Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Tracking Virginia’s General Assembly
since 2007.
SB28: Child-friendly visiting rooms; state correctional facilities may provide.
Chief Patron
Sen.
Yvonne Miller (D-5)
Yvonne Miller
(D-5)
Served: 1988–
Progress
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Introduced |
 |
Passed Committee |
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Passed House |
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Passed Senate |
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Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Status
03/03/2008: Failed to Pass in Committee
Summary
Child-friendly visiting rooms in state correctional facilities. Requires each state correctional facility to provide child-friendly visiting rooms to promote positive bonds between incarcerated parents and their children. This bill requires the Department of Corrections to promulgate regulations governing the use of these visiting rooms that do not penalize inmates with sanctions, such as termination of a visit, due to normal child behavior.
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Votes were cast on this bill on the following dates for which Richmond Sunlight has video: 01/21/2008, 01/21/2008, 02/01/2008, 02/01/2008, 02/04/2008, 02/04/2008, 02/05/2008, 02/06/2008, 02/06/2008 and 02/12/2008.
Poll Results
6 votes
Tags
Bill Text
Related Bills
Status: signed by governor
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
Status: Failed to Pass in Committee
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Comments
The facilities that house inmates, including those 'heinious criminals' that cannot afford to pay whatever the DCSE claims they should, have NOWHERE for the families visiting them to actually 'visit'.
It's a first-come first serve, only 1/2 hour, push and shove and chaotic RUSH to try to get on the 'list', then get 'in' the waiting room, then 'in' the visitation room where EVERYONE is piled on top of each other without the ability to even 'talk' to the inmate. Children, which are supposedly the 'reason' that child support obligors are housed in these facilites, have NO REAL ACCESS to their parent in these facilites...how is this in 'the child's best interest'???
Stand outside in 20 degree weather with YOUR children for an HOUR and a HALF to keep your place in line to get 'on the list'...then tell me housing a poor parent for inability to 'pay' in a jail isn't cruel and unusual punishment...oh, and GOD FORBID anyone needs to go potty... then you can forget your visitation for the week..and what about those that have to drive 2 or more HOURS just to get in line for an hour or two, just to get on the list...
When 40% of 600 inmates in a regional jail are there on 'child support', and visitation is only permitted for 20 inmates at a time, ONCE a week, how is this not 'cruel'?