PRISON VISITING - A BACKGROUND FOR CHANGE

• NCJ Number: 52117
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 47-50
• Author(s): N E SCHAFER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF A PRISON SURVEY ON VISITING SCHEDULES AND FACILITIES ARE REPORTED AND DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN 1973, THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS MAINTAINED THAT VISITATION IS A RIGHT OF THE PRISONER AND NOT A PRIVILEGE TO BE GRANTED THE INMATE BASED ON HIS INSTITUTIONAL BEHAVIOR. THIS PERSPECTIVE IS DERIVED FROM STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN A CORRELATION BETWEEN PAROLE SUCCESS AND THE NUMBER OF VISITS RECEIVED WHILE IN PRISON. THUS VISITATION IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE REHABILITATION PROCESS WHICH IS WORTHY OF PRIORITY ATTENTION BY CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS. DATA ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF STATE PRISON VISITING SCHEDULES AND FACILITIES ARE REPORTED FROM A QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO 230 STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR ADULT OFFENDERS. A TOTAL OF 168 RESPONSES WAS RECEIVED. VISITING SCHEDULES WERE ASSUMED TO BE INDICATIVE OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INMATE VISITATION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE AVAILABLE IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. RESPONSES REVEALED THAT SOME FACILITIES PROVIDE VISITING HOURS JUST ONE DAY A WEEK, WHILE OTHERS PROVIDE THEM DAILY. A TABLE LISTS THE STATES RESPONDING ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF DAYS PER WEEK AVAILABLE FOR VISITS. A SECOND TABLE INDICATES THE RANGE OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS AVAILABLE PER WEEK FOR VISITATION BY STATE. THE MEASURABLE FACTOR WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO CORRELATE MOST CLOSELY WITH THE VISITING SCHEDULE IS VISITING ROOM CAPACITY. WHERE THE CAPACITY OF THE VISITING AREA IS LOW RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION, THE VISITING SCHEDULE TENDS TO BE GENEROUS; WHERE THE VISITING CAPACITY IS LARGE RELATIVE TO INMATE POPULATION, THE SCHEDULE TENDS TO BE LIMITED. THE SURVEY DATA INDICATE THAT VISITING OPPORTUNITIES IN GENERAL HAVE EXPANDED IN THE LAST TWO DECADES. IT IS ADVISED THAT IF THE TIME ALLOWABLE AND QUALITY OF SERVICES OFFERED FOR VISITATION IS TO INCREASE BUDGETS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AND LOGISTICS SHOULD BE REVISED FOR IMPROVED VISITATION FACILITIES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RCB)