hey. it's been great to find this site. been very comforting to see there are others who are understand the emotional rollercoaster and offer comfort, advice and support.
my bf has gone in to PPP about 2 wks ago and it's been 3 days since i sent our first letter and now i have a few questions regarding MAIL:
1. does he have access to stationary, paper, stamps
2. does he have to buy it
3. am i allowed to send pens, etc
4. exactly what sort of things will be rejected, if it is rejected do they send it back to me or just trash it
5. can i send photos from mens magazines, not necessarily adult material
6. how long is the process of screening letters
PHONE CALLS
1. how are calls limited, is it according to minutes or sessions
2. how many different people can be on their phone lists, when they call does the called know its from a prison straight away(because i live at home and my parents aren't aware that i have a bf in prison)
VISITS:
1. how many ppl can be on lists
2. how long are visits
3. are there conjugal visits, is it only for married couples
4. what are contact visits like.

im sorry to bombard u guys with these questions when i could just call up the place =] but, they won't tell me what i can get away with. =] not that i want to push limits. also, it's just that the last time i called, their unfriendliness intimidated me! so if u know the answers to any of them, please let me know, and if there is any additional info u think i could do with (im a newbie to the jail system), feel free to tell me, any info would be greatly appreciated.
THANKS!

Hi Amber, let me answer those questions

1. does he have access to stationary, paper, stamps
Yes

2. does he have to buy it
Yes, he has to buy them from commisary (canteen)

3. am i allowed to send pens, etc
No, thats considered contraband

4. exactly what sort of things will be rejected, if it is rejected do they send it back to me or just trash it
If it is rejected, they put it in his property. The things you arent allowed to send, are books, kids drawings with glitter on them, etc. (anything glued down). They will put it in his property, and he will recieve it when he leaves the prison.

5. can i send photos from mens magazines, not necessarily adult material
Some prisons allow naked photos, some dont. Anything to do with intercouse, etc, is not allowed in. I wouldnt send anything that showed to much, just in case.

6. how long is the process of screening letters
They are screened within a day of recieving them, I believe. They get there mail through fairly quickley.

PHONE CALLS
1. how are calls limited, is it according to minutes or sessions
If they have money in there phone account, they can call as many times they like to, as long as there is money in there phone account. Depending on his security level, he will get 6 minutes in secure, or 12 minute sessions in residential, but he can call back, if he has the funds available.

2. how many different people can be on their phone lists, when they call does the called know its from a prison straight away(because i live at home and my parents aren't aware that i have a bf in prison)
He is allowed to have as many people as he likes. It has to be approved by the prison, they contact you. When he calls, the first thing you get is a recorded message, such as, "this is a call from a correctional institution"... and the rest of the message, stating the phone rules, and if you dont want to obey with those rules, hang up. As soon as he calls, you get the message before you get to hear his voice.

VISITS:
1. how many ppl can be on lists
As many people as they like, they have to be approved by the prison.

2. how long are visits
They are on the weekend, each prison has different times, so I would check first. You have to fill out a federal check, through the prison. You get non contact visit, and it takes around 4 weeks to get approved for contact visits. If you have visited a prison before in your state, you can go straight to contact visit.

3. are there conjugal visits, is it only for married couples
No, definately not in Australia. Not even for married couples.

4. what are contact visits like.
You go into like a visitation park, and there are steel chairs, tables, etc. You can hug and kiss at the beginning of the visit, and at the end, and hold hands during your visit.

Anymore questions, feel free to ask :) Thats what we are here for.

Also, you can put money in his trust account there, if you are worried about him not having the funds to get stamps and stationary, and you cant have calls transfered to your cell phone.

thank you so much for all ur info!! =] damn! i was hoping that he could call mobiles cause of my parents, i guess i will have to organise some sort of system with him, like i go to a friends house on a set day at a set time. do u know how much calls cost.
i think i read somewhere that ur from QLD, if u are, does those things u just told me apply to victoria prisons too. if i got it wrong sorry!! =]

with depositing money:
-can anyone deposit money
-will he know who the money is from
-how do i deposit money in, through the bank or do i have to go to PPP

thanks a million again.

No, its all the same through out Australia, I am in QLD. Calls are the same as public telephones so if he is calling you local, its only a 40c call. He cant have currency in prison, they give them a pin code for the phone, where they put in there code, and when a number is approved by the prison, they press in a pincode, then say, you are 1 on his list, so he would press one, and it would automatically dial that number (they dont dial the numbers out, its all coded). They can only call people approved on there phone list. As long as he has money on his phone account (it is kind of like a phone card, but not really), he can make calls.

Anyone can deposit money to a inmate. He wont know where the money came from, unless you tell him. If you put it in when visiting, it will come up as visits. (you will get a reciept though). You can deposit money directly at the prison reception for him, or you can call the prison, and ask them where to send a money order (they will take money orders if you cant get to the prison). I always deposited money during visits, so they would write me a reciept there and there. I know ladies did send money orders , but check with the prison. DOnt be worried about calling the prison either, the ladies on reception are normally rather nice , and helpful. I understand its all overwhelming at first, but it does get easier. I believe they can spend up to $100 a week, when they get into residential. He should be allocated a job to, (or he will apply for one), it doesnt pay much, but it helps.

just to update. (maybe for other ppl to read for future reference)
last time i sent stamps and envelopes, they kept the stamps but gave him the envelopes.
he is allowed up to 6 photos per letter
oh and because he cant call my home landline number, his mother called me and offered to set up call diverting/forwarding to my cell phone. so i got to speak to him for the first time in 5 wks.
and for me to visit him. he needs my home address, date of birth, name to fill in a visitor appplication form. after PPP approves it then they send me a letter asking for my permission via mail.
thats all i know for now. i realise that its probably similar to everywhere else in aus, but at least ths is info at PPP. =]

Hi Amber
Thanks for the info, no, that is different from other parts in Australia. The bit about visitation, we are the ones that have to go down to the prison, and fill out the forms for visitation, they dont get to do that on our behalf, so thats good information, cause its good to know, in PPP prison, you dont have to do that :D Thanks.

That was really nice of his mother to do that as well, to your cell phone. Just never mention thats what you are doing, cause call diversion/forwarding, isnt allowed. I guess a heap of people do it, but just keep it quiet, as they record all the conversations.

I am so glad that you finally got to talk to your man, and you will be able to visit him soon. ((hugs))

am allowed to be cavity searched going in to visit my baby

Hi Trizle welcome to PTO :) Its good to have you here :D

it nice to have support by like minded people, take care all.

Hey there,
I have a few questions, I have a friend who is port phillip, and me and my friends want to send him a card that sings when you open it, will they accept it or will they put with his property. :)

Hi Cindy welcome to PTO
Normally pop up cards are considered contraband and it goes into there property, they dont get it until they are released. :(

inmates in NSW are permitted to make calls direct to cell phones, my partner has only ever rang me on the cell, money orders are the only form of money u can send and it has to have a VIN number recorded on the back of it, to get a VIN you have to visit

i dont know much only the basic stuff, visits are everyday, contact on the weekends, phone calls are for 20 minutes, and theirs a prison bus that picks you up from laverton train station. they can have paper and pens to write to you we cant supply them with anything they have to buy them all them selves.:)

more than likely he wont get it or they'll take that music thing out of the card.:p

My Partner was in PPP for a year. Only just moving in January.
PPP is classed as High security. Therefore alot of things cannot be sent in. The musical card will not be allowed. Even if you take out the musical part. Magazines are not allowed to be sent in. As he has access to the canteen every Tuesday for this, PPP canteen has alot more avail in it then other prisons too. Letters are usually screened every night and he will get them usually two days after you post them. Visits vary 1hr to 2.5hr depending if he is enhanced. When you go in you need to get a number from front desk and wait in waiting room.They will call you over. They then take your Id scan your hand and stamp your hand. You leave money etc there.Then you go into a new line, Here you will need to be scanned put your money on desk to be checked and have them check your top of socks waistband soles of shoes. Then you place your hand in uv light to check stamp. You will then proceed into a smaller waiting room. This room can be yuck for those who dont like small spaces. Here you wait for a guard to come down and walk you to the visitors room.You will start at 1hr visits sitting on a small hard seat with no back very uncomfy. You will need to registar at the desk after being let in. They will pick out a seat/ table as they are joined and numbered. There is only vending machines there for drinks and food. Take change. He will not be able to leave the seat until visit is over. He will be wearing a jumpsuit. Color changes depending if enhanced or not. If enhanced he will be able to go outside. The visits will be between 9am to 11.30 and 1.30 to 5. This may have changed. There is public transport available. No visits on Wed.
Most Vic prisons allow 11 people on the visit list. I did not recieve a letter from PPP to inform me I was on the list. Nor did anyone else he had approved. They notified him. Phone calls last 11min 50sec. for $12.
Conjugal visits are called Family visits in Vic. Yeah you can get them if you can prove you had a relationship to this person. ie: bills in both names, kids together, etc. If not you do need to be married. These visit are not available at PPP. Contact visits there are limited, you can hug and kiss on hello and goodbye but nothing else.
He can have $120 on spend account and if he is eligable for STD calls he can $50 on phone.
There is a pamphlet at front desk with alot of info on it, about what you can and cant do there. Remeber to with clothes for your partner they are very strict.
If you have any more questions please feel free to PM me. Things may have changed a bit as a several new rules have been put in place around Vic. I know the unknow is daunting. Hope this helps.:)

hey..

how r u?? i dunno how 2 use this thing..2nite is my first time on this...:) ...
ppl on this site seem so friendly and like supportive..its mad.. :) ... ok well...i was just wondering if sum1 cood helppp me please...

ok me n my ex....2 cut a long story short...the last time we spoke, it was on very VERY bad terms, not long later i hear, that at a party him n his friends were punching on in a 2 story building, and my ex hit a guy and the guy fell off and died...my ex has always been in trouble with the police..he got sentenced 10-15 years...i havent spoken 2 him or heard from him since the last day i spoke 2 him..

i went nuts wen i first found out..all his friends wont tell me shit...coz hes got a name for himself, and they dont want anybodi 2 no nuffin..its driven me nuts...i rang the jail 2ce, the first time 2 see if i cood get in contact with him...and they gave me a postal address...i mailed him a letter...but still i feel like i want 2 do more....i want 2 see him...i wanna see if hes okai...i want 2 see if hes sad...u no what i mean?? hes such a fantastic guy..

so i guess my question is, how could i become on his visitors list?? i got a hint from the posts b4 that he has 2 approve...but how do i ask? or how does he get the choice?? will i know if he doesnt want 2...?? im thinking he will probably approve it, if he has the choice...well im hoping anyway....but what would i have 2 do??? coz the 2nd time i rang i said is there anything i can do 2 see him? and they're like no..all rude n shit...so do any of use know??? if u do ..that would be sooo good...i miss him so much!! thanks

Hi.
I personally can't help you much with your situation, But best bet would probably be to ring the jail on (03) 9296 2200 and ask them the information.
Good luck and keep us informed as to how it works.

Edit: Ahhh. Just re-read your message, and umm, I don't know now what you can do.

Hi Dana :), you cant put yourself on his visit list, he has to do that. If he does it and you have no criminal history, you will be approved. If you have priors you can still be approved but it needs to go to a Govener to make the decision, rather than it just be automatically done.

You have done the only thing you can do and that is to write to him and ask him to put you on the list. If he refuses, you can do nothing else as they will not let you in if you are not approved.

They wont give you much info on the phone and yes they can be quite rude.

I wish you luck :)

dreamer

I just found out that a friend of mine is at port phillip prison I would like to write to him but i was told i need a prison reference number and where his cell block is .do i conntact the prison and i another thing when i do write can he reply

He can reply to you. I found out people wrote to my Hubby just by putting his name on the envelope on it. Apparently at PPP you dont need the CRN or cell info.
When my Hubby was first locked up he had alot of people who had heard about him write and they knew nothing about him, that was at PPP.
The prison is not allowed to give you his information due to privacy.