These links will get you started.

http://tinyurl.com/qcft8pb

http://tinyurl.com/ovvgc57

http://tinyurl.com/oe2ohdx

You can also go to the BOP site and there will be a listing of each prison under the "locations" tab toward the top. At the bottom of the page under "locations" they have a link to a list of all the prisons.

http://tinyurl.com/253ph8

Also when you click on one of the first three links, it will take you to prisontalk.com to the federal prison forum. If you look around, they also have a thread for each specific federal prison.

If you need any help, holler.

rewdiazepam

Thank you for always being so responsive.

This is a holler back...
Can I initiate the Visitor Information Form or must it originate from the inside?

I went on the prison site and pulled off the visitation form and emailed to all my family members who in turn filled out and sent in to be approved. My son did not send to anyone himself. I hope this helps.

I am sure Debbie is correct as she knows a lot more about the federal system than I do.

Here is a link to the form-----

http://tinyurl.com/plpoxyu

You can fill in the spaces online and then print it. Then send it to the proper institution.

rewdaizepam

Phone: we just use the phone system at the prison. I send my son money (usually through postal money order unless he needs right away then I use western union) and he splits it up between commissary, email & phone. I think he can move it around between the three as he needs to.
I think the calls are about $3.15 for 15 minutes. 15 minutes is the max amount of time in federal prison. After that it will disconnect. I believe after 1 hour they can make another phone call even if the same number.

Sorry for all the "I think's"...I use to know exactly but forget after time.
It was also a first of everything for our family so don't be afraid to ask questions. I wish I found this site much sooner than I did. Our lawyers explained NOTHING to us about the prison system. No question Is stupid and someone here will usually know the answer or PM someone (or me) if you want.

Debbie

Thank you. When I try to ask others, like the lawyer, they make me feel stupid. Thank you for taking the time to help me through this process. I am so grateful for this site.

We were all plenty stupid in the beginning. There are no books that I am aware of that answers all these questions and the answers are not something that the normal man-on-the-street is familiar with.

When a family gets thrown into this mess, they are overwhelmed and scared.

We are happy to help you. If you never ask, you will never find an answer.

rewdiazepam

I signed up for a Google voice number with the same local area code as the prison. It costs about 8 cents per 15 minute call for my loved one to call me on that number.

Many people are using the Google Voice but my experience did not turn out very well when my son was still in the county a new phone company took over and disconnected all of us that had google voice number. You had to prove you live in the area with a utility bill, etc. Of course we did not so had to pay tons more to talk to our son.
Now my son is in federal and the handbook says if you get caught with a "forwarding" phone number (which is what google voice is) your son/husband will lose his phone privileges. I am sure this is a scare tactic but it scared me enough not to do it. Even though my son can email I look forward to hearing his voice as much as possible.

We haven't quite gotten to the federal level yet.....but my understanding is that I can get a Virgin Mobile phone for $20 and then $20 a month will give me 400 minutes of calling......and if you get a local number then the call on his end if only $2 something per call. Right now it's $7.85 per call from county regardless where you are in the state. I wouldn't want to risk losing the ability to talk to him for $20 a month....but at this moment I can afford that amount...who knows later!