Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hard time

Officials are wrong to deny prisoners right to visitors

The Michigan prison visitation policy, which has recently come under scrutiny, is much too strict and has too many downfalls to be considered effective.

The policies, which were enacted in 1995, were challenged by several prisoners and overturned by U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds in April. But a federal appeals court voted 2-1 earlier this month to block those rulings pending a state appeal.

Michigan’s visitation policies are among the toughest in the country.

According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, current rules prohibit former inmates from making visits, inmates may not see their minor children if their parental rights have been terminated and prisoners with two or more substance-abuse violations are permanently forbidden to see all visitors except attorneys and clergy.

These rules are stripping inmates of their humanity. There is a difference between penalization and repression - these rules cross the line.

Obviously these criminals have given up certain rights by breaking the law, but they should not have to give up human contact. Many of these rules have been described as “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Prisons are home to murderers and rapists, but also to criminals like drug users, who may not have hurt anybody. By imposing strict visitation rules, prison officials are passing judgment about the crimes of their inmates.

Many Michigan inmates will likely not face life in prison. When the time comes for a former inmate to re-enter society, it would benefit that person and the rest of us if he or she can effectively communicate with his or her fellow citizens.

Supporters of the strict policies are concerned visitors will introduce illegal substances and weapons into the prison. If this is a problem, measures should be taken to counteract these violations without cutting inmates off from outside contact.

Visitation can be an effective incentive to curb prison rule violations. Visiting with loved ones is very valuable not only to inmates, but to those who care enough to visit them in prison. Losing those rights because of violations while in prison may make inmates think twice about breaking the rules.

Friends and family may also be a positive influence on many prisoners. Because inmates spend so much time with other criminals, contact with outsiders could be very uplifting and potentially rehabilitating.

“Cutting off a prisoner from his family is not going to make him a better prisoner,” Barry Mintzes, a former warden of the State Prison of Southern Michigan in Jackson, told The Detroit News for a story Sunday.

Officials should think very carefully about the benefits of personal relationships before cutting inmates off from loved ones. Policies restricting parents from seeing their children are potentially emotionally harmful for both parties.

The State Court of Appeals should uphold Judge Edmunds’ decision to restore prisoners’ visitation rights. It is the best decision for all involved.

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