Does anyone have any info. on Tracy recieving? I couldn't find my son, I called the inmate locator phone number. There they told me my son's V# he's in recieving. . . how much longer do I have to wait until he writes me a letter or lets me know he's ok ????? It would mean alot to me if someone could inform me this prison stuff is all new to me :confused:

My boyfriend was in Tracy recieving he was there for a couple of months before being assigned his prison.He may not have supplies right of the bat to write you with so that could be why you haven't heard from him yet.Hang in there I hope you hear from him soon!

Hi Groovie Latina,

If you dont know where they sent him, all you can do is keep trying the inmate locator. They say it can run up to a week behind.
Or, since you have his CDC#, you can call Tracy and act like you know he's there and ask for his housing number so you can write him.

If he is at Tracy, when they first go to Reception there, they are on lockdown 23/7. They get out for a shower and 2 meals, but otherwise they are in their cells for the first month of Reception -- 2 men to a cell, or maybe 3 if they are really crowded. They cannot make phone calls while in Reception. They cannot go to canteen for the first month either to buy writing materials.
He needs you to send him stuff to write you with --paper, envelopes, pencils or pens, and stamps.

Once you locate what prison he is in reception at and you have the housing number, call the mail room of that prison and they will tell you the rules on how much paper, how many envelopes and all of that. If you don't check first and it's wrong, they will send it back to you.
The rules have probably changed since my son was in Tracy so I am not sure exactly what they allow there anymore. It used to be 150 sheets of paper (no spiral) 20 envelopes, and 2 pens or pencils in their original packaging from the store. And the ink pens need to be clear bic style pens without the rubber grip and only black ink (cuz they use the others for tatooing.) But don't take my word for it, call the mail room and get the up to date on what they allow and then get a package in the mail right away, because it can take a couple weeks to get to him.

In the meantime while the package is taking a while to get to him, if you know where he is, you can send a book of stamps in a card and he will get it pretty quickly. There's not much to screen in a card as opposed to a letter. They screen all the mail when they are in reception so it slows things down a lot. But cards go through fast, postcards even faster.

Address letters, cards, and packages like this:

Latina's son's name his CDC number
Name of Prison his housing number
PO Box whatever
Town, California zip code

And no stickers on the envelopes! Hand write you return address. They don't let them get mail without a return address.

hope that helps!
And hang in there mom, it does get better, honestly it does. Never good...but bearable in time. :)

Man thanks ALOT :thumbsup:
ladies this is very groovy of you. I thank you from the bottom of my :heart: I didn't know I could call and find out what housing unit they were in. I know he would appreciate it if I beat him to the punch and sent him writing material. This is his first time in prison, I have another son in Solano he just turned 19 on Sunday and the one thats in recieving in Tracy is 22 this is the first time for both. And as a mom it sucks for me, It really means alot ladies for the information GRACIAS :cool:

Does any one know how long mail get to inmates when they are in Tracy I think he is in lock down.
Thank you Liz

I'd say mail is probably a good couple of weeks getting in

mail is taking 5 to 6 days at DVI...

I agree the mail is slow well going in anyway. I did get a letter dated July 27th on Tuesday, August 1. I think my letters are taking a little bit longer to reach him though. My concern is that I'm going up there to visit on August 26-27 and he might not get the letter in time:eek: I've read some of the other posts about the mail and think that I'll send a postcard just to let him know I'm coming so that he can be ready:thumbsup:

Tia

That's a good idea...when I go this weekend I will ask again how far there mail is backed up...it's been 2weeks since I was told 5 to 6 days...so who knows what it is now...