Stateville Reception

[bigdaddy]

I have a couple of questions. When an inmate is in reception at stateville can they order off of the commissary list when they arrive or shortly after until they are moved to their permanant place or are they not allowed to order anything? Are they housed in a seperate unit or are they housed in the round house? Can your send them money on their books as soon as they arrive in stateville or do you have to wait until they are moved? How long is reception taking these days? thanks for any answers.

[lvanrs2]

I believe Statesville does not allow receiving to go to commissary like Graham receiving does.  I would wait until they get to their parent institution to send money.  Time in R&C varies, could be days or weeks.

[becca]

My son was in Statesville for a month.  No visits, no phone calls and no commissary.  He was finally able to call me Sunday and now he was transferred so I doubt I will hear from him for another couple weeks.  I sent him 4 letters at Statesville and he never recieved them in that month. I should have waited until he got to his parent prison.

[Dazzler]

Receiving inmates are kept in the new R and C Center at Stateville.  If you look at our pictures in the Prison Photos board you can see many photographs of the R and C center.  Only 'writ' and SEG inmates are put in the roundhouse.  Wait until you know your inmate has been transferred and then send money via Western Union Quick Collect.  You should register with VINE and you'll be notified by email or phone every time our inmates in moved.  You'll have a headsup and be able to send money even before he contacts you.  Please read Ten Steps to Understanding the IDOC and it will explain many of your initial concerns.

[bigdaddy]

thanks for all the info. I wonder how long recieving is lasting these days? I know it depends on where you go, but how long can they keep you there?

[bigdaddy]

Also, does anyone know if the inmates in recieving get to get books to read, are they allowed to watch t.v., are they locked down 23 hours a day like general population is? Any priviledges at all?  Thanks

[Dazzler]

Receiving can last many weeks, but usually the inmate is moved after 2-3 weeks.  It depends on where they are going.  Bootcamp inmates wait much longer.  The R and C inmates are kept locked down most of the day, unless they are attending appointments and classification activities.  This is for the inmate's own safety.  Often new inmates think they have something to prove and the IDOC has found it safer and easier to just keep everyone locked down.  I'm not sure if they have a dayroom to watch TV.  They can have books, magazines sent to them.  However, Stateville is notorious for not delivering mail in a timely fashion.  Anything you send will be forwarded to him eventually if he doesn't receive it while in R and C.

[bigdaddy]

Thanks for the quick response Dazzler, you are truly a great help here!!! Wish the world had more of you in it!!

[tyrell]

 : wc17: how does the mailing go there and how r they getting calls r they allowed any after a certain time they r there

[Marks_guy]

Inmates in Statesville receiving do not get to make phone calls. Usually, they are given a post card to send out, but that is it. Statesville does not allow inmates in R&C to go to commisary, so they cannot send letters.  You can send your loved one mail, but it takes forever to get to them. Your best best is to sign up for VINE notification, which will tell you when and where he will be moved.

[AJAP]

I sent my pal a few paperbacks while he was in receiving and he got them just fine.

[Marks_guy]

We have noticed that packages (books and magazines) seem to go right through, while letters take a week or more. A couple of members have resorted to sticking a letter in with a magazine/puzzle book just so it gets delivered in a timely manner.

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

Well our journey into the wonderful world of IDOC has begun. My vine phone call came at 1:30 this morning, they had his first name wrong,but it was indeed him. This day has taken alot out of me emotionally!! I have found myself just sitting here with tears rolling down my face. The waiting to hear from him is going to be the hardest part of my days. I know, thanks to vine that he's in Statesville R&C. My only up side to all of this was I at least got to see him in county last night.
  I only hope he doesn't have to sit there forever waiting to get transfered.

[Marks_guy]

DC, this is the hardest part. Just keep your head up, and know that it will pass. And don't forget you have all of us!

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

I know that it will pass and I thank God that I have this web-site and ALL of you guys. Still waiting for IDOC to have him on their web-site. 1 day down.

[hbmom]

It will get easier I promise...my son was in stateville recp for almost 4 weeks but there was alot of stuff goin on at that time so I think it took longer than usual.  When I saw his picture on the IDOC website I just broke down, I thought my chest was gonna explode, I was completely heartbroken (hb). I found this site when I looking for information about him, so happy I did! ok...recp sucks...the only thing they have to look forward is mail. they can have magazines too. The mail at stateville recp is pretty slow, so the sooner you get stuff going to him the better. even though he may not be able to write you back, he will still get your mail.. hang in there..been there and here for you now!

[KSwife]

His picture may be up now since it is after 9, but will probably be no info, just his picture and IDOC number. Hang in there and write him often once he has an ID#.

[jenplus2]

IloveDCfrombooneco, it took IDOC over 24 hours to get my l/o's picture and information up. R&C has been very hard but this site has saved my sanity and I will never be able to repay all the wonderful people here. I was a basket case not knowing what was going on or hearing from D. He got one write out at the beginning and that was all I heard from him in 3 weeks. The best advice I can give is to write him often, D said that has saved his sanity as in R&C they are in their cell 22 hours a day (at Graham anyways, not sure how the rest work). Even though I didn't hear from him, I kept writing and talked about anything and everything I could think of. I also sent him pages to color, puzzles to do, anything to help pass the time (I even throw in some jokes from time to time). Some days were hard not knowing, but as they told me here... it gets easier. Once the shock of it all calms down, and you get back to your life and a routine, it does get better. Of course there will be good and bad days, but always remember you have people here to help when those bad days seem to hit without warning. Patience is something I have not been good at in the past, but I am learning. Remember to take care of yourself, keep yourself healthy and happy, even if it means faking it sometimes. Sometimes just going through the motions helps to kick in the real thing. Hang in there, be patient and you will see that things do get easier. If you have questions, there is an abundance of knowledgeable people on this site that have gone through or are going through the same thing, don't be shy. Besides being knowledgeable, I have never seen more caring, empathetic people who give so freely of themselves. I hope things get easier and the time flies by for you.

[hbmom]

well said jenplus2 !

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

Thanks Jenplus2, I also have a very hard time with patience, it is not one of my strong points,.  My oldest son is on my butt all the time about eating, it seems I've lost my appetite this last month, he's been gone. I still am not hungry, but eat a little here and there to make the oldest son(21) happy. I wanted to lose some weight before summer, I didn't want to lose my man though.
 I try so hard during the day to keep it together and have been ok today, until our 3 yr old heard the song "its your decision" by Godsmack and said " lets turn it up Mommy this is Daddy's song" It was his favorite song( my mans) That was hard. It's funny how our L/O are not the only ones that sit and regret the little things in life that were takin for granted, seems we do to. Something as little as a song.