my son got moved from elmira to wyoming. i am looking for someone who knows how to pack food and cosmetics. do we have to make them separete? i brought him doap shampoo and deoderent they gave me back all but the two bars of tone soap. the shampoo was vo5. i thought that was allowed. ive come to learn the cos make thier own rules, because what i could leave at fivepoints i can,t in wyoming. any info would be great. :) barb in ontario ny

Hey Barb-

Yes the rules seem to vary week to week, but it's ok, for the most part, you learn to work around it. I usually pack food and non-food separate just because it makes sense to me, I don't think it's a requirement there. Forget the shampoo- just leave money in commissary for him, the only way you MIGHT get it in is if it's a two-pack of shampoo shrink-wrapped together, clear and no alcohol, which I have never found. They don't allow any "extras" attached to the shampoo (or anything else) whether there is alcohol or not- like a sample of soap- so rule that out. I found cocoa butter soap at the dollar store that they let in- High Endurance is also a brand they have let in (both the soap and the deodorant). Forget toothpaste- there isn't ANY type you are going to get in, that also goes for microwave popcorn. Oatmeal depends on the week and what CO is on. They let in most snack stuff, cans 16 oz and under, playing cards and puzzles (the ones from Walmart- {Rose Art- 89 cents} and there are some at the dollar store that are the right size.) Poptarts are good and not considered breakfast. If there is anything specific, just PM me or find me on AOL Instant Messenger (Angelian57) and I will try to let you know. I think I have it down pretty well now- we managed to get him two holiday dinners and only had one thing kicked out because I was sleeping and forgot about the 16 oz rule and packed a 20 can of pineapple (DUH) . Or IM me if you just need to talk.

Take care,
Diana

Be careful with the sneakers and some gloves because they have velcro and velcro is not allowed. Don't buy him anything with zippers because zippers are no longer allowed. When sending footwear be sure to have your receipts in order. As long as the toiletries don't have alcohol in them and you don't send him any lotions with a pump bottle plus the top has a sealing, you're good to go. I love Dove "doap" so when I catch it on sale I'll buy for the house and for my husband [LOL].

The meat situation is funny so be careful with that. If it needs refrigeration before opening then they're gonna bounce it, but for some reason coldcuts and cheeses are allowed. Fars the cheese -- only slice or solid -- no grated cheese. Be careful with the raisins, like in granola bars and raisin bread -- I think they can only have 4 oz of raisins so the bars and bread may get bounced depending on which officer processes the package. They're not really sticklers about the 35 pounds per month (December too), meaning if you go over up to 5 pounds it shouldn't be an issue, but try to stick to weight.

Very important -- the package room moves kinda slow because they have an awful lot of inmates there but only a couple guys working the package room. I send ALL packages priority with delivery confirmation. To send a package parcel post could take 9 days to get there and then it could sit in the package room for another couple weeks because they get so many packages in DAILY. I'm petrified to send a package without delivery confirmation. Why? Because the ONE time I took a chance -- he didn't get the item -- a hot pair of sunglasses. Delivery confirmation, however, will show it was left at the post office and that's it. The officers pick up the mail from the post office. So if you send a package with delivery confirmation and your loved one doesn't get it, though you have confirmation your confirmation doesn't show the Facility picked it up, only that it was left at the post office in Attica. The post office in Attica will tell you it was received and that they put all packages in a huge crate for the officers to pick up, but the officers could say they brought everything that was there and if they didn't bring yours, then check with the post office. You may know this already but when you send food, mark the box PERISHABLES on all sides and he should get it the next day no later than two days after the Facility picks it up. If you don't mark it perishables then the officers will regard it as a regular package and it may sit for up to two weeks, sometimes longer, before he gets it because they process the food packages before they do the general packages. Do feel free to ask the package room officers a question or two when you're at the facility if you have any questions.

thanks for the info, I will post it in the thread for wyoming :)

I just also wanted to make a note....please post all informtaion here that you think might help other people out there, PM and AOL IM is for private conversations, but if your information is for *public* knowledge, please POST as opposed to private messages or AOL IM....

If you look at the Prison Profiles Section there is a Thread for every Prison...if you have more info to share about this prison, please send it to me and I will post it for you!! :)

Thanks again !!!! :thumbsup:
:)

what are the visiting hours here, how is visitation? any rules?

For the packages.... I have not yet been able to get shampoo in unless it is hermatically sealed which I have never found. The deoderant has to be hermatically sealed aslo with no alcohol and it has to be stick, gel or anything like that isnt allowed. Visiting hours at Wyoming Correctional are 8:30am to 3:30pm. Its an odd even situation where if his Din # ends in 1 then you visit on the saturday or sunday that is an odd day. If His Din #ends in 2 then you visit on the saturday or sunday that is an even day. My husband has been in Wyoming Correctional every since he has been sent from reception so if anyone has questions feel free to send me a pm or email.

Thanks Sweetpea, have you checked out the prison profile for this facility?

and if you have anymore info, please post it for the public, :) thanks :)

Preciate the messages ladies, but i talked to my kids father and he doesnt want to take the bus up there so he hooked me up with a lady that goes to wyoming to see her boyfriend every weekend so ill be riding with her. So please excuse the message in regards to bus info that i previously posted.

Great visit this weekend with my kids father or should I say my fiance. He finally has divorced, and is officially back with me where he has always wanted to be!!!!!!So we'll be having a big official wedding when he comes home next year... Never ever while he's in jail................................