I don't remember any questions on the application like that when I passed them to my family. I think my son's immediate family (myself,Dad,Brother,Sister) did not have to fill out apps because we were already checked out on his PSI report if I remember right.

Personally I don't think it matters that you correspond with any other inmates.

I don't know why it's relevant to you wanting to visit or not. You can mearly respond that yes, you so participate in a pen pal program, and leave it at that. How you obtained the inmates names, isn't relevant to you visiting your daughter.

Don't even know why that have that on the application. The application is for them to do a background check on you, seeing if there are any court orders preventing you from visiting, etcetera.

yeah it's on there and it made me kinda nervous.

there is absolutely nothing in my background to bar me from visitations. homeland security has had my prints on file for the past 8yrs or more because i used to drive big truck over the road and hauled hazmat.

ok, another question.... they want to know if i have even been convicted of a 'crime'. it doesn't specify a misdemeanor or felony just a 'crime'. surely they aren't asking about speeding tickets are they?

I'd say, fill it out truthfully (including speeding tickets) and be sure you get written approval (or get denied) before you leave. 500 miles is a long trip to be denied at the gate. They are really a law unto themselves. Make sure you know what sort of clothing restrictions the prison has (no blue clothing, no jeans etc If you are or are not allowed to take grandchildren and whatever they deman, follow the rules to the letter because once you get denied for even the smallest "infraction" it's very hard to get reinstated) Good luck.

And no matter what "the rules" say about the dress code, pack a variety of clothing (including shoes) to keep in your car because the rules are up for interpretation and subject to change without notice.

The question about writing to other inmates was on the one I filled out, and I don't know if traffic tickets really matter, but it couldn't hurt to specify. Instead of answering yes under have you ever committed a crime, just write "speeding ticket" and the year. If you just answer yes, they will want a dissertation as to what it was, and that could delay your application. If you say you write to other inmates, they may want to know what your relationship to them is. Do pay attention to the colors you can wear. We cannot wear white, but we can wear jeans. Every place is different. Find out what they want and do follow it to the letter. I too carry extra clothes with me. They want high necklines, no bling, no wire bras, no shorts or short skirts, no sleeveless shirts or anything that will show your middle when you raise your arms, or anything transparent. I try not to wear anything with metal, not even hair clips. It's just easier than being pulled aside and stripped searched. I dress as if I were going for an MRI. They would not let my husband in because he couldn't prove he has a metal knee and a pace maker. Has to get documentation from his doctor. Their game, their rules.

dang! i might be in trouble if they want to know about speeding tickets and dates!! the last ticket i got was for unsafe speed for weather conditions and that was either 6 or 8yrs ago but i'm just not sure of the date. i jack-knifed my truck on a wet road pulling a empty and damaged trailer, so i guess they had to give me a ticket for something. as for a straight out speeding ticket? ummm, it might have been in 94, i think. it's not that i've slowed down all that much it's that i've gotten more careful. and maybe lucky??

being worried about tickets that long ago might be silly? but i just don't want to screw anything up and get turned down.

i know that she has said that the prisoners wear white, gray and brown there but have no idea what color/s the guards wear.

she is suppose to call tomorrow night so i will be asking her if she can find out some info for me too.

When they say if you been convicted for a "crime" that usually means something other than a speeding ticket. If it was anything less than a DUI, I don't think I would worry about it unless they "specifically say" driving tickets of "any" kind.

Regarding corresponding with other inmates, I "think" they mean another inmate at the facility you are visiting. I am not 100% on that though. I agree with @ThoughtAsWeak's advice and you can merely respond that yes, you participate in a pen pal program, and leave it at that.

One thing to consider is that you don't know what kind of records the prison keeps. Always assume that they already have your address on file and to whom you have written to and whatever prison. All they would have to do while going over your app is run your address through their records and you are denied if you don't say anything.

Of course Echo if you have any other questions... post em here and we will get back to you.

well i have exchanged a couple of emails via corrlinks with a woman who is in the same prison as my daughter. the other inmate is a young man who of course is in another prison.

i will talking to her tonight and i will be asking her a bunch of questions. maybe she can go to her councilor (?) and get some answers for me too? answers from that particular prison.

when you get permission to visit one certain prison and whoever your visiting gets transferred, do you have to submit another permission app for the new prison too?

Echo,

The reason they ask if you are writing another inmate is for security purposes. They frown on a visitor visiting one inmate and corresponding with a different inmate at the same institution. For the same reason, they do not usually allow a visitor to be on more than one inmate's visiting list at the same instituion. Ditto for not allowing one person to be on two inmates phone list at the same facility.

Every institution may do it differently, but this is how they did it at all the prisons I was at.

Their theory is that they do not want a visitor having contact with two inmates at the same prison as they fear some kind of conspiracy for a possible escape or a security risk within the institution. It really does not make a lot of sense, but that is their reasoning.

They do not usually have a problem if you are writing another inmate at a different prison than the one your daughter is at.

If you get permission to visit your daughter at the prison she is currently housed, and if she moves to another prison, then yes, you usually have to get permission from the new instituation to visit. Your visiting privileges do not transfer with the inmate.

Regarding the "convicted of a crime" question, they do not usually consider traffic tickets as a "crime", and you should not have to list those infractions.

rewdiazepam

Rew, you said that she will need to get permission to visit every time her daughter is transferred, as her visiting doesn't transfer". That isn't true in every state. In CA, my visiting DOES transfer, and just has to be renewed every 2 yrs.

Echo, I would check to see what the policy is in your state if your daughter moves to another facility.

thanks for all the help and answers.

Thought, i am in TN and she is in AL, so i'm thinking if she does transfer anywhere i would have to get permission at a new prison.

the fact that i have exchanged a couple of emails with an inmate at the same prison as my daughter has me worried tho. i hope with all my heart that it doesn't screw me up getting permission to visit her. she had the other inmate and i set up to do emails in case of kelly having a medical emergency again. the last time she had one and they shipped to to a hospital in birmingham and it scared the crap out of me that i didn't hear from her for 2wks.