Wanting to visit my PP on DR in Holman ..

[LadyHAnderson]

Hi guys! I'm new here ... but NOT new to Holman .. I've had my PenPal for 10 1/2 years!!! He is Victor Stephens .. on DR in Holman ... I wrote to him when I was just 18 yrs old! and he was 38 at the time ... now I'm 28 and he's 48 ..He had been my "bestest" Pen Friend thru the past 10 yrs (strictly plutonic, I'm married) and he has been on DR for about 22 yrs! He has not been given any execution date .. but he says that he may not have very many yrs left, so I wanted to make the trip to see him for the 1st time!
He calls me - his Angel or Lady H .. and I call him my Mr. C ....
The issue I'm having is - I dont know if I'm on his list - Ive given him all my info to be on it - but I havent confirmed anythign with him ..
I WANT TO SUPRISE HIM!!
He doesnt know i plan to visit in a few months .. so I wanted to know - if any of you know - how to go about planning a suprize visit .. or does he HAVE TO KNOW ????

[codewarrior2007]

Originally Posted by LadyHAnderson

Hi guys! I'm new here ... but NOT new to Holman .. I've had my PenPal for 10 1/2 years!!! He is Victor Stephens .. on DR in Holman ... I wrote to him when I was just 18 yrs old! and he was 38 at the time ... now I'm 28 and he's 48 ..He had been my "bestest" Pen Friend thru the past 10 yrs (strictly plutonic, I'm married) and he has been on DR for about 22 yrs! He has not been given any execution date .. but he says that he may not have very many yrs left, so I wanted to make the trip to see him for the 1st time!
He calls me - his Angel or Lady H .. and I call him my Mr. C ....
The issue I'm having is - I dont know if I'm on his list - Ive given him all my info to be on it - but I havent confirmed anythign with him ..
I WANT TO SUPRISE HIM!!
He doesnt know i plan to visit in a few months .. so I wanted to know - if any of you know - how to go about planning a suprize visit .. or does he HAVE TO KNOW ????

Welcome to PTO!

I don't know how Alabama visiting rules work, but generally, the kind of complete surprise you are asking for is impossible. You have to be placed on his visiting list, and he will be given notification of such an addition (and it's usually the inmate's responsibility to inform you thereof) so there is no way you can visit without him expecting you to visit very soon. You can try calling the prison directly. Just say you are "calling to check the status of a visitor application" or something to that effect, and you might be transferred to someone who can tell you if you are on his list. Some states allow that, and some states don't, but it's worth a try. But, that is assuming that you gave him your information (address, DOB, etc) in the context of wanting to come visit. If not, then you are probably not on his list.

But consider this: most inmates don't like surprise visits, especially from female friends. Sometimes it's because they are playing their pen pals for fools (which I doubt is the case here), but it's mainly because he will want to get his hair cut, his clothes cleaned/pressed, and his hygiene at 100% for your visit. He doesn't want you to see him in his grimey prison element. Plus, he might also be doing something on the day you plan to surprise him, such as a sports tournament, which he wouldn't want to miss out on. So, I recommend that you don't surprise him, and work with him on a specific date you plan to visit on.

[LadyHAnderson]

ahhhh.. well, i know he's not "playing me" lol - after 10 yrs I know him well and we are strictly friends only ... but you made a LOT of valid points about the hygine n clean clothes stuff!!! definatly wouldnt want to do anything to cause him embarassment!! Thank you so much - I didnt even think about that stuff!!! I will write him and let him in on my plan so he can be excited and help make sure I'm on his list!!
Thanks so much!!
Also -- can anyone smoke while visiting??

[lisainengland]

Hi and welcome to PTO. My guy is also in Holman on death row and I am planning on visiting him next year. As code already pointed out you do have to be on the visiting list and Holman's D/R visit are either the first 2 Mondays or the Fridays of each month depending on his surname etc so it is best to check with him first.
The visits are for 6 hours and it is strictly non-smoking. If you go outside for a cigarette your visit is over I am planning onwearing a lot of nicotine patches for my visit lol

[x.LilDevilz.x]

LadyH, I'm sure that even planned, your visit will still be a lovely surprise!

LOL @ Lisa patching herself up with nicotine for her visit,
there was a time I would've put patches on and recharged 'em! haha
If he's a smoker, he might try to sneak extra hugs during cravings.
(And use the excuse that it's nicotine cravings... )

[brothersonDR]

My brother is on Death Row at Holman, I have been going to Holman for 14 years to vist him.