Child-friendly visiting rooms; state correctional facilities may provide. (SB28)

Introduced By

Sen. Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

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. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/17/2007Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 088129276
12/17/2007Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
01/21/2008Impact statement from DPB (SB28)
02/01/2008Committee substitute printed 085699276-S1
02/01/2008Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2008Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2008Read second time
02/05/2008Reading of substitute waived
02/05/2008Committee substitute agreed to 085699276-S1
02/05/2008Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB28S1
02/06/2008Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/06/2008Communicated to House
02/12/2008Placed on Calendar
02/12/2008Read first time
02/12/2008Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety
03/03/2008Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety

Comments

Marsha Maines writes:

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'???

Marsha Maines writes:

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...

Marsha Maines writes:

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'?