Have questions or need help? Just released from New Jersey DOC.

[kronikenergy]

just spent 6 years in NJDOC custody. If anyone has any questions pertaining to NJ prisons etc. I will be glad to try and help. Maybe by helping others one good thing could come out of this

[Tina]

Hello Welcome to Prison Talk. Thanks for offering to answer any questions that may come along. I'm sure your insights will be very helpful.

[patchouli]

Congratulations on your Homecoming!!

Welcome to PTO

[A.V.]

Originally Posted by kronikenergy

just spent 6 years in NJDOC custody. If anyone has any questions pertaining to NJ prisons etc. I will be glad to try and help. Maybe by helping others one good thing could come out of this

How's it going? I'm currently waiting to get sentenced to a 1-3 for Assault Rifle Possession (3 with a 1 year minimum for parole eligibility), and a 3 flat (no mandatory minimum for parole eligibility) for Terroristic Threats, both run concurrent.



I've done 4 years in Virginia; unfortunately no newbie to prison...But I do have a couple questions about how things are run in NJ. My sentence will begin on April 28th of this year. I served 2 & 1/2 months in Camden County Jail before bailing out. My questions are as follows:


1.) What's the average you've seen inmates serve on 3-with-a-1 (1-3) sentences? What about 3 flat sentences? How much of it is in prison, how much is in a Halfway house?


2.) With a parole eligible sentence, is it ABSOLUTELY certain that an inmate has to go to a HWH, or can one be paroled straight from DOC to home?


3.) Is it common/uncommon to make parole at the minimum release date? A friend told me most people with 1-3 do 18 months. Have you seen any cases where people have done the minimum & been released?


4.) How lenient is NJs parole board? What percentage of eligible inmates actually make parole? In VA parole is outlawed, (unless sentenced before 1993) so I'm trying to avoid an interstate compact to transfer to VA to complete my sentence & deal with their board.


5.) I'm a VA resident. Have never lived in NJ a day in my life. Is it possible to do my bid & parole out without having an INTERSTATE COMPACT transfer me back to VA? Ideally, I'd like to serve my sentence in NJ, and if given parole, transfer it to the office in my residential county in VA near the end of my sentence, or when I get out. Is this possible?




6.) Also, that one year of minimum parole eligibility...Does 85% apply to that, or no?

Meaning. do I have to serve a full 365 days until I'm eligible for parole, or will it be roughly 10 months & change before I'm eligible. I have 2 & 12 months in, so I'm trying to calculate before I get to CRAF a rough window for my earliest release. Thanks.


Thanks for any & all info. Peace.

[patchouli]

Hi A.V. I can't answer your questions about NJ, but I would like to welcome you to PTO

[David]

Kronicenergy,

Welcome to the community and thanks for your offer to help others facing or dealing with the New Jersey Department of Corrections! You can make a BIG difference by sharing what you know. I hope to see you around here in the future!

David

[kronikenergy]

im trying to turn this experience into something positive and help others, there just doesnt seem to be much traffic or questions. i try to answer ones that have no responses and have only gotten on PM from AV that i was glad i was able to help with.

[David]

We're are having some issues with email notifications right now that have hurt response times. We're in the process of upgrading our software and moving web hosts which will fix all of these issues and make surfing the site much more user friendly.

Trust me.. People will be coming around that could definitely use your input / help. Weekends are usually slower with visitation, etc.

[Lildond]

Hi, congratulations and best wishes on your release.
My son has just recently been sent to Bayside. Do you know anything about JPay? I set up a money account so he could buy personal hygiene items etc as he tells me the facility doesn't provide much. It blew my mind when JPay charged $7 service fee and my charge card company charged me $20 for cash advance fee. Next time I will try using my debit card to avoid being hit with the cash advance fee. Do you have any knowledge of JPay email? I see it is a separate account. If I buy these so called stamps is JPay also going to charge an additional service fee?

[patchouli]

Originally Posted by Lildond

Hi, congratulations and best wishes on your release.
My son has just recently been sent to Bayside. Do you know anything about JPay? I set up a money account so he could buy personal hygiene items etc as he tells me the facility doesn't provide much. It blew my mind when JPay charged $7 service fee and my charge card company charged me $20 for cash advance fee. Next time I will try using my debit card to avoid being hit with the cash advance fee. Do you have any knowledge of JPay email? I see it is a separate account. If I buy these so called stamps is JPay also going to charge an additional service fee?

I'm in Ky and used jpay email...there is no service charge for stamps, just the flat amount (unless your bank charges a fee). Once you purchase stamps, you can send some of them to your son (also through the jpay portal) at no charge....then he can email you too You have to email him first and his account must be set up on his end

Welcome to PTO!

[Tina]

Originally Posted by patchouli

I'm in Ky and used jpay email...there is no service charge for stamps, just the flat amount (unless your bank charges a fee). Once you purchase stamps, you can send some of them to your son (also through the jpay portal) at no charge....then he can email you too You have to email him first and his account must be set up on his end

Welcome to PTO!

JPay works just like this in Jersey as well.

[SErubio]

Did you spend any time in the half way house?

[elliegirl]

Originally Posted by kronikenergy

just spent 6 years in NJDOC custody. If anyone has any questions pertaining to NJ prisons etc. I will be glad to try and help. Maybe by helping others one good thing could come out of this

Hi-my husband is getting sentenaced on Friday. He is nonviolent but I am so scared someone will hurt him. I don't know how he will call me, or when, how he will get his medicines he needs to take, or anything. How will I know what to do to help him. He will go to craf first. We're both terrified. Can you help?

[kronikenergy]

No but know plenty about them what's up

[kronikenergy]

Originally Posted by elliegirl

Hi-my husband is getting sentenaced on Friday. He is nonviolent but I am so scared someone will hurt him. I don't know how he will call me, or when, how he will get his medicines he needs to take, or anything. How will I know what to do to help him. He will go to craf first. We're both terrified. Can you help?

He is non violent so most likely Jones farm. Its older inmates with non violent offenses. I was a first timer so I understand. He can set up the phones once he gets to craf. Has to be a land line no cell phones. They give medication but it has to be approved so certain meds they don't give. Tell him keep his head down mind his own business. He will be blind deaf and dumb I'm there. By that he sees or hears nothing no matter who asks. Don't gamble don't borrow dont do drugs. He follows all that he will be fine. Just remember deep breaths both of you. There is light at the end of the tunnel no matter how dark it seems. Any thibg else just pm me

[Mrzpretty]

Originally Posted by kronikenergy

just spent 6 years in NJDOC custody. If anyone has any questions pertaining to NJ prisons etc. I will be glad to try and help. Maybe by helping others one good thing could come out of this

How do I find out if Essex county jail is on lockdown I haven't received a call since Saturday 😔

[georgelpz]

Originally Posted by kronikenergy

He is non violent so most likely Jones farm. Its older inmates with non violent offenses. I was a first timer so I understand. He can set up the phones once he gets to craf. Has to be a land line no cell phones. They give medication but it has to be approved so certain meds they don't give. Tell him keep his head down mind his own business. He will be blind deaf and dumb I'm there. By that he sees or hears nothing no matter who asks. Don't gamble don't borrow dont do drugs. He follows all that he will be fine. Just remember deep breaths both of you. There is light at the end of the tunnel no matter how dark it seems. Any thibg else just pm me

Good advice! I would definitely second everything kronikenergy said about keeping his head down and being deaf dumb and blind...he should only worry about himself and not care about what other people are doing. He should only care about "doing you", meaning doing his time and no one elses. The people doing the stuff that they shouldn't be doing will get theirs eventually!

[Helena86]

Hi my boyfriend has been an inmate at bayside since November. Jpay is a easy way to send money emails etc. No extra charges, except on the money but nothing like your credit card. You can even download the app on your phone. Any questions feel free to ask :-)

[kronikenergy]

elliegirl you pm ed me but are not able to recieve messages so ill post my answer here

Craf is a little rough. as a first time offender it is a complete culture shock. that is the worst part. as soon as he puts in a phone list and gets it approved he will be able to call when he is out of hte cell. There is commissary but it is soaps shampoos etc. no food. And most likely he wont be approached by isp until he gets to whatever facility he is going to.
most likely jones farm. hope this helps.

[elliegirl]

I read somewhere that you are in a cell with one other person for 23 hours. Is that what you mean by rough? Is it more dangerous than county jail?

[georgelpz]

Originally Posted by elliegirl

I read somewhere that you are in a cell with one other person for 23 hours. Is that what you mean by rough? Is it more dangerous than county jail?

Elliegirl,

I did my entire sentence housed at CRAF (they keep a very small work unit there to run the facility), so I'll try and help you as much as I can.

What kronik means by rough is that the conditions aren't great. It is a very old facility (built in 1901 and not really updated at all). Neither county jail or prison is really dangerous at all (unless you look for trouble), but I didn't find CRAF to be dangerous - just really really boring. And kronik is 100% right about it being a culture shock when you first get there. Also a first time offender, I was completely blown away by what I saw when I got there. Just really old, really dirty and really primitive. While you are intake (which is usually no more than 2-3 days), you are in your cell with your bunkie for 24 hours a day. Nothing is permitted in these cells (with the exception of your net bag with the clothes and linens they give you when you first get there). You eat all of your meals in the cell. You are permitted to take a bible or other holy book with you from county, but that too may get taken, depending on the officer that is escorting you (although it's against the law). After being in intake, you will be transferred to another section of CRAF while you are waiting to be classified to a prison. While you are on that tier, you are locked down in your cell with your bunker 23 hours a day and you are allowed out for 1 hour to shower, make phone calls or just relax. Every third day he will have yard for an hour as well. He will also be called constantly to go to different parts of the facility for intake procedures (medical clinic, social workers, education dept, etc...) so that will allow him so other time out of his cell. If he is tbere long enough, he can order commissary but as kronik said, it's only for cosmetics and he has a money limit he can spend on them (I believe it was $25 but don't quote me on that). As a permanent inmate there, I was allowed to order the standard commissary but even that was ridiculously small. Wherever he goes will be better than CRAF!

I know it's a hard time for you right now but it will get better!! You have to trust us with this.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

[elliegirl]

Thanks so much guys! This is really helpful. God bless you.

[Betterlkn028]

Originally Posted by georgelpz

Elliegirl,

I did my entire sentence housed at CRAF (they keep a very small work unit there to run the facility), so I'll try and help you as much as I can.

What kronik means by rough is that the conditions aren't great. It is a very old facility (built in 1901 and not really updated at all). Neither county jail or prison is really dangerous at all (unless you look for trouble), but I didn't find CRAF to be dangerous - just really really boring. And kronik is 100% right about it being a culture shock when you first get there. Also a first time offender, I was completely blown away by what I saw when I got there. Just really old, really dirty and really primitive. While you are intake (which is usually no more than 2-3 days), you are in your cell with your bunkie for 24 hours a day. Nothing is permitted in these cells (with the exception of your net bag with the clothes and linens they give you when you first get there). You eat all of your meals in the cell. You are permitted to take a bible or other holy book with you from county, but that too may get taken, depending on the officer that is escorting you (although it's against the law). After being in intake, you will be transferred to another section of CRAF while you are waiting to be classified to a prison. While you are on that tier, you are locked down in your cell with your bunker 23 hours a day and you are allowed out for 1 hour to shower, make phone calls or just relax. Every third day he will have yard for an hour as well. He will also be called constantly to go to different parts of the facility for intake procedures (medical clinic, social workers, education dept, etc...) so that will allow him so other time out of his cell. If he is tbere long enough, he can order commissary but as kronik said, it's only for cosmetics and he has a money limit he can spend on them (I believe it was $25 but don't quote me on that). As a permanent inmate there, I was allowed to order the standard commissary but even that was ridiculously small. Wherever he goes will be better than CRAF!

I know it's a hard time for you right now but it will get better!! You have to trust us with this.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

I was wondering how long it takes to receive a Pin to be able to make calls at C.R.A.F?