Truth Frees Us Prison Ministry
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I visit a prisoner at Lancaster State Prison?
Visiting prisoners at Lancaster State Prison:
The following description may seem a little daunting at first. It's really not as bad as it sounds. The officers are for the most part very pleasant and patient. Knowing the rules will make your visit much more enjoyable. Allow yourself an extra hour and a half to two hours for processing, although it usually will not take that long.
In order to visit a prisoner at a California State prison, one is first required to fill out and submit a visitor request form. The inmate should send family members and friends an application (CDC Form 106) to visit. All adult visitors must complete the application and return it to the Visiting Sergeant by mail. The Visiting staff must approve the application before the family member may visit. This should take approximately 30 working days. The CDC Form106 must be filled out completely and accurately. Failure to provide all requested information might result in the request being either denied or delayed. The following link has all the information provided by the California Department of Corrections: California Prison visiting information
Directions for getting to the prison:
IMPORTANT: Before you leave, be sure to remove from your car any items which are not allowed on the grounds (even if left in car). This includes any type of camera. If you forget you may have no choice but to throw it away or park outside the grounds, which may mean substantial delays in processing. Also, be sure to have a drivers license or state ID card, and know the prison number of the inmate you are visiting.
From LA: Go north on I-5 to highway 14. Go northeast toward Lancaster/Palmdale. Exit in Lancaster at Avenue I. Go west to 60th street. Go left past High Desert Hospital to Lancaster State Prison.
Most days there will be a line of cars waiting to get in. Take your place at the back of the line. Eventually you will be checked at the front gate. Your car will be searched, ID checked, and you will be given paperwork with a sequence number indicating the order in which you will be processed inside.
Once into the grounds proceed to the visitors' parking lot. There will be a walkway between fences that leads from the parking lot to the visitors center. At the entryway to this walkway is a small guard shed that will probably have a guard who will want to look at the paperwork you have filled out. He/she may ask you to wait in the parking lot until there is room for more people in the visitors center (the building where you will be processed).
From the parking lot you will walk to the visitors' processing area (about 200 yards). Inside the visitors' center there will be a room full of chairs and a desk with corrections officers. If the Guard in the parking lot did not already take your paperwork, you should give it to an officer at the front desk. You will be called in turn. Have your drivers license/ID card ready. They will check that you have the right clothing, not more that the maximum amount of money ($30 at last visit, in ones, quarters, dimes and nickels). This must be in a zip-lock or other clear plastic container. You may have one key in the bag as well. They will have you remove your shoes and anything that will not pass through the metal detector and put them in a wooden tray. They will check your pockets and waistline. Hair cannot be worn in a way that could conceal contraband. Clothing must be loose fitting and modest. No layered clothing, no blue or green clothing. Women cannot wear a bra with underwire, as it will set off the metal detector. One ring, one watch, one necklace. Absolutely nothing in your pockets. Lockers are available for items which do not pass inspection.
When you have successfully passed through the metal detector, you will be given the tray with your items, your picture ID and paperwork. You will receive a stamp on your right wrist. You will then pass through a double electric gate and board a bus that will take you to the visiting center for the yard you will be visiting. Even though it is only a few hundred yards, walking is not allowed.
Inside the visiting center for the yard there will be another desk with another officer. Hand her/him your paperwork. He/she will check your stamp, take your papers, and call into inside to let them know to get your prisoner ready. You will then be allowed into the visiting room.
At the front of the visiting room is a worried-looking officer charged with managing about 150 inmates and visitors. Hand him your paper. He will assign you a table. If there are not enough chairs, he will assign an inmate to get you more chairs. Don't get your own.
Now you have a little wait. This is a good time to try to get some food ready for your visit. There are vending machines on the side of the room. Often they will be empty except for salads or muffins. When the vending machine operators come to fill them there will be a rush to get to the food before it is gone again. It may easily take an hour or so of standing in lines to get food and heat it in one of the two microwave ovens. If there is more than one visitor we will take turns waiting in lines and visiting. IMPORTANT HINT: The vending machines can be touchy. The little sliding doors should be opened slowly, with a slight pause. Trying to force them open will probably result in you losing your money. I lost a lot of money before I finally figured it out.
AT LAST HE'S HERE! Enjoy your visit. The way out is more simple. They will check your stamp and paper, then your car once more on the way out.
Lancaster State Prison
44750 60th St. West
Lancaster, CA 93536
Yes, you can be a pen pal to a prisoner. If you don't know a Christian in prison, go to our pen pal page and sign up..
There are all kinds of mentors. Our purpose is to help a person mature in his relationship with the Lord. If you have a relationship with the Lord, you just need to be a few steps ahead in your walk. Start by getting to know your disciple. Write, visit, share life. This should be a long term commitment. We'll have more on this later.