does anyone know if you are allowed to visit an inmate in California if you have not met prior to his/her incarceration? I remember reading a post awhile back that mentioned some states do not allow you to visit if you have never met before they went to jail. My penpal is going to send me a form to be put on the visitors list and before I send it back I wanted to be sure. Any help would be appreciated

WhiteTrash:

Use this link to the CA Corrections Policies. Visiting Rules/Guidelines begin on bottom right-hand of Page 55.

http://www.corr.ca.gov/RegulationsPolicies/PDF/Title%2015/English/Title%2015.pdf

Hope you find the info you are looking for therein.

Good luck. T.

i dont know if i can answer your question in regards to california, but i know that when i filled out my form to see my pp in NY, i had to put down that i have known him for over 10 years.. i think because he is in the federal prison.

I know on my pals form i just filled out i put that we went to high school together and i moved away. Most states your not allowed to visit unless you knew them before incarceration...

My son is in a Ca. Prison, and I as well visit others in Ca. I can tell you there are no questions pertaining to how long you've known the person, on their visiting form. They do ask your relationship to inmate though. I always write friend in that space. Or what Kristie wrote will do too! I hope we've helped. Also, I hope your doing ok Kristie.

xmasangel,crzygrlnohio:
I've addressed this topic before about the application. xmasangel, you did NOT have to put down over 10yrs.---you chose to do so. Same for crzygrlnohio. I say this as it states right on that form that the criminal penalty for making false statements is a fine of not more than $250,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both. (See U.S.C. 1001).

This is my 2 cents on the subject. What are
the odds that they would actually check that out? What happens if something happened down the road? Are you going to think maybe its done for your protection? (I gave the same speach to my girlfriend whose PP filled that section in with 20yrs. I told her not to send the form in until she talks to his counselor).

I visit a guy in a ca prison and I did not know him before his incarceration. They are however very strict as far as keeping to the visitor guidelines, at least at the prison I go to. Just last weekend they turned an elderly lady away because of the color of her blouse. Even though it was a frilly "womans" kind of blouse, they would not let her in with it on. Another woman who had drove from Washington didn't have straps on the back of her shoes. She couldn't get in either. Just read the guidelines VERY carefully. It wouldn't hurt to bring a change of clothes either. Hope that helps.

4Shizzel.. I really did not think it was that big of a deal when I first filled out the form. It was weird because I put down 13 years which meant that I knew him when I was 10 and he was 21. When I was 10 yrs I was visiting his home city anyways so thats why I thought it would be ok.
Do they really check it out?.. I don't know. I hope not though. I dont have 250,000 and i really dont want to spend anytime in prison.