Families of Arizona Inmates Must Now Pay to Visit Loved Ones
Your Black World reports
New legislation in the state of Arizona now requires that all adults pay $25 to visit inmates in any of their 15 prison complexes. The “background check fee” is the first in the nation, and has angered civil liberties groups, who argue that the families of inmates are already being asked to shoulder an enormous economic burden. They lose the income of the relative who has been incarcerated, they must pay a large expense in order to visit the relative, and loved ones are also expected to work for the state for sub-standard wages.
David C. Fathi, Director of the National Prison Project of America, said that the fee is “mind boggling.” He also says that such fees could threaten public safety.
“We know that one of the best things you can do if you want people to go straight and lead a law-abiding life when they get out of prison is to continue family contact while they’re in prison,” he said. “Talk about penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
One inmate’s sister said that with the family already being out of state, the cost is going to make it even more difficult for them to see her brother.
“What will happen is that people will just stop visiting?” She asked, noting that most inmates “live” for visits from relatives.
Wendy Baldo, chief of staff for the Arizona Senate, said that the fee was designed to make up for the $1.6 billion budget deficit being faced by the state of Arizona.
“We were trying to cut the budget and think of ways that could help get some services for the Department of Corrections,” Ms. Baldo said. She also said that the department “needed about $150 million in building renewal and maintenance and prior to this year, it just wasn’t getting done and it wasn’t a safe environment for the people who were in prison and certainly for the people who worked there.”
They have got to be crazy. I hope that they don’t meet their needs and it will all be for naught and they will have to drop those ridiculous charges. Clearly the people who make these dumb rules dont’t have any loved ones locked up behind bars. Every person in prison aren’t murderers and child molesters. There are actually very brilliant, kind and nice people in there who have committed a one time crime never to be repeated again, but are serving a totally ridiculous sentance…I wish people would treat people with more compassion. Look at each crime and treat it accordingly. I can’t tell you how many people are in prison for NO reason other than they had to make a quota and if your color fits the description, then so be it. There are people doing time for doing no crime. Obviously those who commit serious crimes should be locked up forever and those who have mental illness’ should be in another kind of institution NOT locked up with people who aren’t mentally ill. There is NO rehabilitation in there so there should be a place where people can be rehabilitated..They got it all backwards and all wrong. Now they want to charge the loved ones who struggle profoundly as it is. This is close to the end of the world and no doubt people who are responsible for these pains and unusual punishments will be reckoned with. Lights out..
ALL THAT IS TOO TRUE!!
What has become of this world? First we allow a small group of atheists to stop prayer in schools, stop the pledge allegiance…loyalty to AMERICA in most schools, several attempts to take “in GOD we trust” off all $$$$ bills!!! Now the families of prisoners in Arizona may have to pay to visit their loved ones….what’s next? Is it any wonder why our country is in a Major Mess? And when things go awry what’s the first thing we think or speak?…..LORD please have mercy!!!! Its a known fact, most prisoners already suffer some type of abuse and when their love ones can no longer visit with them because of these stupid correctional penalties, its another abuse applied by the hands of Department of Corrections.
I say cut the big wigs pay thoses who don’t work with prisoners, but make the laws.I was a correctional officer from 1976 to1989 and i know the problem they are going to have after this stupid law goes into afect.
Arizona people need to stand up and fight back…..what are they doing?
just standing by and letting these ass holes pass laws…..make them all accountable starting with that *tch a$$ governer!!!! Get busy arizona
Hmm, how do I put this politely, they/you all are speaking of people in jail…Most of them don’t even deserve a visitor!!!They need to sit their black asses down on those damn cots and say, “shit, I really don’t need to start running in and out of here, I need to stay my ass on the street, get me a job, and help my family!!!”Me being a black woman, I still would love for Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey, etc. to do a topic on why so many black men are in jail, because I still find it hard to believe that 50 states in the United States and 95 percent of the prisons are filled with black men, but for real yall, we are talking about dumb asses riding in stolen, cars, we are talking about idiots shooting people for $10.00, we are talking about the ones who shoot up the club…If you want to see Ray-Ray, Junior, Lil Melvin, and Dontae, Arizona is saying, you are going to have to pay…Maybe, just maybe if they don’t get a visit, if the don’t get the new Jordans, or some Tims, they just might stay out of there….
You must live in a box….. So now we can’t love people who make mistakes???? Hell you just made one by leaving this as your statement…I Bet somebody still loves your ridiculous ass!!!!!
“Arizona” whats up with U all Sheriff ? heard he,s feeding bad meat & sleep out,s in tents it said “don’t do the crime if U don’t want do the time”. Want about how family members whom will be effected mentally and psychically returning love ones home too?