DSH - Patton: Family and Friend Resources

Telephone Access for Patients

On each residential unit there are two telephones available to patients - one is for outgoing calls and one is for incoming calls. Outgoing phones are left on all the time, 24 hours/day; however, incoming phones are shut off from 10 p.m. each evening to 6 a.m. each morning.

Mailing Services

Letters

• All incoming and outgoing letters to and from patients (exception - WIC 5358/LPS patients have the right to receive unopened correspondence, which will be opened in front of staff) shall be opened and inspected for contraband by staff.
• All photos, received through the mail, will be screened by the staff. Polaroid pictures are not allowed to come in through the mail. Patients are not allowed to have any photos that resemble themselves as adults. Patients are allowed photos of themselves as children or youths, but any photo (even of close relatives) that resemble the patient as an adult are not allowed. Additionally, photos of victims are prohibited.
• All oversized and bulky letters shall be considered to be packages and shall be opened in the Hospital Package Room.

Mailing Packages

Patients may not receive packages from home or from friends. All packages to patients must be purchased from a vendor. DSH-Patton has a contract with a vendor to provide common items to patients in the facility. However, families and friends are permitted to do business with any legitimate mail-order company (such as Wal-Mart or JCPenney) as long as the purchased items are shipped directly from the business and not to a family member first. When those items are received from a vendor they must still abide by all rules outlined on the Allowable Items and Contraband List.

Any item that constitutes a safety or potential security concern can be denied or confiscated. For example, items packaged in glass or metal containers will not be allowed.

• All packages will be opened, searched and inspected prior to going to patient.
• Unapproved items will be returned to the sender at the patient’s expense.
• Packages will not be accepted in the Visiting Center. Visitors may not bring items to the mailroom for delivery to a patient.
• Instructor vendor to delivery packages to Mailroom staff between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
• Packages left by a vendor at a location other than with Mailroom staff (for example left outside the door or at another hospital location) will be at risk for loss or delay in delivery.
• The package should be labeled with the first and last name of the patient, as well as their home unit to ensure proper and timely delivery of mail from Netflix or RedBox vendors.

Package Limits:

9 CA ADC § 4420BARCLAYS OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
Barclays Official California Code of Regulations
Title 9. Rehabilitative and Developmental Services
Division 1. Department of Mental Health
Chapter 16. State Hospital Operations
Article 4. Support Services
9 CCR § 4420
§ 4420. Limitations on Size, Weight, Volume and Frequency/Number of Packages
Allowed.
This section constitutes the formal facility policy on the size, weight, volume and
frequency/number of packages allowed.

(a) All sent or received items that do not fall under the definition of “Mail” in Section 4415 of these regulations constitute packages.
(b) Each package sent, and each package received shall not be more than 24 inches long by 19 inches in length by 12 inches high and shall weigh no more than 30 pounds.
(c) A state hospital may limit an individual patient's maximum number of incoming packages based on staffing and hospital ground limitations. If the facility chooses to impose limits, such
limits shall be according to the following: three packages per individual patient per calendar quarter for the first three quarters of the year (January-March, April-June, July-September) and
four packages per individual patient during the fourth quarter of the year (October-December).
(d) Packages sent to the facility that are not within the limits set forth in subsection (b) and (c) above shall be returned to the sender.
(e) The limitations set forth in the section shall not apply to Confidential Mail as such term is defined in Section 881(c) of these regulations.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4005.1, 4027 and 4101, Welfare and Institutions Code.
Reference: Section 5326, Welfare and Institutions Code.

Web Orders:

• Please visit https://accesscatalog.com or call (636) 888-7003
• The Access Corrections call center is open 7-days a week, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and accepts Visa or Mastercard.
• Access Corrections allows family and friends to order items from the current canteen menu to be delivered to their loved one directly to the unit and is not counted as part of the quarterly package limits.
• The patient’s 7-digit hospital identification number will be needed to process any of the above transactions.

Patient's Account - Adding Money

Deposits

• Please visit www.accesscorrections.com or call (636) 888-7004
• Select "California" and "Patton State Hospital" in the dropdown menu.
• Input Patient's ID by adding "8" in front of the 7-digit Patton ID number as required to deposit funds by phone or website.
• This will allow your family or friend to use the money you deposit toward canteen, vending, and/or purchase items from outside vendors.
• The deposit limit is $200.00 every 7 days per patient. This security function is under review. Any changes will be announced at a later date.
• To speak to a live person from Access Corrections, please call (636) 888-7004

Checks/Money Orders:

Make Payable to:

Patton State Hospital for (insert patients name)  (Example; “Patton State Hospital for Jane Smith”)

• Sender's name and address must be included with all checks or money orders.
• First time and out of sequence checks will have a two-week hold placed on them
• Cash, traveler’s checks, and blank checks or money orders are not accepted and will be returned to sender.

Mailing Address:

Department of State Hospitals - Patton
ATTN: Trust Office
3102 E. Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369

Walk-In
Visit our Administration Building in front of the flag pole.
Accounting Office Hours:
                Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed holidays and weekends)

Neighbors Meeting

Family and Friends Education and Support Meeting

Educational and Community Resources