Courtesy Ch 7 News Miami
https://wsvn.com/news/investigations/new-florida-prison-policy-to-stop-contraband-inmates-will-not-be-placed-in-their-home-county/#.W8FWkjlLXdA.email
This ridiculous policy is a major reason to vote for a Governor who will consider the humane aspects of incarceration and reverse this and other senseless procedures that are designed not to heal but to destroy. And that day is on the Horizon! The answer rests in your VOTE on Election Day, November 6, 2018.
The act of purposely moving offenders further away from their families to curtail contraband, when it is well known that families are not the ones bringing in the significant amounts of contraband, is totally absurd. On the other hand, we all know the physical, emotional and psychological benefits of keeping inmates close to their loved ones. It also lowers the odds of recidivism.
We know that nothing replaces the human touch and a healthy hug. Is this move an act of revenge for the protest and victory of stopping the visitation roll back set for April 2018 or is it just a sad effort to shift the blame for the contraband from FDC staff, volunteers and contractors to families and visitors. It couldn’t possibly be another self-serving JPay induced strategy to force video visitation on those who will not be physically or financially able to travel the longer distances. Whatever the reason (and there is one), it flies in the face of ‘best practices’.
GET UP – GET OUT – VOTE! This is not a political advertisement for a Gubernatorial candidate, it is a candid comment on the actions and intentions of Mayor Andrew Gillum who has openly promised to change the dilemmas plaguing Florida’s Correctional System. Gillum was the only Gubernatorial candidate who publicly opposed FDC’s intent to cutback on visitation. And by working together with others statewide, the proposed harsh policy was put to rest. Working in unison landed Amendment 4 on the ballot, an initiative that will restore the voting rights of most felons. And together there is nothing that can stop us from putting a man in the Governor’s seat who advocates for criminal justice reform and is bent on fixing Florida’s broken prison system. So if you are impacted by incarceration and able to vote, please do so and take as many as you can with you. If you don’t, then shame on you. And don’t you dare complain!