What Happens During the First Two Weeks at Frank Lee: Reception and Classification

When someone first arrives, reception is more than just getting assigned a bed. They're photographed and fingerprinted, then moved through a series of appointments and interviews that help the facility document who they are and what they need. This includes medical and dental exams, psychological testing and interviews, and a classification interview. These pieces happen on a set schedule and sometimes require follow-up, so your loved one may have limited access to normal routines at first. That includes consistent time for calls or visits.

To check on basic status during this period, call Frank Lee at (334) 290-3200.

As part of reception, your loved one will get a complete physical examination. This is how the facility identifies health issues early and decides whether any immediate care is needed. These exams take time to complete and document, especially when multiple people are arriving at once. If additional evaluation is needed, that can add days of waiting and moving between areas, which makes communication with family feel slower than expected.

Reception also includes a dental examination. The goal is to spot urgent dental problems and figure out what care may be needed going forward. Even when nothing urgent turns up, the dental exam is still another scheduled stop during intake. Combined with medical appointments and paperwork, it's one more reason the early days of confinement often feel like a waiting game from the outside.

Psychological testing and interviews also happen during reception. These help staff understand mental health needs and gather information that matters for safe housing and appropriate programming. For families, this is another behind-the-scenes step that can slow the transition into a more predictable routine. Your loved one may be moved between areas for appointments, and that can affect when they're able to make calls or get set up for regular communication.

1. Complete psychological testing and interviews. These are part of the reception process.
2. Have results considered with other intake information. Staff use what was gathered during reception to inform next steps.
3. Move into classification decisions. The information collected in reception supports initial custody and placement recommendations.

After those intake steps, a Classification Specialist interviews the inmate and makes decisions about initial custody level and housing unit assignment. This is where staff pull together everything they learned during reception to decide where your loved one will be housed. They may ask about criminal history, prior drug or alcohol abuse, education, employment and program needs, and other background details. All of that feeds into the initial placement recommendation.

Classification isn't a one-time event. After the initial decision, inmates receive a classification review at least once a year. On top of that, the inmate's file is reviewed every six months to determine whether they're eligible for changes in custody and placement. Housing and custody decisions can be revisited over time as eligibility and status change.

• ✓ Photographs and fingerprinting during reception
• ✓ Complete physical examination by medical professionals
• ✓ Dental examination by dental professionals
• ✓ Psychological testing and interviews
• ✓ Interview with a Classification Specialist for initial custody level and living unit assignment
• ✓ Classification review at least once a year
• ✓ File review every six months for possible changes in custody and placement

If you're trying to confirm where someone is in the process, the simplest move is to call the facility directly at (334) 290-3200. Frank Lee's street address is 5305 Ingram Road, Deatsville, AL 36022. Have your loved one's full name ready, plus any identification number you have for them. Reception is a busy period, so keep your questions focused on the basics: location, general status, and when normal communication may restart.