Face-to-face visits are key for inmates

Face-to-face visits

are key for inmates

Bonner County Jail inmates and their families were disheartened this week as they are no longer allowed their face-to-face visitations.

The option for video visitations would be beneficial for some who have to normally travel a long distance to visit their love one at the jail or have no way of getting to the jail during visiting hours.

But it is no substitute for seeing your loved one face-to-face. And because it is now the only visitation option, it is truly dehumanizing.

It is well known that families are of upmost importance for the recovery of an inmate. Prohibiting face-to-face visitations will deny inmates the moral and emotional support they need from their families. Families are real full-sized human beings with a soul and spirit; not cyberspace figures or a flat head on a computer screen. If this form of visitation remains the only option, it will hurt our inmates’ chances of success.

Dehumanizing is prejudice; a determination that someone is less than human.

It has no place in a progressive community.      

MARY BAENEN

Sandpoint