Prison visits are important. So is your help!

So, here’s what often happens in our state prisons. 

Numerous Michigan prisoners are not allowed to visit with their spouses, kids and loved ones, indefinitely, because of tickets they received for alleged misconduct. This is especially true for those prisoners who have received two or more Class I Substance Abuse misconducts within a five-year period. This means that the prisoner gets no visits from anyone…friends or loved ones, nor can he or she have video calls from anyone and everyone on the visitation list, even children! 

I will interrupt our conversation here to explain that we (the HFP team) know quite a bit about this stuff. Two of our staff members have spent more than 40 years behind bars and they can tell many sad stories. 

Because of our experience in this field, the HFP Board of Directors was quick to endorse a new bill, introduced in the state’s House of Representatives, that would modify this situation. Citizens for Prison Reform, a fine prisoner advocacy agency, had asked if we would join many others in supporting the bill. This was formally done in the HFP board’s quarterly meeting. Unanimous. No discussion necessary. 

Let’s talk about that bill. 

Michigan House Bill 6090 was introduced by Representatives Dievendorf, Rheingans, Wilson, and Hood. The bill aims to amend the Corrections Code of 1953 by focusing on family reunification within the Michigan Department of Corrections. Key provisions of the bill include requiring the MDOC to permit visits from eligible visitors and to place individuals on a prisoner's approved visitor list unless a visit is deemed a safety and security risk. It also allows individuals with past criminal convictions to be approved visitors if more than 5 years have passed since the successful completion of their sentence. 

Here’s the deal. This critical legislation would transform family connection for incarcerated individuals in Michigan from a revocable privilege to a guaranteed right. It would prioritize personal visits for families and incarcerated people within the MDOC, and ensure that revoking visitation rights is limited to extremely rare circumstances. 

Denying visits to our state’s inmates ignores some pretty solid information. Family connection has been proven by multiple case studies to lower recidivism rates and support successful reentry. The National Institute of Corrections reports visitation has such a significant effect on recidivism that a single visit can reduce the risk of recidivism by 13-25%! 

Our HFP team can attest to the fact that in-prison family visits offer significant benefits for inmates including improved mental health, reduced misconduct, and lower recidivism rates. These visits help maintain family ties, provide emotional support, and aid in the inmate's eventual reintegration into the community. For their kids, visits can alleviate feelings of abandonment and trauma. 

HFP asks that you contact your state legislators to support this bill. 

You and I recognized the importance of family. It’s no different for those behind bars.

In summary, family visits play a crucial role in supporting both inmates and their families, contributing to improved emotional well-being, helping them reintegrate as our neighbors, and keeping them from returning to prison. 

These people, and this bill, need our support. 

The love of a family is life's greatest blessing." — Eva Burrows



Comments

Wflower2001 said…
Visits are of the utmost importance. I cannot understand why it has not gone back to pre-covid regular visitation however. To make matters worse at Chippewa they love to make available visits for 8:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m. knowing it's a good 4-Hour drive for most. Which puts the Elderly on the road by 3:30 a.m. or not home until well after midnight. Not safe, not acceptable. Furthermore again with Chippewa for some reason they have decided to close yard two mornings in a row. This is the worst facility in Michigan ever! Please somebody do something! Please.
July 21, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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