What to Do When Something Goes Wrong During a Visit to Rainbow Conservation Camp

Something go wrong during your visit at Rainbow Conservation Camp? Start by talking to the visiting staff on-site. If that doesn't fix it, ask for the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant.

Start with the correctional officer working visiting. They handle scheduling questions, take comments, and can often solve problems right there. Stay calm and be specific about what you need - whether that's getting checked in, understanding a rule, or finding out why your visit was denied. Note who you spoke with and when. Those details matter if you need to escalate. Before pushing the issue further, take a quick look at CDCR's visiting FAQs. Many common problems, especially around scheduling and procedures, are covered there. It gives you a solid reference point for what should happen during a fire camp visit.

• ✓ Ask the correctional officer working visiting to explain the issue and what the next step is
• ✓ Stay calm and stick to the facts (what happened, what you were told, what you’re asking for)
• ✓ Write down the date/time and the name (or description) of the staff member you spoke with
• ✓ Note exactly what went wrong (for example: a scheduling problem, a rule question, or a staff interaction)
• ✓ Review CDCR’s visiting FAQs before escalating beyond the institution

If your issue involves a correctional officer - or you've tried resolving it locally without success - ask for the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant. They supervise visiting staff and handle complaints about officers. They're also helpful for technical problems. Visiting Sergeants and Lieutenants can provide Visitation Scheduling Application (VSA) technical assistance, which is useful when a system glitch is blocking your visit rather than something you can fix yourself.

1. Ask on-site to speak with the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant - If the visiting officer can’t resolve it, request the supervisor who oversees visiting staff.
2. Be clear about what you’re reporting - Explain whether this is a complaint about a visiting officer, a scheduling issue, or a VSA technical problem.
3. Share the key facts - Give the date/time of your visit attempt and the names (or descriptions) of staff you already spoke with.
4. Call ahead when the problem is scheduling-related - Use CDCR’s Visiting Sergeant/Lieutenant phone list to reach the right visiting supervisor for help with scheduling or VSA technical assistance before you make another trip.

Can't get a fair answer on the spot? Put your concern in writing to the Warden. Visitors can write to the Warden about any visiting-related issue, and the Warden's Office may forward your letter to whoever can best address it. Written complaints work best when they're specific. Think of it as building a clean timeline someone can act on - not venting.

• ✓ Your full name and contact information
• ✓ The date and time of the visit (or attempted visit)
• ✓ A clear description of what went wrong and what outcome you’re asking for
• ✓ Names, titles, or descriptions of staff you spoke with (and what you were told)
• ✓ Any steps you already took to resolve it on-site or with visiting supervision
• ✓ Copies of any notes or prior written communication you’ve already sent or received

Tried local staff, the Warden, the Inmate Family Council (IFC), or the Ombudsman - and still no resolution? You can escalate to the Director of the Division of Adult Institutions (DAI) in Sacramento. CDCR lists this as the next step for concerns that can't be fixed at the institution level. Use this option when you have a clear record of what happened and what you've already tried. Include dates and copies of prior letters so the Director's office can see the full trail.

Document everything as you go - names, dates, what you were told. That paper trail helps whether you're talking to visiting supervision, writing to the Warden, or escalating beyond the institution. For recurring problems, the Inmate Family Council (IFC) can be another route. Rainbow visitors can find a prison bulletin board listing IFC members and a suggestion box for comments. If you're seeing the same issue affect multiple families, that's exactly the kind of pattern the IFC is meant to raise.

• ✓ Date and time of the visit (or attempted visit)
• ✓ Where it happened (check-in, visiting area, scheduling issue before arrival)
• ✓ Names and titles of staff involved (or a clear description if you don’t have a name)
• ✓ What you were told, using the closest wording you can remember
• ✓ Names of any witnesses who were with you
• ✓ Copies of any letters you sent (for example, to the Warden) and any responses you receive
• ✓ Notes about any IFC suggestion you submitted and when you submitted it

• ✓ Review CDCR’s visiting FAQs first (many common problems are answered there)
• ✓ Write down the date/time and what happened in a simple timeline
• ✓ Record the names/titles (or descriptions) of every staff member you spoke with
• ✓ Note whether the issue is about scheduling, VSA technical trouble, or staff conduct
• ✓ If the issue involves a visiting officer, escalate to the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant
• ✓ Keep copies of anything you submit in writing (including a letter to the Warden)
• ✓ Look for the prison bulletin board listing IFC members and the suggestion box for IFC comments
• ✓ If you escalate beyond the institution, include copies and dates showing what you already tried