phone calls

I'm a rookie at this and I find it hard to get information on my son. I have added money to his Advance pay account and listed 3 phone numbers he can call, mine his stepfathers and his stepdads business. We haven't heard from him in 3 weeks. He said he tried to call my number but that it wouldn't go through. I check and the money is still on there. I received one call about 4 weeks ago. Anyway he was just transferred from intake and is now at his destination. I called the prison and was told it takes about a week to set up his phone services unless he is on sanctions ( that is my fear) . Is there a way to find out if he is on sanctions and if so is he allowed to receive letters or send them. Thank you to anyone who has some knowledge on this. We are in the process of filling out a visitors application but I would hate to get approved drive all the way there and then have them say sorry he is on sanction. anyway.. Bless you all for your support>> as it is difficult but you have made me feel it is manageable.

Blessings,

Lori

I'm having similar problems because the state rejected my home phone that I've had for almost 30 years with reasons that didn't make sense. I'm waiting for the cell phone to show approved plus I tried the house phone again. I haven't talked to my son in just over 3 weeks but I did get a letter from him so I know he has been where he was going for two weeks and was ok when I last heard over a week ago.

I email him almost daily. I added money to two different phone accounts because I thought that was the problem. It's ridiculous what the state puts us through just to use a phone. How hard can it be to see if a phone belongs to someone? We already know we can't visit until he's been there 45 days so we didn't do a visitor's application. Do we need to start that already to get in line for when he can see us? I'm so lost.

I hate that we're all going through this but thankful we can all lean on each other a little.

Thank you, Diane

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Comments

Diane Todd May 24, 2017 at 10:08am

Also my cell phone finally got approved after a long process so I should be able to receive calls from my son in about 5 days according to the email! I am so excited that I can hardly wait to hear his voice again. I think my home phone my have finally been approved after resubmitting several times because I actually got 2 emails and neither says which phone it goes to. I did the home in his dad's name one time so maybe he can talk to him on it. The rules state I cannot hand my cell phone to my husband or put the phone on speaker so he can talk to his son. How stupid is that? This whole thing is so hard!

Anyway, to anyone trying to reach a loved one through Jpay, mail or phone...don't give up! They need us and will quickly start to think we forgot them in there because they don't know what all we're doing to reach them or how helpless we feel. :( Next step will be visitation and I don't know how hard that will be to get through but I'm going to do whatever it takes.

God Bless You All and Your Loved Ones, Diane
Diane Todd May 24, 2017 at 10:02am

I am using Jpay also to email my son. He has to write back with regular letters and snail mail because they print my emails to him and give them to him, usually the same day then I get a response about 5 days later in regular mail. Not a great system but much better than if I had to wait for my letters to mail to him also. I have sent a few pictures and I did one collage but he said it came out the size of a postage stamp so be careful when uploading photos from your phone or computer. I don't know yet how well the snap and send ones looked to him but I hope they were better.
Lori Rea May 24, 2017 at 9:33am

Hello My son is housed in Michigan and have recently went onto Jpay. and bought email stamps 25 for $5. I have emailed my son and photos. each page and photo costs 1 stamp each. It also has a phone app making it very easy to email him on a whim. He has responded within a day on each email except when was being transferred. I believe it will say if your state offers this. I still write letters but this is so convenient. However to put money on his phone and trust account that has been changed to GTL connect which has a phone app as well. just an FYI if anyone wants to try this out

peace to you all

Lori
Lisa Collins May 17, 2017 at 12:13pm

They can usually always receive mail. Just make sure you check the jail/prison website and make sure you have the appropriate mail guidelines. Sometimes once they get moved it does take a week. You should just be able to call the jail and tell them you haven't heard from your son, and can they tell you if he is on sanctions. And just make sure you didn't have to set up two seperate accounts. One for phone and one for his commissary etc... Get your visitation forms processing, because that can take time.
Diane Todd May 17, 2017 at 11:58am

I'm having similar problems because the state rejected my home phone that I've had for almost 30 years with reasons that didn't make sense. I'm waiting for the cell phone to show approved plus I tried the house phone again. I haven't talked to my son in just over 3 weeks but I did get a letter from him so I know he has been where he was going for two weeks and was ok when I last heard over a week ago.

I email him almost daily. I added money to two different phone accounts because I thought that was the problem. It's ridiculous what the state puts us through just to use a phone. How hard can it be to see if a phone belongs to someone? We already know we can't visit until he's been there 45 days so we didn't do a visitor's application. Do we need to start that already to get in line for when he can see us? I'm so lost.

I hate that we're all going through this but thankful we can all lean on each other a little.

Thank you, Diane

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