CONJUGAL AND FAMILY VISITATION IN MISSISSIPPI (FROM AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NINETY-NINTH ANNUAL COLLEGE OF CORRECTION SEE NCJ-02839)

• NCJ Number: 10087
• Author(s): C B HOPPER
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT ACA MEETING, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, AUG 17-22, 1969

Annotation

OPERATION AND EFFECTS OF FAMILY VISITATION AT THE STATE PENITENTIARY AT PARCHMAN.

Abstract

FAMILY VISITING IS ALLOWED AT PARCHMAN FOR FOUR HOURS ON EVERY OTHER SUNDAY AFTERNOON. VISITORS AND THEIR VEHICLES ARE INSPECTED BEFORE ENTERING THE PARTICULAR CAMP IN WHICH THE HUSBAND OR FATHER IS CONFINED. FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR THESE FAMILY VISITS, AND SPECIAL HOUSES FOR PRIVATE CONJUGAL VISITS ARE MAINTAINED, AND IN SOME CAMPS CONSTRUCTED, BY THE INMATES. MORE THAN HALF OF THE MARRIED MEN TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL MARRIED MALE INMATES EXCEPT THOSE UNDER MAXIMUM SECURITY. THE PRESENT FORM OF FAMILY VISITS HAS DEVELOPED INFORMALLY FROM CONJUGAL VISITING PRACTICED AT PARCHMAN AS EARLY AS 1900. PARCHMAN HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF CONJUGAL AND FAMILY VISITATION IN REDUCING HOMOSEXUALITY AND STRENGTHENING A MAN'S SELF-ESTEEM BY ALLOWING HIM TO RETAIN IN A STRONG IDENTIFICATION WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.