![]() "We get a lot of emails, and some of the more significant and powerful themes over the past two years has been the lack of being able to see somebody and how much more difficult that made people's time and desire to continue in productive ways," Ross said. He said people who are incarcerated and their families felt the impact of the loss of visits at the beginning of the pandemic. Shannon Ross is executive director of The Community, a group that helps formerly incarcerated people with community reentry. But these things are just as important for the people out in the community." "I think people always look at it from the narrative or the perspective of the person incarcerated. You know, look at the bond that you have with a mom and a child or a father and a child, just how important it is for them to actually bond and be around their parents on a positive note," Whiteside said. He said the shutdown of in-person visits during the pandemic has not just had an effect on people who are incarcerated but on their family members as well. Whiteside said the DOC’s efforts to provide some free phone calls and video visits for inmates have been helpful, but the remote connections can’t fully substitute for an in-person visit. "To have it open back up and then kind of abruptly go back down, that's definitely a psychological, emotional whirlwind to say the least." It could be from a mom or dad, or like I said, if you have children, you really depend on and look forward to those times together," Whiteside said. "I know a lot of people really depend on the visits that they do get. ![]() He said the second shutdown of in-person visits in January caused "emotional whiplash" for many inmates, with the shock of suddenly having access to their loved ones limited again. Ramiah Whiteside is associate director of Ex-incarcerated People Organizing, or EXPO, an advocacy group for people who are or were formerly incarcerated. When case numbers declined in 2021, state officials opened facilities for in-person visits last July. The agency initially closed facilities to all but essential personnel at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. This is the second time DOC has reopened state prisons for in-person visits during the pandemic. Visitors are also required to wear masks and answer screening questions. A DOC spokesperson said Tuesday that all visitors are currently required to take a rapid test or show proof of a negative test within 72 hours of a visit. "Family connection during incarceration has shown to have a positive impact on success upon return to the community, and in-person visitation is one way of maintaining that connection," Carr said in the press release.Īnyone visiting a correctional institution will still be required to follow current COVID-19 guidance. The agency also reported that 16,033 people in DOC care, or 81 percent, were fully vaccinated against the disease.ĭOC Secretary Kevin Carr said in a press release last week that they appreciate the patience of people in their care and their families throughout the pandemic. ![]() State officials suspended visits in January after COVID-19 cases among inmates tripled in one week.Īccording to the DOC’s COVID-19 dashboard, there were 66 active COVID-19 infections among people in DOC care and 22 active cases among employees as of Monday. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections reopened state prisons for in-person visits Tuesday.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |