<p>Wishing you some comfort by his assignment to minimum security and hoping that your pain is brief and his stay is short and uneventful.</p>
<p>Thinking of you. I don’t have helpful prison knowledge, but like others, I have anxiety experience.</p>
<p>Often the worst part of a bad experience is the part in your head, before it even starts. Once your son settles in and you are able to visit him and see that he is ok, you will feel much better. And look ahead to a future when this is behind all of you.</p>
<p>He is very lucky to have you in his corner.</p>
<p>I think it adds to the anxiety especially if you haven’t spoken to your son since he has gone in. But it makes sense that there is minimal interactions between the various levels of prisoners since they want to keep everyone safe, not just the prisoners but also the personnel. </p>
<p>As parents, you never stop worrying. Whether your kid is 6 or 60. So it’s just natural to worry. We just can’t help it. Just try to trick your mind and keep busy with reading, hobbies, exploring new things, etc. I hope your son is also able to do that while inside - reading, learning, writing, etc.</p>
<p>How soon until you’ll be able to visit him? I would hope that a visit would help allay some of your concerns. Seeing him and knowing that he’s OK should help.</p>
<p>I would trust his lawyer’s assessment of your son’s placement. Your son won’t be interacting with violent felons.</p>
<p>Hugs to you at this nerve-wracking time.</p>
<p>I will chime in with what others have said. I have no experience whatsoever with this and no advice, but thinking of you and your family at this time.</p>
<p>Keeping in touch with your son…and his attorney should answer some of your questions. When can you visit? Hopefully that will ease some of your concern. Agree…hope your son finds some positive things to do…that will help.</p>
<p>^^what Thumper said. Keep in touch with your son and keep an eye on the situation. Big hugs to you, fauxmaven!</p>
<p>OP, I’m too uninformed to give you any useful info. All I can say is thank you for being so open about this whole scenario that gives us insight in an area that some of us have no real knowledge. I hope you continue to post as this progresses. I really hope things work as well as it can in this situation for you and your family.</p>
<p>Like so many others, I’ve been following your saga and have stayed quiet, but I have some actual information, finally, that I think might help. My ex-BIL used to be a jail guard. Yes, the different levels of prisoners are kept separate, for many, many reasons, including safety. So you can hold onto that.</p>
<p>But I want to caution you-this isn’t like your son is in college and you can call the dean and complain that the room isn’t well-heated enough or the roommate is a problem-this is PRISON, for a FELONY, and it’s probably not a good idea to makes waves. These guys talk, and guards can be less than supportive of family interventions. Your son might not get any benefit from your complaining on his behalf and end up in a worse situation.</p>
<p>Also, while I totally understand your coming here to ask for support, since you “know” people here, the demographic is similar and the prison forums might have less educated and less sophisticated members-really, people who know the ropes really ARE the best ones to ask. THEY will know about how visits work, what to do when the money transfer doesn’t go through in a timely manner, how to handle it if your loved one is complaining about the food or whatever. They are a good resource that can probably help you with your anxiety over what to expect. </p>
<p>Lastly, I suggest you encourage your son to take advantage of whatever programs are there for his benefit-AA, NarcAnon, classes, whatever addresses his offense and what led to it. I am from a pretty small city and it wasn’t unusual for my ex-BIL to run into a inmate who he knew from school or sports or the local store. People who were truly sorry-not just for getting caught but for falling to the point of committing a crime, who took the classes and went to the meetings, are the ones who didn’t come back. Your son doesn’t need a farm-he needs to get back on track. And maybe in this case, he is where he needs to be.</p>
<p>Best wishes.</p>
<p>Thinking of you, your dear son, and your family. I hope you will be able to see your son soon. I’ll continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. ((HUGS))</p>
<p>Hugs from me too. To add to sseamom’s point, the inmates with the best odds are those with family support. You are doing everything you can to be there for him. If your son chooses to take his medicine, he has a lot of years ahead of him when he can put this behind him.</p>
<p>OP, is this the same son tha you told us about 3 years ago being in a China prison? I feel sorry for you as a mother, but did your son not learn that selling pot wasn’t the way to go?</p>
<p>Thinking of you Fauxmaven. Take deep breaths and do something for yourself to help you manage your anxiety. Maybe a yoga class or a book club. It is a sad reality that when our children suffer, we suffer even more.</p>
<p>Don’t have any useful info, but sending supportive thoughts and a link to a favorite song:</p>
<p>[The</a> Poozies-Another Train - YouTube](<a href=“The Poozies-Another Train - YouTube”>The Poozies-Another Train - YouTube)</p>
<p>I am sorry your son was sent to prison. I apologize; since D graduated I don’t visit CC as religiously now. I am unfamiliar w/ your son’s situation but as a mother I empathize w/ your feelings and add my cyber support. I hope you can find some comfort here.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about your state’s prisons but the ones I knew had very different minimum security setups. So for example, the main prison was something out of a Hollywood movie with big locking doors and a central domed gallery where the library was located and long cell blocks. The minimum security prison was across the street. Totally different. Much nicer place. </p>
<p>I know less about the processing facilities. I think your attorney’s advice about the difference between minimum and higher security is right. At least it sounds right. So once he’s through that, he should be fine.</p>
<p>Sending positive thoughts.</p>
<p>I too have been following your journey and I want to add my prayers and hugs to you and your son…you are a very couragous and have so much heart, your son is very lucky…I am sure your heart is broken now and I feel for you…hang in and hang on…every day is one day less that he will be there and one day toward healing your heart…</p>
<p>I spoke to my son’s social worker this AM. I asked how this prison was selected for my son, and she said he REQUESTED it!! He must know more than I know. It is the closest prison to where we live. Just wanted to let you all know. Haven’t spoken to him yet, but hopefully tomorrow.</p>
<p>You have my support and warmest thoughtsthrough this difficult time.</p>