Sunday, August 20, 2017

WEEKEND VISITATION CANCELLED



08/20/17

Editor’s note: Here is a direct quote from a scholarly dissertation that was studying prison issues: from Prison Experiences, Social Ties, and Inmate Behavior: Examining Visitation and Its Effects on Incarceration and Reentry Outcomes by Joshua C. Cochran, FSU Graduate School, 2013

Inmate visitation merits special attention for several reasons. Inmates have legal rights to visitation; visitation may mitigate the potential harmful effects of social isolation and improve inmate behavior and reentry outcomes; and visitation might provide one way to cost-effectively achieve these benefits

… Indeed, with few exceptions, visitation provides the only opportunity for inmates to have direct contact with family, friends, and community members. In so doing, it affords inmates some ability to preserve, develop, or sustain ties to social networks outside of prison, and to have sources of social capital on which to draw during and after incarceration.

In short, visitation in prison is very, very important to all concerned. For Charlie and me, it is our very life-blood. Opportunities for visitation are already in short supply and often curtailed; therefore, we cherish every visit we get. So it was with considerable heartache that on Thursday, August 17, the prisoners were informed by the warden that visitation for this weekend was cancelled.

From the FDC web site: “The Florida Department of Corrections announced the cancellation of weekend visitation at all Institutions for Saturday, August 19. and Sunday, August 20…In response to credible intelligence indication that small groups of inmates at several institutions may attempt to disrupt FDC operations and impact safety and security, FDC has, in an abundance of caution and in the best interest of staff, inmate and public safety, cancelled all visitation…FDC looks forward to resuming normal visitation as soon as possible…”

“Official directive” has struck again, and Charlie and I lose yet another 10+ hours of  face-to-face direct contact  to preserve, develop, or[and] sustain [our] ties…” It’s for sure the FDC will not add any visitation days in compensation. Visitation is not as meaningful to them.

Charlie and I will make the best of it and strain the phone lines.

Next time you are face-to-face with the ones you love, tell them you love them. It is a moment to cherish.
Libby

No comments: