SHERIDAN Correctional Center

[Marks_guy]

If you look through the latest posts on this board, seaturtle has described how strict Sheridan's mailroom is. She found out the hard way.

[seaturtle]

Hi Hooliflynn, and yes Marks_guy is right I found out the hard way.  Scroll through this thread and you will find the information I posted and you must follow it to the letter.  I have sent him those soft cover puzzle books and he received them.  I have also sent him two paperback novels and he has not received them yet but they have not been returned to me....YET.  So I think you will be OK with magazines, but if you find out different please let us know here.  Sheridan is very strict about everything, but it is a rehab program.

My L/O called me the day after he arrived, I was surprised but I guess his approved list followed him.

[Hooliflynn]

Thank you so much! I sent him a letter with 3 pictures, very plain & nothing fancy at all. I still have yet to recieve a phone call but he had someone that hes there with have someone call me to let me know that he is there now, I already knew of course bc of VINE but he has no idea that I have more information than he probably has at this point in the game. I was lucky enough to recieve 3 letters from him while he was at Stateville so I know hes holding up. I just cant wait for him to get involved at Sheridan so his days can start passing by as fast as mine are. From what Ive read on IDOC there seems to be a lot of programs, are there long waiting lists to get involved in them? Or do they start right away? Thank you all soo much in advance, this site has truly been a blessing for me.

[moody816]

Is Sheridan still all durg program or is part of the joint gen pop?

[seaturtle]

Hi moody816, Sheridan is the drug program still.  My LO has been there since July.  He just mentioned recently due to the over crowding every where and the states inability to pay Westcare (the organization that oversees the rehab program) that the number of counselors will be reduced and part of the compound will be used for gen pop in the up coming months.  But this, like every other rumor heard via CO's and such may not have any truth to it.

Hope this helps you.  Is your LO scheduled to transfer to Sheridan?

[ash8885]

my l/o told me the same thing seaturtle but then he also was told that they are kicking people out on electric monitors if they have completed 9 months of the program and are within a certain amount of time to their outdates.  My belief is itz all rumors till there is some solid proof or formal statement made about it.  I don't believe really anything that come from the c/os there cuz alot of them just start crap.

[Cashyc]

My Lo told me the same thing.....''Westcare isn't getting paid so they will be expanding the place for General Population''.

He also said they extended their shop days.. I haven't heard anythingelse thou.

[Pamalynn]

J asked me to find some information for him

1. Is Sheridan a facility entirely for substance abuse, or is there just a portion of it that is used for that purpose?

2. Is Sheridan being shut down? He said rumor has it that it will be closing in the near future.

3. If they are accepted to Sheridan are they immediately put into the substance abuse program, or is there a waiting list?

Thank you.

[tabbylover]

1. yes until parole  - according to a counselor I spoke to.

2. rumor from my lo who was in the facility that the west care program will be shut down because of lack of funds to pay the instuctors not the prison itself.

3. Immediate.

[Amanda.Marks]

My LO is looking at possibly transferring to Sheridan, but he is concerned, he's heard that basically there is a lot of drama there, that if you aren't always in trouble you are considered a snitch? Has anyone else heard anything like this? I would love for him to get into the drug program, and he really needs it, he also said something about the time remaining on a sentence needing to be below 2.5 years.. again has anyone heard anything about that either? Is it a safe place to go? Just looking for some information to take back to him.  Thanks :)

[Mrs.Mcgahee]

Actually, my Lo has been there since April of 2010. He likes it and get alone with the CO and the counselors. Part of the program with Westcare is you have to write tickets on other inmates not to get in trouble but they make certain LO's leads and they have group about the issues they were written up about. If people start reading more they would understand that this is one of the few programs that help you find work after your release and stay in touch with you. Also, the recividism rate is very low for Sheridan. It is a program for men wanting to change. I did a lot of research on Sheridan and other programs like it,. They are very successful, not every program is perfect of course , but it works. My LO doesn't have problem with anyone, and he is going in his last part of the program. He is one year down now.

My lo hasn't had any drama, since being there, but he hasn't had any tickets since being in prison. Period! And my lo is not a snitch, so whoever gave him that information was wrong. I think it was worst in logan, he worked in the kitchen there.

He will need to be under 24 months to be consider. All of this information is located on here and on the web. Its prison but I think Sheridan is fairly safe. To be honest most young guys can't handle it and gets kicked out of the program and sent to other prison or they are sent to SEG. My lo is in his 30's and this information I recieved from him. Sherdian is not the place you want to do that, but he was selected to go down there. He didn't request the transfer, and the counselor at Logan told him they would not pick him and they did. But its been great for us, I guess it depends on the LO. Good luck

[Courage]

My husbands counselor is working with him to get into the drug program at Sheridan and we have a few questions? He is currently at East Moline and has just under 1 year to go. If he gets approved for a transfer does he immediately go into the drug program or does he have to go into general population and wait for an opening? Also, does his good time start as soon as he enters the drug program? Is the good time day for day in the drug program at Sheridan? Is it dorm style or does it have cells? He is nervous about switching prisons because you never know what you are walking into. He could definitely benefit from the drug program but since he doesn't have a lot of time left it wouldn't be worth it if he transferred there but then had to wait to get into the drug program.
Thanks for any answers anyone can provide.

[veracity]

The program starts immediately. Phase 1 is orientation where there are no visits allowed for 30 days. There is no time limit for how long you can be in the various phases so don't think he's going to get 1 1/2 days credit for every day he's there. The extra good time involves contracts and progressing through the phases. They have mostly 2 man cells. I don't know about how much good time they can get cause my son isn't eligible for contracts even though he is not a class x felon so make sure his conviction qualifies for contract time. The program is not easy and the structure is hard on some. Many of the guys are released to halfway houses before they can actually go home. I can understand his hesitancy in transferring.

[Courage]

Thanks so much for your post Veracity. Does anyone know exactly how the contracts work? I just spoke to a counselor and she told me the contracts are day for day but then said that he would only get 45 days on a 90 day contract so I'm confused. His out date is January 26, 2013 so according to the counselor if he came in February then his out date would be the end of October. I think he can get the 3 months off and not have to go through the hassle of a transfer. So if the counselor is correct then he just needs to decide if he really wants to go to the drug program. Any clarity would be much appreciated!