Today I missed a call from my love---he's been sent to Jamestown! How ironic that I visited my cousin in Jamestown years ago (the only prison I've ever visited) and now I live in San Diego----8 hours away! :eek:

Any first-hand input on what it's like there would be appreciated.

I'm so bummed. It can be so cold and snowy up there, too. What a sad Christmas this is, in some ways. (You know, just being without him is the sad part.) Thank God I'm healthy and otherwise happy in life. I pray for all of our friends locked up during this holiday season. God bless us all.

That really sucks!!! I have never been to Jamestown to visit, but I have a very good friend who is up there. This is actually his second time being up there. He said it's pretty laid back there. I also live in San Diego, so I can't visit him. I already drive 3 1/2 hours to visit my man in Ironwood, so 8 hours to visit someone who is just a friend to me... yeah, uhhh no!!!! Don't get me wrong, I have know this guy since I was a little girl and he is a very good friend of mine, but I can only handle so much time in the car!!!! the 3 1/2 hours is already bad enough for me, I end up SOOO anxious by the time I get there. I could never handle the 8 hour drive. I just keep writing him and helping him out as much as I can, that's enough for him... just to know he has a friend. He is also a very good friend of my mans, so my man does know that I keep in touch with him. Good luck to you, I hope you find some way to visit your man!!!! Keep your head up and stay strong, it is very hard to be so far away from someone you love so much... especially arounf this time of year. It's lonely without them:( , I miss my honey like CRAZY too!!!! May God bless you and your loved ones!!!!

My boyfriend was just sent to Jamestown. Does anyone know visiting information? I was planning to visit him on Christmas in Delano, but now what! I hope its a contact visit....I have'nt kissed him in five months " please god let it be a contact visit"!!

Sierra Conservation Center (SCC)http://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifMy husband is there too, unfortunately I haven't been there to visit, Perhaps this info can help you out a little.http://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.corr.ca.gov/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/fac_images/scc_350%20x%20219%20pic.jpg

Matthew Kramer, Warden
5100 O'Byrnes Ferry Rd.
Jamestown, CA 95327

P. O. Box 497
Jamestown, CA 95327
(209) 984-5291

http://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gif


Sierra Conservation Center- Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Sierra Conservation Center is to provide housing, programs and services for minimum and medium custody inmates. SCC is one of only two prisons in the state responsible for the training and placement of male inmates in the Conservation Camp Program. SCC administers 17 male, and three female camps located from Central California to the Mexican border.

Institution Details

SCC functions as the center for training staff and inmates in firefighting techniques. The prison is separated into two dormitory-type facilities for minimum and low-medium custody inmates and a separate high-medium custody facility.

Each of the 20 Conservation Camps is a self contained "prison without walls." The camps are sited in rural or wilderness areas for fire suppression. Inmates assigned to camps are dispatched to fight wild land fires and other emergencies when needed and a variety of community work projects.

Institution Statistics

Sierra Conservation Center was opened in 1965, and covers 420 acres. As of Fiscal Year 2002/2003 the following statistics apply:

Number of custody staff:

696

Number of support services staff:

414

Total number of staff:

1,110

Annual operating budget:

$110 million

Designed Bedspace & Count

Facility
Level

Design
Capacity

Count

I

618

1,337

II

608

1,494

III

500

1,091

Camps

1,880

1,984

Females
(Camps)

320

334

Total

3,926

6,240


Top of Page (http://www.corr.ca.gov/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/fac_prison_SCC.asp#PageTop)

http://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifInmate Programshttp://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gif

PIA: Textiles (sewing)

Vocational: Auto body and fender, auto mechanics, computer technologies, graphic arts and printing, mill and cabinet, office machine repair, silk screening, carpentry.

Academic: Adult Basic Education, GED, Re-entry, English as a Second Language, Literacy Program, Title 1 Under 18 Program.

Other: Community Service Crews, Religious, Arts in Corrections, Victim Awareness, Computer Refurbishing Program, Substance Abuse Program.

http://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gif Top of Page (http://www.corr.ca.gov/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/fac_prison_SCC.asp#PageTop)

http://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gifVisiting Hours and Directionshttp://www.corr.ca.gov/images/spacer.gif
Saturdays, Sundays and Designated Holidays* from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
*New Year's Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas


For current visiting information, lockdown information, etc., please call our visiting information line at 1-800-374-8474.


Directions:

From Sacramento:


Take Highway 99 south to Stockton.

Take Highway 4 East to Copperopolis.

Turn right on O'Byrnes Ferry Road.

Continue for 12 miles; the prison will be on your left

From Bay Area:


Take I-580 east to it's merge with I-5

Take the exit marked for Manteca and Sonora. This will bypass the town of Manteca and take you to Highway 99 north.

Go one mile and take a right on Highway 120 East

Go through Escalon to Oakdale where Highway 120 merges with Highway 108.

Continue on 108/120 toward Sonora, approx. 25 miles

Turn left on O'Byrnes Ferry Road

Continue for approx 3 miles; the prison will be on your right

From Southern California:


Take Highway 99 North from Bakersfield.

At Merced, take Highway J-59 North toward Sonora

About 45 miles from Merced, take the Highway 120/108 intersect

Turn right and continue approx. 4 miles to O'Brynes Ferry Road; turn left

Continue for approx. 3 miles; the prison will be on your right

WOW, Thank you so much! That helps out alot.

I've decided that as soon as he fills out another Form 106 (the visiting sgt. said they need a new one for this facility) that I will fly into S.F. and rent a car. There's no other way! I'd probably look into a hotel close by, in Modesto or somewhere, and stay overnight so I can see him Sat. AND Sunday. The last letter I got said there's lots of drugs there. So sad. :( But he's clean & sober since before he went in, so I just reminded him to STAY STRONG!

Yes, too bad I can't see him for Christmas. But our 2 yr. anniv. is end of January...may God make that visit happen!

Ssandrb ~ There are contact visits at Jamestown, but I don't know how strick their CO's are. Like I said, I've never been there to visit, I just have a good friends who's there.

NoMoreGB ~ if you're leaving out of San Diego, your best bet would be to fly in and rent a car because that is a VERY FAR drive if you chose to drive from SD. I would send in your visiting form ASAP because I am approved to visit there, but it took them quite a while from the time I sent my form in for them to finally approve me:mad: . It honestly took them about 3 months:eek: ... I know that's a while!!! Hopefully they'll process your form faster then they did mine:) !!! I have also heard that there are ALOT of drugs there... that sucks, but what prison doesn't have alot of drugs? Pretty much every prison I know of in CA has alot of drugs... it's a shame but that's just how things go in there. They gotta make their money somehow, I guess. Well, I hope you get to visit your honey for your anniversary, I'll pray for you!!!! Keep your head up and stay strong!!!!!!:D May God bless you and your loved ones!!!!!

My Baby was in Jamestown for a year....CO's are strict there, and they are very picky about clothes....visits were terminated almost every weekend....mine is now in Mule Creek....pm me if you have any specific questions....Good Luck

My husband is there now and it's actually pretty simple to go visit. Visits are alot better now that they have a new visiting sgt. If you need to know anything just ask. I have been there plenty of times. I can tell you where to stay also. Only about 5 minutes from SCC

My boyfriend is also there now, and I have been going to visit almost every weekend since June. The guards are pretty strict about clothing (and everything else:rolleyes: ), so it's a good idea to bring an extra outfit, 'just in case'. Be prepared to spend some time waiting to actually get in to the visiting room. I would be happy to try to answer any specific questions any of you have. :)

NoMoreGB- I live in the Bay Area, and it takes me a minimum of 2 hours to get there, and I dont have to go across the Bay Bridge, so I would guess you would add on another 30 minutes- 1 hour depending on traffic, if you flew into SF. I would suggest flying into Sac. or even Oakland. Just my :twocents: .

Happy Holidays!
Pooh'sPooh

From the airport in Oakland it is exactly 2 hours from door to door. I tried both ways Sac and Oak and just found the ride from Oakland better for me. It took me a little over 2 hours from Sac. You could either stay in Oakdale or Sonora. (I did not know that there was some place 5 minutes away) Sonora is closer about 10 or 15 minutes away. I liked Oakdale better and it is about 25 minutes from SCC.

I found that most of the guards were picky about what you wore (and lots of other things too) and it takes a LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG time some days to get from point A (where you get your pass) to point C when you get in to visit. Point B happens to be the Freinds Outside house where you wait and wait and wait and wait as they call 5 numbers at a time to go and do the metal detector dance. (where you wait again) Depending on the mood (not yours, theirs)the patio might be open. It gets real cold in the winter some times and real hot in the summer also.

Good luck when you do go and have fun! :thumbsup:

My Husband Is In Scc And I Just Had A Visit With Him On Sunday. The Weather Up There Is Not That Bad But It Is Cold. Ive Heard That It Dosent Really Snow There Because The Elevation Is Low. As Far As I Know Everything There Is Okay But Like Every Prison There Is A Down Side To It. Im Just Glad That He Has Not Had Any Insidents There So Far And I Pray That He Never Does As Long As He Is Locked Up. Thank You For The Prayer It Is Needed Specially In This Holiday Season. If You Need Any Info Just Ask And If I Have The 411 Ill Let You Know..

My friend was transferred to Jamestown from Mule Creek last month- finally got a job there in laundry - says it's OK & he keeps to himself as he is due for release in Feb., & still cannot figure why he was sent there when release is so near. Yes, it is cold there! Do they give them warm clothes?