NCJ Number
207668
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 148-149,157
Date Published
October 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) in Washington State established the Family Council in April 2003 to provide inmate visitors a mechanism for working collaboratively with the WCCW staff to enhance the visiting process and strengthen an inmate's support network.
Abstract
In order to assess interest in and recruit visitors for the council, staff reviewed the prior 12 months of visiting records and then contacted anyone who had visited an offender eight or more times in that year. Of the 900 women incarcerated at WCCW, only 49 had visitors who met this criterion. The 85 visitors were sent invitations to attend an information meeting; 15 expressed an interest, and the council was created. Its mission was "to encourage visitation to benefit successful community transition." The first meeting focused on visitation problems experienced by council members. Within 3 months of the initial meeting improvements were made in visitation procedures for children by implementing family-oriented activities. Council members frequently volunteer to assist staff during special family events, and the council has raised funds to support family activities. The council provides a bulletin board to keep visitors informed about activities and procedures. Currently, the council is developing a Web page where visitors can access information on visitation. The council's next project is to develop a means of communicating with family members who do not visit inmates. Although the council is often frustrated by bureaucratic obstacles to change, it has instigated sufficient change to convince the members that persuasion and patience can bring results.