Question regading the mail situation at Graham Correctional Center

[samsgirl1]

I am a newbie here at this site, although I have been looking through it for several days and have learned a lot from the great people who have been sharing their information and experiences.  My question is regarding the mail situation at Graham.  It may be like this at all facilities, I don't know.  My boyfriend is in reception at Graham and it will be four weeks this Monday that he has been there.  I received a letter from him on Thursday and it broke my heart to hear him ask me why I had not been writing him.  He explained that receiving mail from me assures him that I am okay.  He said that he had only received three letters from me.  As of today, I have sent twelve letters and that does not include the cards, books and puzzle books that I have sent.  I have been sending him mail so that he at least would receive mail from me everyday or every other day to assure him that I am still here for him.  He did tell me that he did receive the books.  Are they so overcrowded and understaffed that they can not get the incoming mail to the inmates or what is going on?  Any information that anyone has on the mail situation at Graham I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

[lvanrs2]

I have come to realize most facilities are slow at getting mail out. It takes 3 weeks for my husband to get a letter.  He is at Big Muddy.  During the holidays it's even worse.  Some prisons are efficient with mail.  Hopefully he will be moved to his parent institution soon and you can explain things to him.  IDOC does everything on their time, not ours, and not a minute sooner than need be.  It is a hurry up and wait process with IDOC.

[Missplaymate618]

I have noticed that mail is getting slow, I don't know about Graham specifically but for some reason its taking longer for my LO to get mail. Hopefully that will all change soon!

[Coxy girl]

Samsgirl~ I usually plan on 10 days for my letters to get to my guy at Graham.  However, if I send a manilla envelope with a couple magazines with my letter he has received it in as few as 3 days.  There is one package still out there that was sent on Jan. 2 that he still did not receive.  I spoke to the mailroom about it and the gal was very nice but said it wasn't there.  She also mentioned that they really got behind over the holidays, but as of last week they were all caught up.  That is how she could tell me the other big envelope was not there.  I do remember when he was in Receiving I would write every day and sometimes he would just get 4 letters at one time.  No real rhyme or reason to the madness, but the "big" envelope has always been quicker at Graham.  Do you expect him to stay at Graham or be placed at another facility?  How far from Hillsboro are you located?  Keep writing and mailing, he will eventually get them and know you were thinking of him!

[Marks_guy]

I don't know about Graham specifically, but the mail in IDOC is notoriously slow. At BMR, I've noticed that it usually takes about 2 weeks for letters to get through. But packages seem to arrive much quicker.

[free2beeme39]

  Welcome samsgirl to IPT  ...The mail for the guys in receiving @ Graham is terrible...my guy was in graham's receiving for almost 60 days & he hardly received any of my mail. He is still getting it now that hes at his parent prison..he got a letter last week I sent in December, it will eventually catch up to him. Hang in there receiving is the hardest part. Big mail does get to them rather quickly you can send up to 5 paperback books, magazines or puzzle books. I would also put a letter in the box when I sent it.

Terri