I need to know if or how it's possible to get a message to an inmate. Can I fax them or call? It's to have my Man informed that I'd been in a car accident? Any help would be wonderful!!!

Angel

I need to know if or how it's possible to get a message to an inmate. Can I fax them or call? It's to have my Man informed that I'd been in a car accident? Any help would be wonderful!!!

AngelIs he in the CA Dept of Corrections prison, a Reception Center or lock-up unit, such as Administrative Segregation, or SHU? Are you married to him? If so, contact the prison where he is housed and get ahold of his Correctional Counselor. Let the Counselor know the details and he can either contact the inmate to let him know about your situation, or allow him an emergency phone call. If you are not married then I would suggest contacting him via his family, or write him to let him know. Emergency phone calls are typically granted for family members, or spouses only. I will also let you know that the Counselors are required to check the inmate's C-File to verify marital status before the call is granted. I only say this becasue I have ran across many in the past that say they are family members or spouses, but the C-File does not reflect it and the calls were denied. HTH.

psh I'm the pro in getting my husband messages. you could call and speak to the sargent on his yard or to his counselor if they tell you only if it's a life threat emergency then you call back another day and you say to the sargent the his couselor told me to call you the sargent and said that you could help me get a ,essage to my man.. he'll ask you questions and all that and you just bull through the whole way you'll probably get a bunch of different people but just remember everybody's names and it should work.also if they tell you write a letter tell them you have but the mail takes 2 to 3 weeks to get there and you cold die by then,,,,,you just have to know how to work them....

Hey, lets just LIE to them, that always works, and people always want to know why we ask so many questions when family members call the institution.

psh I'm the pro in getting my husband messages. you could call and speak to the sargent on his yard or to his counselor if they tell you only if it's a life threat emergency then you call back another day and you say to the sargent the his couselor told me to call you the sargent and said that you could help me get a ,essage to my man.. he'll ask you questions and all that and you just bull through the whole way you'll probably get a bunch of different people but just remember everybody's names and it should work.also if they tell you write a letter tell them you have but the mail takes 2 to 3 weeks to get there and you cold die by then,,,,,you just have to know how to work them....A perfect example of someone that causes all the headaches for the rest of everyone else. Straight up manipulates for bu!!****. Like Psycho said, now you understand why we ask so many questions to verify the nature of the EMERGENCY call. Thank you for the post rosie. You just showed the rest of the people on the forum of what causes alot of our problems when dealing with family and friends of the inmates. ;)

BTW, this is also why, at PBSP, we have the inmate put on "speakerphone" while he converses with the person that has the EMERGENCY. It's not that we are "nosey" or want to know what is going on in his life. It is to insure that it is a true emergency and the system is not being manipulated.

Gate Keeper,

I hope this is not typical of the reason on why inmates get emergency phone calls. It seems as if there is a lot of 'red tape' when there is an emergency and it would be great if people respected the 'protocols and policies' set in place, so when there is a TRUE emergency, a person can get through and have contact with their loved one -- in such a case.

Thanks for the explanation!

BTW, this is also why, at PBSP, we have the inmate put on "speakerphone" while he converses with the person that has the EMERGENCY. It's not that we are "nosey" or want to know what is going on in his life. It is to insure that it is a true emergency and the system is not being manipulated
Ya learn something new everyday! I wasn't aware of that as I haven't ever needed to call for an emergency and god willing never will.It does makes sense though

Gate Keeper,

I hope this is not typical of the reason on why inmates get emergency phone calls. It seems as if there is a lot of 'red tape' when there is an emergency and it would be great if people respected the 'protocols and policies' set in place, so when there is a TRUE emergency, a person can get through and have contact with their loved one -- in such a case.

Thanks for the explanation!No this is not typical. But you can now see that the reason there is "red tape" involved. It's due to the actions of a few. Unfortunately that is how our society works nowadays. The one's that take advantage of a person's instinct to be kind, result in all of us paying the price. Each time I get "gamed" (taken advantage of), and I find out the game, I will make sure that I take steps to not be gamed again. Sorry, but it's my nature. :(

P.S. In case of an emergency can't you call the counseler to get a message to your loved one?

You should contact his counselor to relay the message to him.
Or, have a letter overnighted to him.

P.S. In case of an emergency can't you call the counseler to get a message to your loved one?
You have to be an immediate family member that can be verified through the inmate's Central File (C-File). Everyone I have ever worked with has had enough compassion for the inmate and his family members to give the phone call. But, as you can see, rosie has stated in black and white, why we take the steps we do. I will go out of my way for a family member that has a true emergency to get the inmate ion the phone. I understand how important it is for you (the family and friends) to get ahold of them in an emergency. In 11 years I have had only one inmate's friend try to game an emergency phone call. The person was not a family member like she stated and finally admitted that she was a friend. It was not a true emergency. I wonder if that was the previous author. :rolleyes:

I have had such an emergency. When my husband was in reception, some serious joint financial decisions needed to be made. I needed to talk to my husband, so that we could deceide how to deal with it. I cannot take full responsibility of our joint assets.

So I called his counselor and relayed my bad news. He told me that he would make some calls, and I might get a call the next day. He said he understood that a wife must consult with her husband on such matters, but to get a call sooner may be impossible, it just took time. I was very thankful and gracious and hung up. My husband called me in about 45 minutes. We had 10 minutes to discuss the situation, and we caught up for a couple of minutes too. We were not on speakerphone, and the call was collect. I was so relieved to speak with my husband, and we of course, resolved our financial crisis.

I called the prison the next day and asked to speak with his counselor again. I left him a voice mail thanking him for going out of his way to be compassionate to our situation. He actually called me back and thanked me for my thank you call to him, that it was being able to help now and again that made his job worthwhile.

So the system does work, and there are really people there that care, and can help. The key is to be honest, polite and thankful for what they do for you.

I also had an emergency and I was at wits end. What I did was call my husband's counselor and spoke with him and explained the situation. Then I called the chaplin and explained the situation once again. The counselor in turn told my husband to call home -- but he did not give him the bad news. He called from the couselor's office and yes we were on the speaker phone. But I was so distraught by the emergency that I did not trip on the speaker phone. At that point I just wanted to speak with my husband I was not concerned who was listening or why. And the call was not made collect.
At the end of the phone conversation I thanked the counselor for allowing my husband to call home. Then I turned around and sent him and very nice thank you card.
I am firm believer in being kind and returning kindness when it is showed to you.
Yes there are always ways to get around the system and all the rules that are in place. But you know sometimes it does pay to do things by going thru the chain of command.
Now I am not above stretching the truth -- or as some would say telling a bald face lie. But you know I have found in certain situations it is best for me to be straight with folks and tell the truth. And for me as forgetful as I have been known to be -- it is so much easier to remember when you have told the truth.
When lying you tell another lie to cover up the first one and on and on and on.
Now we all gotta do what ever we feel is right in certain situtions for ourselves.
Opinions are like butt holes we all got one -- and for me this is only my 2 cents worth!!!!!
Take it for whatever it is worth to you!

I too had no idea you could get a message relayed to your man in case of a emergency. Good to know.

When my son went in and was still in reception, I spoke with his counselor about another issue, and while on the phone, I told him that my son's second child would be born soon and asked if there were a way he could get a message to my son and let him know that his wife and baby were fine when it all finally happened. He said to call him and let him know and tell him what hospital and stuff and he would see to it if he could.

When it did happen, I called and left the counselor a message. Within about 15 or 20 minutes, the counselor called the hospital room and asked his wife if she wanted to speak to my son. She said yes, of course, and then they talked for about 20 minutes, NOT collect.
My son said he had no idea why he was being called into the counselor's office and he thought he was in trouble or something. And then the counselor made the call, looked at my son and smiled, and handed him the phone with a "congratulations." It was very cool. Brings tears to my eyes even now, I am so grateful for this man's kindness....he didn't have to do that.
I sent him a thank you card right away, such a small thing when compared to the abundance of my gratitude.

Yes, when we as family members abuse the rules, we create more problems for everyone. Most of the time, honest, open communication is the best for all.

I Called Where Brian Is At Now I Talked To One Of The Co's Told Him I Was Pregnant And I Was Going To The Hospital Cause I Was Having Cramps He Went And Got Brian And I Got A Call In Like 20 Minutes I Was Told By Brian That As Soon As I Go In Laor They Will Can And Get Him, Take Him To The Phone And Let Us Talk .

My mans counselor is extra nice too, he lets me talk to my man when my mans been around his office when i call! He's so nice! I always go through his counselor to get him messages! I know they are not suppose to give messages unless its an emergency, but my man knows his counselor from way back when he was in juvi, so he goes the extra mile for us! He lets me call every other week to check on him when he's on lockdown too! He's a real nice guy!

it's just about knowning how to work the system... There are some counselors that are not all nice with you.. you could be so nice to them and they shut the door in your face...lilmamas 21 is one of the fortune ones so all i say is that you can't go throught the counselor there are other ways.... and some of the CO's can be rude for no reason...

A perfect example of someone that causes all the headaches for the rest of everyone else. Straight up manipulates for bu!!****. Like Psycho said, now you understand why we ask so many questions to verify the nature of the EMERGENCY call. Thank you for the post rosie. You just showed the rest of the people on the forum of what causes alot of our problems when dealing with family and friends of the inmates. ;)

BTW, this is also why, at PBSP, we have the inmate put on "speakerphone" while he converses with the person that has the EMERGENCY. It's not that we are "nosey" or want to know what is going on in his life. It is to insure that it is a true emergency and the system is not being manipulated.
IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD JUST BE STRAIGHT UP THERE WOULDNT BE SO MANY OF OUR LOVED ONES IN PRISON. IF SCOTT HAD JUST KIVED BY THE RULES AND NOT BEEN STUPID, HE WOULDNT BE THERE NOW. WE ALL DEAL WITH RULES ON A DAILY BASIS AND THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY. LIKE IT OR NOT.. UNFORTUNATELY, WE AT HOME ALSO DO TIME WITH OUR LOVED ONES... AND WE ALL SUFFER GREATLY. TRUTH IS ALWAYS BEST!

Thanks to all who replied!!! This is an important topic & I hope others can contribute their experiences too...

Angel