West Side ATC

[sunshine22372]

Hi Boone,he got moved yesterday and I dropped clothes off to him. The CO's were very nice. I was just checking in w/ you to see if your guy got a job yet? I hope my bf finds one right away. So if they are in school they only get a once a month pass and working you get every weekend? Am I understanding correctly? Hope to find you well and look forward to hearing back from you!

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

Thats great news Sunshine!! Yes my man finally found a job, he's waiting to move to level 4 now, where he will earn his 4 weekend passes. Once your man gets to level 3, he will then be able to come home 1 weekend a month ( and yes if he's not working, then tell him to enroll in school) to earn those passes. I just found out from my man that his counselor made him quit school, because between his work hours and school hours, he would be out of the center to many hours. Apparently they have to be in the center x amount of hours, makes no sense to me, but it does to IDOC.  I also found out that his counselor requires that they do 8 hrs of community service before they move to level 4.
 Once he starts getting day passes, they will send him to the unemployment office to sign up to find jobs.
 And if your man has a State ID drop it off to him, it will him time running around to get one, which saves you time in getting his birth certificate and S.S. card. Good Luck, you get your visit with him next week and you'll get that long awaited hug and kiss. You will leave there felling like your walking on a cloud, I know I did. Keep in touch and by the way  

[sunshine22372]

Those damn dabears huh? Bummer for us chi-towners! Yes, I will be visiting this coming weekend, I am very much looking forward to hug, kiss and getting to see him in his own clothes! Those prison clothes just don't quite do it for me! Lol. I am so happy your guy got a job, awesome news! Did you help him or did he find it on his own? It seems like it must be difficult since the employers can't call you back. IDOC certainly doesn't nake anything easy. I can't believe he has to quit school?? That seems really backwards that they frown upon someone getting an education. With that being said making money is a good thing. My guy seems in a lot better place mentally already. SV was very brutal on him. I really bet your excited that he's on level 4! You get him home more:) I am envious I can't wait to get to that point. Have a great evening and thanks as always for your feedback.

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

I have to agree Sunshine on those damn bears, ugh!!! I agree with the prison clothes too, didn't do much for me either,lol.  He found the job on his own, and the jobs can call the facility back. It will work like this, your LO will get his counselor's ext, so when they call they will ask for the ext and they can leave a message that way. The counselor will then tell your Lo, who can call them back to set up an interview. Tell your LO to sign up for temp to hire agencies, that's how my man got his job. We were were worried about him not being able to find a job that way, but according to what we've both been told by the staffing company the employers will hire a felon, if its a non violent crime.
 Enjoy that hug and kiss and hand holding at your visit, the guards are pretty cool, at least first shifters. If you get there early the vending machines are pretty decent. Just fair warning, lock your purse in the car, as they will not let you take it in with you. Just bring in your DL, money ( preferably singles and change) and your car keys. They will take you in a little room and do a pat down before you enter. Good luck stay in touch and ENJOY your visit.

[Johnson09]

would robbery cause my lo to be denied???
what disqualify him from work release???
and about how long does it normally take to know if your excepted or denied ??
thanks in advance .....

[Johnson09]

Oh and can someone tell me were the facillity is located ?
 

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

The facility is located at 121 N. Campbell, Chicago.  It is in easy terms at Western and Lake.

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

I am not sure about the Robbery..They will have reviewed him in S.V to see if he's a flight risk or not, it also depends on if it was a violent crime.. Class X I do believe are not eligible for ATC. Basically when or if your lo is at his parent facility, he can talk to his counselor about ATC, they will be able to tell him if he's eligible or not, if he is then his counselor will fill out the proper paper work and send to Springfield for approval/denial. My lo had his paper work sent to Springfield at the end of May beginning of June and was approved in 3 weeks, they sent him back to SV to await an open bed at West Side. We had our first visit with him at West Side the 3rd week of August. Waiting at SV for the open bed is the longest as there are so many waiting to be transferred to ATC. I hope this helped you out. Good Luck

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

Well Just thought I would update about West Side, my man says its getting over crowded in there. They used to keep the new guys (level 1's) on a different "wing" or rooms then the guys on level 4, however due to the over crowding they are bunking them all together, which my LO said is a joke. As the level 1 guys do not have work clearance yet so they have no respect for the guys that have to get a decent nights sleep to get up for work. They also apparently think their invincible to the rules and get the whole room in trouble. I guess theres been a few instances where the newbies have been smoking in the bathroom, which causes midnight searches and room sweeps.
 My LO just told me last weekend about some new guys pouring some germaquat ( cleaning solution) in a CO's bottle of water, causing him to be rushed to the hospital, he said the whole center was in an uproar.

[Mz.Sweetness06]

Hello, I have a few questions...I just received a called letting me know that my boyfriend has been released to work release...at West Side ATC. I just wanted to know how is this going to be??? When can he come home on the weekends??? and how long does he can to be there? Until his release date which is in MAY? and how are the visits??? Thank you.

[Marks_guy]

Just go back to the first page of this thread and you will see all the things he is allowed to have, and what the level system is (getting home passes are based on what level they are). There are also posts on visiting and phone calls.

Unless he does something to mess things up, he will be there until his release date. Getting into work release is not a reduction in time.

Congrats to both of you for getting to this positive new place!

[Mz.Sweetness06]

 

[IloveDCfrombooneco]

Mz.Sweetness06.. I know this is a little late, but congrats on your LO being moved to West Side.. Have you been there fro a visit yet? My experience visiting West Side was actually very good and laid back.

[Mz.Sweetness06]

Heyy! No you are fine, and thank you. Yes I have been there and my experience visiting went very well! West side atc is very laid back and i enjoyed my visits! =)