Mineral Wells Pre-Parole

Shatsy · #1 11-21-2005, 12:16 AM

Do any of you have loved ones at Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Facility? I would love to hear from you. I'm wondering about your experience with denials of mandatory supervision/parole.

My son received a DMS in September. He tells me that many at that facility are being denied release (especially if they are in for DWI's). As a matter of fact, the newspaper at Mineral Wells ran a couple of articles which included information on the fact that so many of the ones sent there with the expectation of being paroled within the next year (according to statute) are being kept there at least two years and some for three years or more.

I would really like to hear what experience any of you have had.

Shatsy

renutt · #2 11-22-2005, 10:04 PM

My husband was given a DMS at that facility too. It was in April 2005. The reason given to him was because of his " affilliations " ? what ever that means? He was then transfered to south texas to the Segovia unit 13 hours away!! Although he is'nt in for DWI I believe that unit is handing down DMS' for other reasons that we are'nt privy to. I am sure he too will be transfered now. I just pray for you that it is'nt so far from home. Good luck.

Shatsy · #3 11-23-2005, 02:17 AM

Thanks for your reply. My son feels that he will be kept at Mineral Wells, but if he should be transferred, it couldn't be much further from me than he is now. I live in Indiana, which is 1200 miles away.

However, he feels Mineral Wells is a pretty good place to be--able to make phone calls anytime--wear street clothes--air conditioning in the summer--and sufficient heat in the winter--not too bad commissary. We're counting his blessings. But we're ready for him to get out of there.....period.

How much time does your husband have left? Hope everything goes well and both your husband and my son get out on the next go-round.

Good luck!

twsbabygirl · #4 11-23-2005, 08:00 AM

My friend is there and was just denied...also in for a dwi

Shatsy · #5 11-23-2005, 02:43 PM

Thanks for your reply, twsbabygirl. I'm sorry to hear that your friend was also denied. I've been told that they are really targeting DWI's--and that about a third of the inmates at Mineral Wells are there for DWI. Seems like there are too many being denied--some more than once. We can only hope that things will change.

It would be nice to hear more from you--how long your friend has been there--and when he is going to come up for review again--and anything more that you would be willing to share.

Keep in touch!

Shatsy

twsbabygirl · #6 11-24-2005, 07:08 PM

He has been there for about six months.....he is due to be released 10-1-06....this was his second time up for review...first time they gave him a serve all to his shortway which was 11-16-05....this time he was denied .....he is serving a two year sentence.

Gustavosgirl · #7 11-28-2005, 11:15 AM

My boyfriend has been there since 3-1-05 and he was also just given a DMS on
11-9-05 he had a projected release date of 11-29-05 so that was very disappointing for us. This was his second time up for parole. He will be reviewed again in October of 2006. We are hoping that they leave him here for the remainder of his sentence because at least we can have phone calls and contact visits. He got a three year sentence for an assault family violence charge. I wonder do they leave them here or do you think that he will be moved back to a regular unit?

Anna

rebelashton · #8 11-30-2005, 06:13 AM

When my ex-husband (at the time he was my husband) was there back this past June, he said that pretty much everyone that he knew with DWI or Drug cases were getting set off. Not sure how it is now. The lady at the Gatesville Parole Board (where the final decision is made) is a real strong activist in MADD. So unless you can schedule a phone interview with her and really impress her on why your loved one or friend should be released, more than likely they'll get a DMS their first go around. When I was in visitation, I would sit next to people who said it was their 3-4th year being there and never caught any cases while there or at other facilities (not sure how much of htat is true...) but to my understanding that facility is to hold you no longer than 2 yrs.

Miss_Jazzey1 · #9 11-30-2005, 10:44 AM

When the inmate is released is he released on a specific day of the week?

RJM · #10 11-30-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms_jazzey1

When the inmate is released is he released on a specific day of the week?

No, it can be any day, Monday thru Friday. There are no releases on Saturday nor Sunday.

Miss_Jazzey1 · #11 11-30-2005, 02:51 PM

Thanks a bunch because I was thinking they'd release them on the weekend since that's the only time you can visit them.

rebelashton · #12 11-30-2005, 08:13 PM

When you find out the date that the inmate is to be released (you can ask the parole board once he recieves his discharge date) and then calll the unit and MAKE SURE that they are on the list to be released that day and t hen get there around 10:30am, and you'll sit in the parking lot where you wait to go visit, and then the person in the van will get your license and copy info on a piece of paper that they keep and you sit in that parking lot until they're ready to release the inmates, and then you'll follow the van down the street that is to your right when you're at that stop sign, and then park in small parking spaces and wait another hour or so until they actually let them out of the gate. YOu can't get out of your car, you cant sit on the window (with the window rolled down) the only time you can get out of your car is when the inmate is walking through the gates. If you talk to them, or they talk to you, the guards become asses and put the guys in the small building to keep you from talking to them. All the guys sit on the stiar ways outside the buildings to watch the guys get released, adn when they release them, they all cheer. It's cute! But like i said, make sure you CALL the day before they're release date to make sure they're on the list, i knew of a lot of people who got there thinking they were being released and found out the parole board made mistakes and they weren't getting released.

rebelashton · #13 11-30-2005, 08:17 PM

Oh and another thing...if anyone has a loved one there, could you ask them if thye know these two guys? If so, could you have them tell them it's URGENT that I talk to one of them. I'd appreiciate it. Their names are Mark Cupp (he goes by Hillbilly), or Joe Bill...just goes by Joe Bill. Tell them Angela Ashton needs to speak with them ASAP!

Trulykath · #14 12-01-2005, 01:46 PM

The facility is supposed to hold only non violent offenders who are within a year of their release. They CAN hold them up to 2 years, so I was told.

The problem is, it's a strong school unit, and many offenders are sent to Mineral Wells for classes, then cycled back into the system. Skip was sent there in May 03, and I did interview with Juanita Gonzalez. We did get approved, and he was released on a Friday morning (his projected release date fell on a Sunday). He was one of the first students of the new DWI class that TDCJ started in 2003. All indications were that TDCJ was going to designate a unit soley to DWI offenders, and I really kept waiting for them to announce it was going to be Mineral Wells. Skip did NOT finish his class, as his projected release date came up before he had a chance to.

Ms. Gonzalez point blank told me if she had it her way, NO DWI OFFENDER IN THE STATE of Texas would ever drive again. I told her I thought that was VERY unrealistic, as she or I could go out in our car and kill someone too, STONE COLD SOBER.

Anyway...it's not a bad unit. There are advantages & disadvantages. Skip said the place should be condemned for fire hazard...and bug infestation...I was interviewed & quoted in a report about the place back in 2003. I also fell on premises, and they did nothing at all to help me....(medical was called, and they said they could only help me if I was an inmate.) Skip still thinks I should have sued them, as we are pretty sure I broke my hand in the fall. I was the talk of the unit for weeks after that

The place used to be Fort Wolters helicopter base, and you do a search on the internet and see old pictures of it. It's no wonder the buildings are dilapidated...it's very old.

Let me know if you guys have any other questions!

kath

scaredfelon · #15 03-19-2006, 01:56 AM

Jason is there and has been there for6 months. We got an answer on his parole and he was given a serve all on a 3 yr sentence, he has 18 months to go but the kicker there was because they said a weapon was involved. There was no weapon, he is in there for assualt family violence but no weapon was used. I dont get it.