Anytime ASE. You have helped me out on a few occasions.

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You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
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Life is short, live every day like its your last

Thanks ASE ! My friend was sentenced to two years prison, I guess it means she can't do her time in a jail or I'm wrong ? Now, we are waiting what'll happen to her. Can she get psychological help ? We fear a nervous breakdown.

txman,

I have 4 pp's in 3 different states and all have some kind of mental health programs available. They might not be the best but they are there. I wish your friend all the best. She is really lucky to have you. You are doing all the research for her, she has all this info so she is already ahead of the newbies going in with her.

Robert

__________________
You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
--------------------------------------------
Life is short, live every day like its your last

TXman you are welcome
Yes if she was sentenced to two years TDCJ time not state jail time she will go to a TDCJ prison .

You should know all women are released from Crain in Gatesville .

All TDCJ units including state jails have some psychiatric help . Though it is usually better not to mention any psych conditions unless you are severely mentally ill . They will treat her and usually prescribe some kind of medication . If she shows signs of needing help beyond what they can do she will be sent to Skyview or Jester 4 to be evaluated and treated . From what I have heard Skyview is a better place and the more likely place she will end up if she has serious psych problems for a period of time at any rate .

She will catch chain to Crain or Woodman in Gatesville for diagnostics .There they will asked her all kinds of about her and her life ,. TDCJ will already know some of the answers . Which ones I cannot say this deepens on lots of things , a medical exam psych evaluation . At this time she will not work and spend more time in a cell usually with another person .They do come out for time in thee day room. If they act up they are locked a one person seg like cell when they are not being tested or evaluated . She will be photographed told to strip out and photographed again from at least four angles any tattoos or scars will be closely photographed . They will ask where any scar came from and what any tattoo means .

Usually you do not know exactly when you catch chain . For example I was told early in the morning pack your Shyt a-hole chain bus is waiting you're going, in a slow redneck drawl only Billy bob can make . This was when I went to Polunsky then called Terrell . No breakfast just a strip search and told to get the f on the chain bus a hole POS and she can expect lots of this language at first maybe not those exact words . Though on some units it is not as common as others . It really depends on the Warden and what he or she will allow . Never show this kind of BS bothers you or the bosses who are armed in the towers to intimidate you . They love to put on a show for new boots They expect at least one new boot in every chain bus if not more at the rate TX locks humans up .

She will be assigned a unit and wait in reception until she catch chain to that unit . The amount of time varies usually with in a 2 months or so . Try to stay in contact with her via mail you can check the TDCJ site s offender search to find out where she is . Too use this you need to turn your pop up blocker off .

Once she gets on her assigned unit you can set up a phone contract . Making calls will be very helpful for her . You can also use JPAY to send emails as mentioned in other threads , they love this and if you send it before 1 pm CST it should get to her that day . I try to email my friends every Monday to say hello this also lets them know some one cares and is thinking of them .It can t off their week a little better . In her case I strongly suggest near daily letters and emails maybe twice a week a little expensive but it will help her to know you care and are thinking of her

From the day she hits reception till the last day :
She can expect to be strip searched at least 2 times a day by a same sex boss . Her cell or cubicle is subject to search at any time as is her property .
She will also have to deal with lockdowns at least every 6 months or so every TDCJ units has bi annual lockdowns this is when she will need your support the most because it will be very new to her .For a new boot the first lockdown is very stressful
She will have to deal with all kinds of offenders some who wil get in her face some will not bother with her at all some will test her some will not

If she follows the advice on the linked thread she will be OK . They will know it is her first time in prison and if she shows any fear she will be a target though there is much less physical abuse in female units it does go on . Just not as much as you see on TV or read elsewhere about . It is prison and it is not a learning experience or a journey do not treat it as such . If she lets it it will take her for a very long two year ride.

Once on her assigned unit she will be placed in a job usually field squad for at least 3 months . Some spend years on field squad others do not usually their behavior determines this . She will have no choice and should prepare herself for this .

I cannot say for certain how she will be housed . It could be a cubicle or two person cell .Either way she will have to get used to being around a lot of people of the same sex 24 /7 . The only males she will see are bosses and visitors on weekends.

From reception to release she will be with all kinds of females from career criminals those who got caught up in the wrong crowd , people who committed things like forgery felony DUI , robbery right up to capitol murder .She should never compare any of them .


Who she lives with has little to do with her crime but her behavior and classification . Contrary to perception violent offenders usually are better behaved and less troublesome in prison .

Many “non violent” drug offenders spend a lot of time in seg for fighting and other major cases .

One thing she can keep in mind is that she knows she will not be there after 2 years . Her time will be what she makes off it she can make it go by fast or slow . If there is a vocational o available she should try to get on a list ASAP . She will probably have to take some kind of sex offender program So she will almost definitely be on a place like Hobby or Murray . Hopefully Hobby . In these programs she will meet other women in similar situations for varying amounts of time .

It is best once on her unit to avoid the “day room drama”

As Another persons said in another thread she will meet some one who she can have some kind of “friendship” with . As long as she is vague about her life and does not give out much about her self she will be OK She should keep in mind no one is ever truly your friend and if thy see a way to use something to get out they will always assume this at all times .

There is much more .


Showyourpride is right ,with the advise given is a a little ahead of the game and knows what to expect . Feel free to ask more .

I might add that you should put this advise into your own words as best as possible . Hopefully you can visit your friend and talk to her before she catches chain .

I am guessing she being held in Harris county jail .So she has an idea of what being locked up is like . Her time in Harris county counts as time served . Make sure she gets a copy of her TDCJ timesheet and sends it to some one she trust same for her trust fund slip . She night even find TDCJ a bit “better” than Harris county jail !

If you can tell us how she is doing in Harris county jail it will be be easier to make a guess on how she will handle TDCJ .

Once again feel free to ask any questions if you are in contact with her post her questions here and they will be answered .

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Me

If you never have dreams they will never come true.

Somethings are worth fighting for !

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Thanks to you, ASE, I'll be able to give advice to this friend.
You wrote : "Once on her assigned unit she will be placed in a job usually field squad for at least 3 months . She will have no choice and should prepare herself for this ." What sort of job is it ? She is a teacher, not a manual worker, and she is really clumsy.
You wrote too : "She will probably have to take some kind of sex offender program ". What means sex offender program for women ? I guess few women are inside for sex offenses. She had illegal, but consensual intercourse, and she isn't as a child rapist. I wonder if other prisoners'll know she has to take "some kind of sex offender program". If they know she's a SO, isn't it dangerous for her. ? In men's prisons, sex offenders are a "low class" and I heard they are more often assaulted as the others prisoners. I think it'll be better nobody knows she is a SO.
You wrote : "She can expect to be strip searched at least 2 times a day by a same sex boss". Stripsearches is, I guess, all naked, but I heard about "cavity searches", but I think they are illegal. Is it right ? She was worried about that, specially when she'll have her period.
Thanks.

Thanks again

consensual or not she is a sex offender i think it probably gets around what someone is incarcerated for and i doubt if Texas cares whether you are used to manual labor or not

Field squad AKA Ho Squad is physical labor working in the unit fields might be working in the fields with what is called a Aggie sort of a hoe and chopping tool in one . In most cases it is . There is not a choice on this unless you are truly physically or mentally disabled or are too dangerous to be working with other offenders . If she does well ,this means not assault any one, not give the field bosses a hard time do what they say . Many can try to get a different job when their classification is reviewed usually every six months sometimes longer sometimes less .

If she is clumsy and not used to physical labor all she can do is say yes / no sir or mam if field boss says anything .

I do not know exaclty what kind of program she will have to take or what any of them are . It is broadly labeled Sex Offender Treatment Program SOTP .All sex offender sent to TDCJ have to take a SOTP in regardless of what they did .

Yes other convicts will know she is a SO and taking this program . Though she will not be well liked. Her offense is different than sexual assault She will unquestionably face a lot of verbal and psychological abuse . I am not going to sugar coat things . She needs to be ready for it. Being in Harris County Jail she already should have an idea of it .

Women in Harris County Jail and those women who who catch chain with her will know of her conviction and they will talk to others . Many probably know some one on a TDCJ unit and trust me word gets around .

I do not mean to hurt any one feelings but I think honesty is the best way to help your friend . I would strongly suggest getting her in contact With Sunrays Wench seeing she has stated she is willing to write her She is very familiar with TDCJ also .I highly doubt she will go to MT view .

Full cavity searches are done by medical with a boss present out side of the room in most cases unless they are know to assault staff and other convicts , in seg or on DR ' then they are in full restraints and two same sex bosses present not performing the search but holding the offender .

They are strip searched at least 2 x daily every day. You get used to it and no one including most bosses really like it at all . As for her period I am thinking she can tell them but not refuse . Though full cavity searches are usually done only when they suspect contraband being hidden . Usually a X Ray is done first to ease her worries a bit .

She really is going to need all the support she can get . She is in for a very different difficult time in her life and she is not going to be the same when she coems out no one is as far as TDCJ is concerned .

She is going to have to stand up for herself and not take any crap you can a talk your way out of a situation most of the time more so on a female unit . If she keeps to her self as much as possible does not get into others business she will be OK ,No it is not going to be easy not at all for some one like her

It is normal and perfectly understandable for you and her to be very scared of this and feeling helpless and overwhelmed .

Her best bet is to learn by observing discreetly how "experienced" convicts act is different situations . She in now one of them as far as TDCJ and other convicts are concerned .

She will have a lock box to put her property in . It must be kept locked when she is not in her cell or cubicle . This is also a good idea so others do not get into her stuff .

She never should accept any thing from any one at all nothing is ever given with out the expectation of something in return . Simply say No I am all set .

If asked to do something she is not comfortable with she can say I am not down with that or I am not up for that . That lets them know she is just not interested and not going to rat .

Ratting / Snitching is one thing she should avoid at all costs .

Sometimes offenders will act friendly she should be respectful but never overly freindly or give out much information about herself .

The best thing you can do is stay in touch with her visit her as much as you can write a lot email her set up a phone contract . let her know you and her friends are thinking of her and care . That will be her best assets having caring friends in the freeworld .

A few more things she will be asked: Where did you fall out of . that means where did youget convicted She should just say Harris county .

They will ask her: How long are you down for ? That means how much time are you doing Tell them 2 years don't lie .

Another variation on this is : How much time did you catch ?

What did you catch . they are asking her what her charges are I can't talk about legal stuff is her best answer though they will know don't lie they will find out .

Just a few things . As I said there is a lot to take in and learn a whole new life for two years

If think of more I can post it Maybe it will also help others

Once again I hope this helps and feel free to ask more .

__________________
The Constitution is not a Technicality!

Me

If you never have dreams they will never come true.

Somethings are worth fighting for !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Ngn...eature=related


Money Talks !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgL8qqjOnlg

I doubt it would be Mountain View either ASE, I suspect it will be Hobby or Plane like you said, but you just never know. I already have a pal at MV, that's the only reason I cannot write if txman's friend ends up there.

txman ~ when your friend gets to a TDCJ unit (keep checking the TDCJ inmate locator Offender Search) then send me her TDCJ number and the unit name by PM here and I will gladly write to her. I don't sugar coat things either, but it will be important for it to be seen that she has plenty of outside support - both with the guards and other inmates. Those with no one are easier targets.

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I got news from her. She is tired, scared and ashamed.
Tired, because it's a new style of life. She does'nt sleep very well, is always on the alert, is nervous…
Scared of her next transfer with shackles to TDCJ, of working in the fields, of being assaulted.
Ashamed of being in prison, of being a sex offender, and ashamed because she got a first disciplinary report because she was seen fondling herself (in fact masturbating) to calm down.
I told her not to ask for psychological aid, too dangerous, and she had to bear herself her incarceration. It isnt' a mental illness, only a shock, and a psychiatric unit is worse than prison. I told her too prison isn't like in movies and she'll meet other good women who only made a mistake. In fact, she must understand she is a convicted felon, she is punished and punishment isn't nice. The problem is she does'nt admit yet her sexual intercourses with the boy were criminal and also her punishment. We have to explain her she really broke the law and made a bad thing. I'm sure if she admits she deserves punishment, she'll bear easier prison life.
We have to wait she gets to a TDCJ unit, perhaps in one or two months, I guess. Thanks to you, I understand what expects her.

If she doesn't understand her acts were criminal and that she broke the law she does have some type of mental illness or psychiatric issues going on.

Prior to incarceration did they do an exam on her mental well being ?

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