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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for prison visitors
5 results foundAuthor: Perry, Victoria Title: Maintaining the Link: A Survey of Visitors to New South Wales Correctional Centres Summary: Maintaining family ties during imprisonment has been found to serve important functions for inmates, their family members, correctional centre administration, and the community as a whole. Corrective Services NSW recognizes the importance of visits between inmates and their families, and provides contact visiting facilities at each correctional centre in order to assist inmates to maintain family relationships. During April 2011, visitors to all correctional centres in NSW were given the opportunity to respond to a 4-page survey. This report presents an analysis of the visitor surveys. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Dept. of Corrective Services, Corporate Research, Evaluation and Statistics 2012. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Publication No. 51: Accessed July 1, 2013 at: https://correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/411012/research-publication-maintaining-thelink-a-survey-of-visitors-NSWCC.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: https://correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/411012/research-publication-maintaining-thelink-a-survey-of-visitors-NSWCC.pdf Shelf Number: 129232 Keywords: Families of InmatesPrison VisitorsVisitation (Australia) |
Author: Renaud, Jorge Antonio Title: Video Visitation: How Private Companies Push for Visits by Video and Families Pay the Price Summary: In September 2014, a group of Dallas-area advocates led a fight against an initiative that would have introduced video visitation capability to the Dallas County jail. The company proposing to provide services to Dallas had buried in its contract a requirement that the jail eliminate in-person visitation, thus leaving those who wished to visit prisoners only one option - visit by video. Or, don't visit at all. Dallas officials voted the proposal down, but it was the latest front in a battle that has seen video-only visitation policies spreading across the country, primarily in local lockups. Embraced by jail officials as a way to alleviate what many see as the burdensome security aspects of prison visitation, the primary attraction of video-only visitation actually rests on one facet: money. Details: Charlotte, NC: Grassroots Leadership; Austin, TX: Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, 2014. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 17, 2014 at: http://grassrootsleadership.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Video%20Visitation%20%28web%29.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://grassrootsleadership.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Video%20Visitation%20%28web%29.pdf Shelf Number: 133735 Keywords: Prison PrivatizationPrison VisitorsPrisonersPrisons (Texas)VideoVisitation |
Author: Murdoch, Danielle Title: Boise State University - Ada County Sheriff's Office Inmate Video Visitation Program Evaluation Summary: Visitation has been an integral component of correctional facilities for decades, as an inmate's ability to maintain ties with their family and friends has been shown to improve their behavior while incarcerated, as well as upon release. While historically occurring in-person, visitation has fairly recently begun to be offered viavideo, which offers several advantages over in-person visitation, though there are some disadvantages as well. This report outlines the results of an evaluation of the inmate video visitation system (IVVS) at the Ada County Jail (ACJ) in Boise, Idaho. First implemented in 2010, ACJ was a pioneer in the use of remote video visitation in correctional facilities. Through a partnership between Ada County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and researchers at Boise State University, the evaluation began in July of 2015 and included interviews with nine key stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of IVVS, 10 Sheriff's deputies, and 12 inmates who regularly use the system. In addition, a survey assessing use of, and perceptions about, IVVS was completed by a sample of 58 inmates and a secondary data analysis was conducted with visitation and disciplinary violation records that were shared with the researchers.According to the key stakeholders, the goals of IVVS were to: prevent the desensitization of kids to the jail; increase jail security and order; promote public safety; reduce resource and space requirements; and increase access to, and frequency of, visitation. Additional themes that emerged through interviews with key stakeholders and Sheriff's deputies included difficulties and successes with the implementation of IVVS; technological issues and training; improvements in jail security and a shift in resources; concerns about the cost of additional visits and access to the required technology for visitors; perceived benefits of the elimination of wait time for visitors, removal of children from the jail environment, and increased frequency of visits; belief in the positive impact of IVVS on institutional behavior; and doubts about the impact of IVVS on recidivism. Some suggestions for improvement offered by these participants included additional training opportunities and installing a kiosk outside of thesecure part of thejail for visitor use.The interviews conducted with inmates revealed a number of strengths ofIVVS, though some weaknesses were noted as well. Identified strengths included appreciation for two free 30-minute visits per week and the perceived positive effect on behavior to avoid the loss of the privilege, the ability to maintain ties with family and friends, the convenience of visitors not having to travel to the facility, and improved visits with children,including protecting them from the jail environment. Some of the weaknesses mentioned by the participants included the lack of discretion to choose between in-person visitation or video visitation, the prohibitive cost of purchasing extra visits (nine dollars for 30 minutes), the lack of privacy given the location of kiosks in common areas, and technological issues with IVVS although many of these were believed to be due to issues on the visitors' ends. Last, some suggestions for improvement offered by the inmates interviewed included having the option to pick between in-person or video visits, implementing an incentive-based program to earn extra visits,and expanding the use of IVVS to include confidential visits with attorneys.The findings from the inmate surveys were similar in some ways to the inmate interviews, but different in many ways as well. In terms of usage, most indicated they use the two free video visits per week to visit with a variety of family and friends, though very few purchase additional visits due to the cost. Those who have not used IVVS cited scheduling and accessibility issues (i.e.,visitors not having the technology required tocomplete video visits) as the main reasons they have not used it. In terms of perceptions about IVVS, respondents clearly prefer in-person visitation over video visitation, believing in-person visits would better help them to maintain social ties. A largeproportion also noted some problems with the system and doubts about the positive impact of IVVS on their behavior in the jail or upon release. However, the majority of respondents agreed that video visitation is helpful for inmates. Some suggestions offered for improvement included having the option of in-person visits, installing kiosks outside the secure part of the jail for visitors, and reducing the cost of purchasing extra visits.The last portion of the evaluation was a secondary data analysis of official records provided by ACSO in regard to visitation, both in-person and video, and disciplinary violations. The results of the analysis suggested that the implementation of IVVS has increased the frequency of visits despite a relative stable average daily jail population. In addition, a demographic analysis of users suggested that IVVS has specifically increased visitation for female and older inmates, though there are other factors, such as the characteristics of inmates at ACJ, which could have accounted for the observed changes. Although one of the goals of video visitation is to improve institutional behavior, an analysis of disciplinary violations from 2009-2015 revealed an increase in the number of violations. However, the severity of violations appears to have decreased over time. Again, there are several factors that could have impacted the frequency and characteristics of disciplinary violations aside from the implementation of IVVS. Further research is needed to more closely examine the relationship between visitation and inmate behavior.Based on all of the data collected and analyzed for this evaluation of IVVS at ACJ, the following recommendations are offered: (1): Install kiosk(s) for visitor use.(2): Decrease the cost of purchasing additional video visits. prefer in-person visitation over video visitation, believing in-person visits would better help them to maintain social ties. A large proportion also noted some problems with the system and doubts about the positive impact of IVVS on their behavior in the jail or upon release. However, the majority of respondents agreed that video visitation is helpful for inmates. Some suggestions offered for improvement included having the option of in-person visits, installing kiosks outside the secure part of the jail for visitors, and reducing the cost of purchasing extra visits.The last portion of the evaluation was a secondary data analysis of official records provided by ACSO in regard to visitation, both in-person and video, and disciplinary violations. The results of the analysis suggested that the implementation of IVVS has increased the frequency of visits despite a relative stable average daily jail population. In addition, a demographic analysis of users suggested that IVVS has specifically increased visitation for female and older inmates, though there are other factors, such as the characteristics of inmates at ACJ, which could have accounted for the observed changes. Although one of the goals of video visitation is to improve institutional behavior, an analysis of disciplinary violations from 2009-2015 revealed an increase in the number of violations. However, the severity of violations appears to have decreased over time. Again, there are several factors that could have impacted the frequency and characteristics of disciplinary violations aside from the implementation of IVVS. Further research is needed to more closely examine the relationship between visitation and inmate behavior.Based on all of the data collected and analyzed for this evaluation of IVVS at ACJ, the following recommendations are offered: (1): Install kiosk(s) for visitor use.(2): Decrease the cost of purchasing additional video visits. Details: Boise, ID: Boise State University, Department of Criminal Justice, 2016. 166p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2016 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303818777_Ada_County_Sheriff%27s_Office_Inmate_Video_Visitation_Program_Evaluation Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303818777_Ada_County_Sheriff%27s_Office_Inmate_Video_Visitation_Program_Evaluation Shelf Number: 140106 Keywords: Prison Visitors Prison VisitsPrisoners Video Visitation |
Author: Rodriguez, Alicia Title: Unwelcome Visitors: Challenges faced by people visiting immigration detention Summary: Every day, ordinary Australians visit people detained in Australia's onshore immigration detention facilities. This is an important and often under-appreciated role. These visitors provide emotional support to people in detention, advocate on their behalf and fill in the gaps that exist in provision of services and information in immigration detention facilities. It is not easy to visit people in immigration detention, to hear their stories and to speak up for those who are the victims of Australia's current punitive approach to people seeking asylum. Visiting immigration detention facilities takes time, energy and commitment, and often has a significant impact on the wellbeing of visitors. Yet, all too often, we hear some politicians and media outlets falsely blaming these visitors and advocates for encouraging people to harm themselves or to disobey rules. Over the past year, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has increasingly heard from these visitors that security conditions in immigration detention facilities are being intensified and it is now more difficult to visit people in immigration detention. Correspondingly, people in immigration detention are becoming increasingly isolated from the wider community, with negative impacts on their mental and physical wellbeing. These concerns led us to conduct a national study to explore these issues further. This report is the result of our extensive research and consultations with detention visitors and people previously held in detention. It explores the challenges faced by people when trying to access detention facilities, including: constantly changing rules and their inconsistent application difficulties in arranging a visit, including searches and drug tests lack of adequate space in visitor rooms in some facilities arbitrary rules and intensified security conditions that make visits less friendly, and specific challenges faced by religious visitors. This report identifies the impacts of those difficulties on both visitors and people detained and puts forward a number of recommendations to address those challenges. This report showcases the spirit of volunteerism in Australia, presenting the accounts of many volunteers who continue visiting detention facilities despite difficulties, so they can bring people hope and get their voices and concerns heard. People who visit immigration detention often provide the only public information about what is happening in our immigration detention facilities. This is because Australia does not have an official national body that publicly and regularly reports on visits to immigration detention facilities. The Refugee Council of Australia welcomes the Australian Government's commitment to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) by the end of 201 We hope that this will result in greater scrutiny of immigration detention and ultimately better treatment of those in detention. Details: Sydney: Refugee Council of Australia, 2017. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 2/17: Accessed August 4, 2017 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/100721/apo-nid100721-409001.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/100721/apo-nid100721-409001.pdf Shelf Number: 146696 Keywords: Asylum SeekersDetention CentersImmigrant DetentionImmigration EnforcementPrison VisitorsRefugees |
Author: Rees, Alyson Title: Evaluation of Visiting Mum Scheme: Final Report Summary: The Visiting Mum scheme is run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact), which is a national charity that provides practical and emotional support for prisoners and their families. These services include prison visitors' centres, a national helpline, mentoring and befriending services, relationship and parenting courses, advocacy and campaigning work (Pact, 2016). The charity focuses on ensuring children and families of prisoners have access to support which is tailored and responsive to their needs. Visiting Mum is operating at the female prison, HMP Eastwood Park, in Gloucestershire, the local prison for female offenders in the southern half of Wales as there is no women's prison in Wales (female offenders in the northern half of Wales are sent to HMP Styal in Cheshire). On average women prisoners are held 60 miles from their home address, but at Eastwood Park, 20% of women are held over 150 miles from home (HMP/YOI Eastwood Park, 2011). The Visiting Mum scheme works with Welsh female prisoners, to facilitate contact between them and their children during their period of incarceration. In Wales, despite the Welsh Government's adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as the basis for policy making about children and young people, there is no national strategy for the children of prisoners, who thus receive little support. No routine data is collected by Local Authorities about children of prisoners (in either England or Wales), meaning that this small but vulnerable group of children are unknown. Justice is not a devolved function, and Welsh Government do not routinely disaggregate and publish data on prisoners or their children to enable estimates of this population to be made. Visiting Mum is a 3-year partnership project funded by the Big Lottery Innovation Fund, which has been running since October 2014. It operates using volunteers who work with individual families in the community to prepare carers and children for visiting Eastwood Park and transport children and carers to the prison. It was designed specifically to address these issues and to support families to keep in contact (where it was in the child's best interests to do so), removing barriers to contact and supporting the whole family through the process. A well-designed and unique project, Visiting Mum currently supports and provides benefits to children living across south Wales when visiting their mothers at Eastwood Park. The volunteering organisation Sova, a charity that has been established for 40 years, working 'to help people steer clear of crime and to live healthier lives' (Sova, 2012), recruits, trains and supports the volunteers who furnish the Visiting Mum project. Volunteers support children to prepare for visits by talking about the prison regime, showing pictures of the establishment and letting children know what they can expect when they arrive. Volunteers also answer questions so that children are able to make an informed decision about whether and when to visit and provide transport for the visit. Where required, volunteers offer support to the carer and children after the visit has taken place and help to arrange future visits. The Visiting Mum scheme aims to reduce reoffending, and reduce the emotional distress caused to women incarcerated away from their children. The scheme also aims to reduce the impact of incarceration on children, and has the potential to improve the longer-term mental health of both mothers and their children. The relationship between mental health and offending is well-known (Chitsabesan et al. 2006). Incarceration may impact on both women and their children's well-being, their propensity for holding down employment and avoiding offending in the future (Welsh Public Health Wales 2016). This evaluation of the Visiting Mum scheme, examines how it operates, captures the experiences of those involved, assesses its strengths and weaknesses and determines whether it has reached the objectives set out by Pact. Details: Cardiff, UK: Cardiff University, 2017. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2017 at: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cascade/files/2017/09/Final-PACT-report-Final-version.-12.7.17.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cascade/files/2017/09/Final-PACT-report-Final-version.-12.7.17.pdf Shelf Number: 148206 Keywords: Children of Prisoners Families of Inmates Female Prisoners Prison Visitors |