My son made a plea agreement yesterday on weapons charges which is resulting in a 2 year sentence in a California State pen. I live in Chicago, so my resources are limited. My questions are, what will they provide him with, and what can he get in a commissary? I'm hesitant about putting money in an account wherever they send him, as my feelings are that he would just buy stuff to trade for "other" things. Does he really need money? Secondly, do inmates in California have to do the full sentence, or do they get "good time". Thanks in advance for your help. I'm so far away, and don't know who to ask, and I'm not familiar with any type of corrections system
Thanks Again
-C

Hi Evoman

First off, I'm sorry to hear of your sons situation and secondly welcome to PTO. You have found a great resource of information and support. Okay so in California your son will have to serve either 50% or 85% of his sentence depending on if his charges were considered violent. If it's a first time offense and he plead out it is more than likely a 50% time offense. He was told this at sentencing what he will serve. In CA all credits to reduce sentence are applied when you go in and are classified, they provide your tenative out date. This can change if he gets in trouble on the inside. As to money on the books I would highly recommend that you put something in his trust account. They can buy food products, soups, hats, limited clothe items, stationary and most importantly saundry items (Toothpaste, Razors, Shave Cream, ect.)

What the State provides is crap so the little things really matter on the inside. As to tradeing or bartering items, this does happen but is usually more for items like books, magazines, food, and tobacco more than it is for drugs or contraband. On a bad note any money you put in his trust account is subject to a 44% withhold fo restitution so adjust accordingly.

Lastley, if he does get 50% of a 2 year sentence he more than likely will not be moved into a state facility rather a community correctional facility. These are local county run facilties that contract with the state to take inmates with short terms or parole violators, mainly those serving less than 18 months. These facilities in general have more relaxed rules than does state facilities.

Here's some links to provide you some additional information

Community Correctional Facilities (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=923438&postcount=16)

Locating An Inmate (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=916573&postcount=4)

Mail Guidelines and Sending Money Orders (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=922207&postcount=15)

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

RPinSD

Evoman,

Welcome to PTO and I'm sorry to hear about your son. The only thing I have to add to RPinSD's post is I'm pretty sure if you put the money on his books while he is in the County jail the money will follow him and should not have anything withheld.
If I'm wrong some one please correct me, but I did this for my fiance and none of his money has been taken yet.
The money for commissary is really important to them, if you can I would strongly suggest putting enouth money on his books for the duration of his sentence while he is still in the county. They really do need it if you can afford it, like RPinSD said just for basic hygene items.

Best of luck,

Bec

Thank you both very much ! As for restitution, I presume you mean fines and court costs etc. I have a feeling they will be wanting him to serve as much of this sentence as possible as they shaved off so many other charges in order to get him to plea to this one. His final charge now is, possession of a loaded firearm, whim in possession of a controlled substance. They could have added possession with intent to deliver, as well as possession of a firearm with altered serial numbers. I really no nothing of this system. Not to say I was an angel, just lucky enough to not get caught before I realized what I wanted in life. Thank you both for your advice. I'll be watching this forum for the duration of his sentence, and will probably be asking more questions.
-Chris

Evoman,
I do realize this is a week old post, sorry...I just came across it.
I just wanted to say, as one parent to another, welcome to PTO!
Sorry you are going through this...it's a drag having your son go to prison, I know (mine did) and I would like to say hang in there. You'll find a lot of parents here. And a lot of information and support.

Regarding money...as the others said, money on the books is important...they do not feed them enough in there (especially if he is young and needs a higher caloric intake) and they give them old fashioned tooth powder, not toothpaste, things like that. We're talking bare minimum and pretty much subsistence here without any canteen and/or quarterly packages to help get by. He needs to eat enough to stay healhy in there becasue the medical care sux.
As well, the prisons are cold in the winter and they do not provide them with sufficient clothing and bedding to keep warm, so it will help if he can get some sweats and such.

Drugs are everywhere, and if he wants them he'll get them with or without money on his books, but chances are, he'll spend the money on food, clothing and toiletries. He may trade some soups for a sweatshirt or long underwear or a blanket, but I don't think he'll trade them for drugs based on what my son told me it was like for him.

And yes, as becmarie said, if you can put money on his books while he is still in county jail, that is the way to go...it's better to do it before he goes to prison because then the state doesn't get to take 44% of it. They can only do that when you put money on his books after he gets to state prison. What he comes in with cannot be touched.
So if you are in a position to do so, and you have decided to do so, I would say to put as much as you can on the books now while he is in county. I actually put enough for my son's entire confinement, and then he had to budget it at $50/mo. That way I wasn't giving the state half of my hard earned money. Funny thing, the kid who couldn't hold onto a dime on the outside, managed to budget it perfectly, knowing he wasn't getting any more and he'd go hungry for a year if he didn't. LOL.

My son found that he needed about $45-$50/mo for food and toiletries and writing materials. I sent the stamps in, and he bartered for his sweats and other stuff.

As for time...it's either 50 or 85%, but sounds like it's probably 50%, and hopefully it's less the time he has served in county.
So about a year on a 2 year sentence, give or take, less time served in county, would be my best guess. He'll get an "outdate" after he gets there.

And he may not go to a community correctional facility....mine was sent to a SAP (substance abuse program) behind the wall. An actual prison with a SAP inside it, but definitely prison nonetheless. Your's may be too, given the original charges.

Hang in there Dad!