Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

olefarmgirl · #1 05-18-2012, 08:45 AM

We are going to go and visit our son for the first time in Newton Iowa, he called last night and told me.... so Im seeing jeans but not tight ones and just a plain shirt with nothing on it correct? Can I wear my tennis shoes and we have to buy a debit card for him instead of bring quarters.... this is my first time ever going to a prison and I have not seen my son since Christmas and I dont want to screw up and get turned away.... can I give him a hug?? Right now he is in the medium part but he thought that by next week he will be in like the RTF kinda like place where he can go out and work and they dont have fences around the place.... everytime I go to look up something it says I have to download something to open it and it wont let me open it..... we are driving almost 5hrs to see him and I dont want to screw up we are going memorial day weekend Im so so so excited thanks for your help

BillysButterfly · #2 05-18-2012, 04:35 PM

NCF visits aren't that bad and if he does go to the minimum camp they are even more relaxed! On the medium side they are pretty picky about dress code but if you just wear normal clothes it is fine. Tennis shoes are fine...if I remember right I wore flip flops a couple of times but I am not going to say for sure on that because I don't remember exactly. I'm sure if he gets moved down the hill you will be able to wear flip flops. They didn't even pat me down or anything when I went to visit my brother in law a few weeks ago. I thought that was crazy as I have been to 4 other facilities and they patted me down everywhere else. You can give your son a hug when you get there and when you leave. It really isn't as scary as it sounds!!! I hope you have a GREAT visit!! If you have any other questions give me a shout...I live close by the facility so can even answer questions about the area!!!

olefarmgirl · #3 05-18-2012, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillysButterfly

NCF visits aren't that bad and if he does go to the minimum camp they are even more relaxed! On the medium side they are pretty picky about dress code but if you just wear normal clothes it is fine. Tennis shoes are fine...if I remember right I wore flip flops a couple of times but I am not going to say for sure on that because I don't remember exactly. I'm sure if he gets moved down the hill you will be able to wear flip flops. They didn't even pat me down or anything when I went to visit my brother in law a few weeks ago. I thought that was crazy as I have been to 4 other facilities and they patted me down everywhere else. You can give your son a hug when you get there and when you leave. It really isn't as scary as it sounds!!! I hope you have a GREAT visit!! If you have any other questions give me a shout...I live close by the facility so can even answer questions about the area!!!

Thank you so so much Im just so excited to see him so if I have to dress like a nun I will lol he lost his gma while in prison and it kills me thank you so much i am calling them to see just how I can n dad can dress

calyypso1 · #4 05-20-2012, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olefarmgirl

We are going to go and visit our son for the first time in Newton Iowa, he called last night and told me.... so Im seeing jeans but not tight ones and just a plain shirt with nothing on it correct? Can I wear my tennis shoes and we have to buy a debit card for him instead of bring quarters.... this is my first time ever going to a prison and I have not seen my son since Christmas and I dont want to screw up and get turned away.... can I give him a hug?? Right now he is in the medium part but he thought that by next week he will be in like the RTF kinda like place where he can go out and work and they dont have fences around the place.... everytime I go to look up something it says I have to download something to open it and it wont let me open it..... we are driving almost 5hrs to see him and I dont want to screw up we are going memorial day weekend Im so so so excited thanks for your help

Congrats on your first visit! Just keep reading the posts on here and they will not steer you wrong. Also a great resource is the Iowa Department of Corrections website. Just make sure you bring at least a 5 dollar bill. I usually bring another $5 just to load my debitek card up-if you read other posts I think you can put up to 75 dollars on it. I never know how hungry my LO will be. Also visits can be a long day for you. I am always amazed at how people don't try to find out what they can and can not do/wear when I see my LO in Clarinda. When you get there and they are full with visitors or you get there when they are eating lunch or doing counts you will just have to wait your turn-I have waited over 2 hours just to see my man. Some places you can check in and then leave to go eat in town or kill time if you are not in the facility first thing in the morning waiting in line.
I always thank this PTO website because without it, my first visit by myself would have been not so pleasant. I was prepared as much as I could be. I had only my keys, a quarter for the locker to store my keys, my debitek card with enough money on it, and my ID. Also I wore appropriate attire and so I didn't have the issues and additional stress-yay! Good luck and we all wish you a wonderful visit!

olefarmgirl · #5 05-24-2012, 07:32 PM

So he called today and he may be moved to the camp there at newton now im nervous cause do we have to go threw classifacation again and will i b able to see him at all he called me yesterday and said dont bother coming its a waste of money I said nope we are going to see you and then he called me today and said he will be transferd but does not know when idc im still going i wanna c him

olefarmgirl · #6 05-28-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olefarmgirl

So he called today and he may be moved to the camp there at newton now im nervous cause do we have to go threw classifacation again and will i b able to see him at all he called me yesterday and said dont bother coming its a waste of money I said nope we are going to see you and then he called me today and said he will be transferd but does not know when idc im still going i wanna c him

Had a AWSOME visit with my son omg it was just so great to see him and hug him today he got moved to the newton correctional release center so that made me even happier.... we get to go and see him in 2 weeks again... I just hope the release center means just maybe he gets to come home sooner

calyypso1 · #7 05-28-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olefarmgirl

Had a AWSOME visit with my son omg it was just so great to see him and hug him today he got moved to the newton correctional release center so that made me even happier.... we get to go and see him in 2 weeks again... I just hope the release center means just maybe he gets to come home sooner

Olefarmgirl I am so glad you had a great visit! I had been checking on the site to see if you had written how the visit went. I know my future in-laws came with me a few weeks after my LovedOne was trans from IMCC to CCF and it was very hard for them to see him there, but they know the visits are important for everybody! If you post a thread or private message some of the sisters that have LO's at the facility your son is at- they may be able to better help answer questions about the facility itself. Good luck!