:confused: Just wondering if anyone could tell me a few things...if I need to bring quarters only.....if we are sitting down or do we get to walk around....the process once you get there.....anything ya'll.....I get to have my first visit on Sunday and I am nervous. Also we were non- contact and I sent him our marriage papers...does anyone know how long it will take for us to get approved????? Thanks in advance! :)

Well, I'll try to tell you all I know. Our son was there for about 3 months and we got very familiar with the place. You can only take in quarters in a clear bag. A ziploc works well. I carry a little plastic clear purse. They will check your car when you go through the gate. Sometimes they check the trunk and the engine but you never know. Just depends on who is on the gate. They will ask for your license and his number. After you go through the gate, you will go to the parking spaces. They are real picky about where you park so make sure you are only in the visitors spaces. I would call on Friday and see what kind of visit you get. If it is non-contact, you will be in a room with LOTS of people and you will talk through a glass with a phone. Oh forgot, after you park, you go into a building and get your blue slip. Once again, it depends on who is on the desk as to what happens next. Sometimes, they make you wait in your car and other times you have to stand outside. You just never know. All in all the guards are nice to you. Sometimes you run into a smarty if you know what I mean. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me. Also, if you are over 300 miles, you might get a 4 hour visit. Just be sure to call on Fri and ask for visitation to make sure. Good luck and have a great visit.

:confused: Just wondering if anyone could tell me a few things...if I need to bring quarters only.....if we are sitting down or do we get to walk around....the process once you get there.....anything ya'll.....I get to have my first visit on Sunday and I am nervous. Also we were non- contact and I sent him our marriage papers...does anyone know how long it will take for us to get approved????? Thanks in advance! :) shes right sweetie, good luck! lol

Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it! I am scared to death to go there, but I know it will be worth it!

It will basically be about the same as it was at Dawson, but with "real" guards - i.e., state employees who are accountable for their actions and who are aware that they are not supposed to be blatantly rude and stupid!! Sorry - had to jump in your thread and let you know how much I miss our old jail!! :p You'll be fine!! ;)

Thanks SailorMoon....I can always count on you!!! Wish me luck...I am as nervous as nervous can possibly be!

Okay SailorMoon, rubbing it in that some of us still have to go to Dawson! Wonder how that will go this week.......

Have fun on your visit AEMS!!!

Thanks Key jo. Good luck to you at Dawson! I know what a zoo that place can be!!!! Right now I would rather be going there though!

About the contact visit, you have to wait 90 days for him to be in the TDC System. I know that because tomorrow will be our first visit. But if he has you on his list as spouse, you don't have to worry about sending anything in. They told me not to worry about it (but I still carry a copy in my purse just in case? Depends how far you live is how long your visit will last. If you live 300 miles or more you get 4hrs, if you live closer, then its 2 hrs. I usually try to go before 9 am to make sure there is not too many people there and enjoy the visit, but if you wait to go later, you are running the risk of having to wait more than an hour to go in. So far I have had no problems during my visits. They are pretty nice there (that has been my experience). Just remember to be carefull how you dress because they are strict about that. Anyway, if you have anymore questions, let me know.

Middleton unit is cool... you can bring $20 IN QUARTERS no paper money in a sandwich bag is best. I have been going to Robertson unit next door for 2 years. There is a hospitality house you can stay at for free right accross the street the # is 325-548-2180

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/offender_family_guide/offguide-home.htm

This will give u some additional information, though each unit also has their own little ways of doing things. I've never heard of the 'quarters only' rule. Even when my husband was at Middleton as long as it was only change it didn't matter what type of coin it was.

As for the 4 hour visits, u must request those and they must be approved by the Warden. They are not automatically given just because u live over 300 miles away. Hope ur first visit goes well!!

How Did Your First Visit Go???

I want to thank all of you for the helpful information. The visit was good. He was shocked to see me, but extremely happy. We got our two hour contact visit. The drive by myself was long, but worth it. I got really depressed when I had to leave. I have been crying ever since. When they told us that our time was up I think my whole world just fell apart. :( I hate seeing him there and I just want to bring him home. I plan on going again this week. I want to see him as much as possible while he is there in case he gets moved really far away. Thanks again for all the help. :) Does anyone know if this week we will have non contact since we had contact on Sunday??? And does it matter that I went on Sunday...can I go on Saturday this week or does it have to be a week apart??? :confused: Thanks again for all the information and support.

you will get 2 contact visits a month. and only one visit per weekend. this next weekend start off a new month so you should two for the month of sept.

i am glad you had a good visit. its hard for me to leave my husband to....

How many contact visits u get a month depends on his classification. We get three a month. Visitation is Saturday or Sunday. If u go on Sunday one week, it won't matter that u go Saturday the next.