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| With new visitors center, Leavenworth prison is more welcoming of guests |
| By kansascity.com |
| Published: 11/23/2009 |
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When the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth went from maximum to medium security in 2005, the storied prison encountered a problem not faced in its 100-plus years. People wanted inside. Maximum-security prisoners apparently have few friends, so the lack of more than rudimentary procedures for visitors to enter the prison had not been much of an issue. You logically can conclude that for people to wind up sentenced to a maximum-security prison, they probably have broken many familial bonds. Does the social isolation cause the criminal mind-set, or do the crimes contribute to the relationship dysfunction? Either way, the change to warehousing 1,900 medium-security inmates called for new systems to treat their families and friends with respect. Until Friday, this was poorly handled. Visitors gathered in an adjacent parking lot, waiting hours for their turn, a nonsystem that was easily exploited if a guard wanted to choose who went first, or if people wanted to argue about their slots in line. A blue metal awning over a few picnic tables offered the only cover from snow, rain and heat. There was no rest room, unless nearby trees count. Complaints rose, including a critical column by me in June. Read More. |
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