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| Penn. prisons cutting back visiting, and drawing ire of families |
| By Philadelphia Inquirer |
| Published: 02/12/2001 |
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The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is trying to trim costs, and one of its first cuts is likely to have an impact on inmates - and their families. About 20 of the state's 26 prisons have started - or soon will start - reducing daily visiting hours for inmates, said spokesman Michael Lukens. The cuts were made after the Department of Corrections asked prison officials to lower overtime costs. 'Our intent was to match our resources to when the visiting hours were being used and still use an appropriate amount of visitation,' Lukens said. 'We took times when few or no one was visiting and closed the visiting rooms then.' Alan LeFebvre, public information officer for Graterford state prison in Montgomery County, said his institution cut about nine hours a week from the visitation schedule in September. 'We do not believe the move we made in any way affects the quality of visitations for inmates or their families,' LeFebvre said. But officials from the Pennsylvania Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, said the cuts were just another punishment for the prisoners and their families. Some facilities have only cut hours back on certain days. Others, such as SCI Muncy in Lycoming County, an all-women's prison, will close the visiting room on Wednesdays and Thursdays of each week starting later this month. LeFebvre said there had been few complaints about the changes. Lukens said his office had received fewer than a dozen complaints. Hollis, whose husband is serving a life sentence at SCI Albion in Erie County, said reports of few complaints might be overstated. William DeMascio, executive director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, said he had received 'scores' of letters from inmates and their families asking for help. He said there also were concerns about the elimination of Saturday mail delivery. Lukens said Saturday delivery was eliminated after corrections officials determined it to be the slowest mail day. He added that the labor used to sift through and deliver the letters and packages could be better spent in other areas. |
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