NCJ Number
210942
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2005 Pages: 11-29
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
July 2005
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the findings of a recent survey that solicited information on family visitation facilities and family reunification programs for inmates in 43 United States correctional systems and 4 Canadian systems.
Abstract
Fifty-one percent of the responding U.S. systems and 3 responding Canadian systems allow visitations every day of the week; 49 percent only open their facilities for visits on weekends and holidays. The number of visits per inmate varies significantly by the custody level of each facility. Twenty-one percent of the reporting U.S. systems and 3 reporting Canadian systems do not provide special activities for inmates' visitations. Some visitation activities mentioned are board games, picnics, television and video movies, and church services on Sundays. Thirty percent of the reporting U.S. systems do not offer separate areas for inmate's children during visits. For those systems that do have children's areas, playground equipment and other child-appropriate activities are provided. Sixty-seven percent of the U.S. systems and 3 in Canada have no plans to change their visitation policies. Regarding family reunification programs for inmates, 60 percent of the reporting U.S. systems have specialized classes, and 40 percent do not offer any reunification programs. A sampling of class topics includes family communication, parenting, reading aloud, family literacy and marriage seminars, domestic violence, stress management, financial planning, and elder care. Six tables provide State-by-State information on visitation and family reunification features.