cmorton,

An assessment center is where the inmate goes to after he leaves the county jail. It is usually the first stop into the actual DOC prison system. In Oklahoma, we referred to is as "A&R" which meant assessment and reception.

At this assessment center, their two main goals are this----to determine what security custody level your guy belongs (minimum, medium, or maximum) and to determine his program needs i.e. what programs he needs to take in prison to better himself. For example, he might need a GED or a drug rehab course, etc.

They also do a physical and dental exam plus a psychological exam. Also an education level exam.

He will be there anywhere from 21 days to two months, but probably closer to one month.

At this point, communication with him will be very slow and scanty. You might not hear from him for a couple of weeks. He might have a difficult time getting the writing supplies and stamps he needs to write, so don't worry. He may or may not get a chance to call you, so don't panic.

Yes, all the letters and things you send will eventually catch up with him, but it might be very slow.

A custody level of 4 or 5 is high custody, but all A&Rs I have ever known are a high custody level----medium or maximum. That will change when it is determined what custody level he needs to be at classification. He will probably move to a much lower custody level, most likely 2 or 3, a minimum security type facility. If I remember his situation, his crime was not a serious one and he did not have a lot of time to serve.

He will be fine. I know you will worry, but try to keep it at a minimum.

Keep in touch,

rewdiazepam

Thanks Rew. Your information is always helpful. He had a lot of supplies before he was moved... do you know if he gets to take those with him or if they take that? The phone acct is still set up and your right.. I'm going to worry like crazy but I'm going to try not to go nuts on him.. I'm already back to crying but I know that this is a necessary step.. Thanks again. i'll keep you in the loop. Your information has been a life-saver since this started.

The supplies that he had before should move with him along with his property.

Prison never changes, so when I try to answer I try to remember how it was when I was in prison.

I was able to write two or three letters in my three week stay at Oklahoma's A&R and I made two phone calls during that 21 day period, so don't expect a lot of communication.

rewdiazepam

I just went through that part of the process and it is very nerve racking! In Florida it is called the reception center, and everything that Rew said happens did. It was 3 weeks before I got he first phone call, I am not sure about everywhere else, but here the inmate has to have an approved phone list so that had to be set up, and it was 2 .5 weeks before I got the first letter. They kept Jamie at the reception center as a permanent resident, they put him on a construction project and in a few days we will be having our first visit. The not knowing and worrying is the worst and makes the time drag but he is okay and you will hear from him soon!

Reception, as it's also called here in NY, has been totally unlike what I was told to expect. For one thing, he's been there almost three months, and we have no idea why. And he has been able to call me daily, sometimes 2-3 times a day, and I can visit him every day, as well as take him packages twice a month, and leave books for him. I was expecting a relatively short (4 weeks at most), intense (hardly any contact) period of time between county and his final place, but instead we're both baffled by why he's been there so long, but enjoying the visits.
There is a site called prisontalk.com that has a lot of information. You can probably find your guy's place and read all about it. I looked up the prison where mine is now and that's where I found out I can visit so much and take packages.
Good luck. :)

We have Assessment and Evaluation first too, and mine is about to be taken from county to it any day now and I dread it so much. Ours they are locked in a solitary type cell 23.5 ours a day. May get a phone and shower in that half hour, may not. And I am already so scared about when it will happen.

I do have to get him envelopes with stamps already on them, Embossed on them I think they call it. Can't get him paper. I hope he has some still to take with. He loves to keep busy writing to me and a few others while in. It keeps him sane, and he always got my letters and I make them long and full of every kind of info I can think to write. Our stuff of course, family things, things about the community we live in like who got arrested, what burnt down. Then I copy articles in the paper about his favorite sports teams, and Nascar info. It helps him. And it helps us get through it.

I do know exactly what you are feeling, did it just 4.5 years ago, and now about to do it again. It will make us crazy if we let it. Try hard to get through it by doing something to distract yourself even a few minutes every hour. SOMETHING...

Ok, let's make a deal. You and me have been on here for awhile. Heck I have been on here 8 years. I should get the medal for longest person on the site almost. HAHA.... ANYWAY, we, as two dealing with this same thing, and Angeladam too.. and more... we have to hold each other together. And make each other laugh sometimes too OK... anyone else also that has to deal with this phase I call HELL