viewing visitation

This week is going to be shorter than usual – we have Friday off on account of the fact that it’s the Fourth of July. While I am very much enjoying my experience at Metro, I’m glad to have an extra long weekend. But maybe that’s because I just had an extra short weekend.

On Saturday I had to come back to Metro to observe the weekend visitation. We had to sign up for any Saturday during our ten weeks, and I just wanted to get done early, so that’s why I picked this past Saturday. One of the other women in my CPE group was there as well, so it was nice to not have to be there alone. Basically, we had to be there from 10am until 3pm, though I’d be lying if I said the two of us didn’t take a leisurely lunch break that may or may not have included a stop at a yard sale.

It was interesting to see Saturday visitation. It takes place in the gym, which is FREEZING!! Fortunately, I was already aware of this and made sure to wear pants and a long-sleeved shirt. There are several tables set up in the gym, and that’s where the inmates get to see their visitors. If there are babies or young children, the inmates are allowed to hold them, but as for any other friends or relatives, only a quick hug and kiss is permitted at the beginning and end of the visit – and that’s only if the officers in charge that day are in good moods. Only people who have been approved on each inmate’s visitation list can come, and when they get to the front gate of the prison, the inmate is notified to report to the gym. The idea is that by the time the inmate hears the news and gets over to the gym, the visitors can make it through the security process. Of course this timing doesn’t always work, and we came across a few visitors who had to wait quite a while before the inmate showed up.

Once things got going, we mainly just did a lot of observing from the sidelines. I saw a couple of women from my building who had visitors, and it was really nice to know they had people taking the time to see them. We also talked a bit to the officers to get their perspectives. The tables were never completely full at any given time, and we learned that with the price in gas going up and up, the number of visitors each Saturday has been going down and down. Really sad reason to not get a visitor, but I also can understand just not being able to afford it.

One thing that was definitely made clear to us by the officers is that visitation is NOT a right for the women, but rather a privilege. I kind of cringed in hearing that, so I’m just quoting what I was told. I personally think it should be a right; one that can perhaps be taken away upon receiving enough DRs, perhaps, but still a right. Ah, how I love the prison system… (note the sarcasm)

All in all, it was really interesting to observe the visitation and see how the process works. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think it was necessary to be there for the entire time, because really, once you see how it works, that’s really all there is. It was nice to have the opportunity to get the officers’ takes on the whole thing, though. It’s always interesting to see the prison through different lenses. Anyway, I should already be in bed (it’s almost 11pm, for crying out loud!), so I’m going to end this here. I hope everyone had a wonderful month of June and looks forward to an even better July (can you believe it’s already here??)