concerning family visits are irrelevant.

it is sad but take it from the prisons side. Family visits were taken away from murderers and lifers because of an inmate that killed his wife during a family visit. But then you can have someone in there for a less serious crime and he could still kill someone. Sorry, it sucks both ways.

Sorry when my husband was in for murder this is the reason he was given by his counselor at Delano.


That was not the reason that family visits were taken away. Believe me it was all political.
There are certain States that do still have family visits for lifers. So the security issue concerning family visits are irrelevant.

I would be interested in talking with you about your thesis. It was something I was considering writing about too.

How long is the approval process? What about some one with attempted murder with an out date would that person possibley be considered?

No, no one in the stae of california with murder, domestic violence, sexual offenses, lifers are entitled to family visits.

How long is the approval process? What about some one with attempted murder with an out date would that person possibley be considered?

I would also like to know how long the process is for family visits? My husband is still in reception (7months now) but about 3 months in he had asked me to send him 2 copies of our marriage certificate and he said one was for his counselor and one was for himself. Does the counselor need the original copy? How long does it take once he gets to mainline?

I sent my original marriage certificate in. They made a copy and gave it to my husband and he mailed it back to me. However, when I went for my family visit I still brought it with me just in case. Processing for a family visit takes a good 2 hours. my husband is a level one and it only took him about 4 months to get to mainline. The family visits are nice, However, it is extremely hard when you come home. I would say it took about a good week to really get back on track. But I would not give it up for the world. Hopefully we will be able to have another one soon.

The counselor needs an original. At Mule Creek it took us less than two months to be approved and have our first visit date, but that depends on the facility and the workload. And ALWAYS take a copy with you to a family visit. First, becasue the rules say you have to have it and even though they may not always ask you for it, they could. I left a copy of that and my daughters birth certificate in the glove box in my car. It never took that long to process in, but the most we ever had at one time was 3, and that took us around an hour.

So if I send in my original certificate then I will get it back?

yes you will get it back. Just keep on your husband to ask for it back so he can mail it to you. The officers will not mail it directly to you they will give it to your husband

I Want To Know If You Have To Be Married Prior To The Inmate Being Locked Up To Have Family Visits. We Hve Been Approved For Family Visits, We Just Have To Wait To Get Date And We Just Got Married In December. Does Anyone Know?

My cousin was conceived during a family visit way way back when. (She is in her late 20's now, I believe.) Her dad says they were lost because the state took them away. Her dad has been in folsom since he was 17 yrs old.

I don't understand why any prison would prevent someone serving life from seeing their family. This is horrible. I don't care what they did, they still should be able to see their family. They are already being punished in the worst possible way. Can anyone answer my question? This practice seems so unfair and inhumane.:angry:

Well, ironically someone here mentioned Charles 'Tex' Watson as an example earlier - and that man is actually the very reason why family visits for lifers got discontinued. Here's how and why:

Doris Tate, mother of Sharon Tate (one of the people that was killed by Watson), couldn't stand the idea that this man got married and had 4 children (thanks to the conjugal visits) while had taken away her daughter and soon-to-be-born grandson from her. So she set to work and through her connections with some people high up in the Republican party she managed to get a bill passed (I believe in 1982) that resulted in family visits for lifers being discontinued. I can see where she's coming from and feel very sorry for her loss but I too believe this is totally wrong and definitely inhumane. But then, so is the justice system and prison system as a whole so maybe they're just being consistent? :rolleyes:

She also got that bill passed that enables the governor to veto a positive recommendation for parole and send someone back to prison, thus overruling the BPT. In my opinion this bill makes the BPT look like an incompetent bunch of clowns and very wrongfully so - I'm certain they're professionals and know what they're doing. If you don't trust the opinion of an impartial group of professionals, then who can you trust?

Governors are politicians. Politicians take political decisions. And political decisions aren't always the right ones as far as justice is concerned. Do governors need a degree in law in order to become governor? I doubt it, although it should be a requirement if you want him to take legal decisions. A governor, being a politician, will only do whatever makes him look good in the polls. So ultimately Joe Public (most of the time being uninformed or severely malinformed) gets the final say. Is that justice prevailing? I have serious doubts about that.

Many people applaud Mrs Tate's political activism for victim's rights (victim's revenge would be a more fitting term actually), but from where I'm standing the only thing she achieved was a further curruption of the justice system as far as the State of California is concerned. Not a legacy I'd be proud of...

is there a MINIMUM he has to be in prison for an overnight visit?

Rex will only be in til March of '07 so I was wondering if there was a lot of paperwork involved in getting a family visit or if its pretty quick...:idea:

It takes a few months, but I also think it could depend on which prison he is at.

Inmates doing Life in prison aren't allowed to have Family Visits, but yes Family Visits are allowed in California. ifcan sx offenders have family visits

so if you r in for false imprisionment and rape u are not intotled to family visits?

In Calipatria We Heard They Stopped F.v Because Of An Inmate Killing His Wife, Thats The Reason We Were Given.

Title 15
Family Visits Section 3174.1

Family visits shall not be permitted for inmates convicted of a violent offense involving a minor or a family member or any sex offense, which includes but is not limited to the following penal code sections:

Family Visit section 3174.2

Family visits shall not be permitted for inmates who are in any of the following categories: sentenced to life without the possibility of parole: sentenced to life without a parole date established by the Board of Prison Terms: Designated Close A or Close B custody: designated or condemned inmate: assigned to a reception center: assigned to an ad/seg unit: assigned to a security housing unit; designated "C" status: guilty of one or more Division A or Division B offenses within the last 12 months; or guilty of narcotics trafficking while incarcerated in state prison.

Sorry, how were you approved for family visits and you are not even married yet?


I Want To Know If You Have To Be Married Prior To The Inmate Being Locked Up To Have Family Visits. We Hve Been Approved For Family Visits, We Just Have To Wait To Get Date And We Just Got Married In December. Does Anyone Know?

Sorry, how were you approved for family visits and you are not even married yet?I think she means they were married in December, or am I confused?

That seems to be the best factor in keeping them from reoffending and out of the system. It wouldn't make sense for lifers on that basis.

The fact is, the vast majority (more than 80%) of lifers in California are eligible for parole, so the argument above doesn't make sense.

Anyway, that wasn't why it happened. The reason they were taken away from lifers was ex-Gov. Pete Wilson wanted to appear tough on criminals. It was a political decision, not a corrections decision.

There are important reasons (besides not reoffending) that family visits are good for lifers and their families, such as staying close to kids they already have, not to mention wives, siblings, grandparents. etc. Just because they have life doesn't mean they're dead to their loved ones. And family visits help keep long-timers on their best behavior!

Back to the original question, GardenerDude and GateKeeper have it right. And thanks, Cysreese, that explains it best.

Your correct....I read it wrong. I thought she said she was getting married in December.....


I think she means they were married in December, or am I confused?

does anyone know how family visits go in chuckawalla valley

what about serving 25 to life?
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7183/babenmewi9.jpg
My husband is serving 15 years for 187 and we get family visit, you might want to just tell him to put in for a family visit and usually they will tell you if you two are approved for one or not, i dont see why not. just as long as he hasnt been in trouble for hitting you or another woman then he should be ok.

In California the inmates is told if they are allowed family visits when they are sent from reception to where ever they are going. 25 to life is usually murder and California dioes not allow murderers to have conjugals, trailor visits, family visits whatever you want to call them. California is very strict on who can have them.


http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7183/babenmewi9.jpg
My husband is serving 15 years for 187 and we get family visit, you might want to just tell him to put in for a family visit and usually they will tell you if you two are approved for one or not, i dont see why not. just as long as he hasnt been in trouble for hitting you or another woman then he should be ok.

Here is a link to title 15 Article 7. Visiting. Hope this helps.

http://www.rh.cc.ca.us/LEO/corr508/Title_15.htm

me and my man are going to get married soon. hes in for assalt w/a firearm doing 8 yrs. will we qualify for family visits?

That is right. An imate that is doing a life, 25 to life sentence is not eligible for Conjugal visitation. Period. Perhaps wives should get together and start a petition and overturn this judgement. Remember we still live in America and if you sit and do nothing, NOTHING WILL CHANGE. Do it for yourselves and for your significant others. Bombard the CDC with signatures until they have no choice but to overturn their decision. If you don't ...............

The law reads 15 years or under can have family visits. That's what we fought when we were negotiating for a plea bargain. Under 15 years. And as previously discussed if there are any, I mean any types of domestic abuse on their record, even if charges weren't pressed, they will not be allowed family visits.